Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 123, No. 26 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
January 30, 2014
Chaves, soil districts file suit over gray wolf JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Chaves Soil and Water and several other conservation districts filed suit Wednesday against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for barring them from participating in the process of listing the Mexican gray wolf. The wildlife service is proposing to extend a controversial program to begin releasing the predators into the Apache and Gila National forests and dis-
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perse them into an experimental population area, which includes Chaves County. The 14 soil and water conservation districts filed a lawsuit in the New Mexico Federal District Court after the USFWS barred them from participating in the process of deciding whether to list the Mexican gray wolf as an endangered species. “The litigation that was filed by the districts was really a last resort,” said Aubrey Dunn, a supervisor
of the Chaves Soil and Water Conservation District. “Today marks the day that local gover nments, including soil and water conservation districts are standing up for their constituents.” The districts tried requesting a seat at the table by calling, writing and seeking help from congressional delegates, Dunn said. “There is no question that the New Mexican wolf rule proposal will have a significant impact on much
THURSDAY
sonal property rights,” Chesser said. “If that wolf is here, our property rights go out the door. The Endangered Species Act sort of overrules all of them, and that’s just wrong.” Chesser’s other concern is the predatory nature of the Mexican gray wolf. “They’re stealing from the livestock operators by killing the livestock. It’s a big deal,” Chesser said. Several Arizona ranchers have lost livestock as a result of the wolf-release
of New Mexico,” Dunn said. Chaves County has joined as a cooperating agency, as a member of the Coalition of Arizona/New Mexico Counties. County Commissioner Kim Chesser said the county wants to be involved as much as possible, and said he would like to see the soil and water conservation districts be allowed to do the same. “My main concern is, the fact that anytime you have an endangered species listed … it goes against per-
program in the past two decades. The USFWS has developed a fee schedule to repay owners for losses, according to a statement made by USFWS Spokeswoman Christine Tincher to the Arizona Daily Star. State lawmakers are now fighting to gain state control of compensation, saying the federal government is not paying ranchers for losses.
USFWS pays $800 for a calf, a yearling is worth See WOLF, Page A3
Breaking down the la nguage barrier
Learning English challenges learners as well as instructors Literacy Council, a resource for learning literacy skills and English that she had heard about Brenda Villegas Gutier- through friends and colrez, 28, moved to Roswell leagues. from Cuauhtemoc, Mexico, Gutierrez has since 10 years ago to join her earned degrees in graphic father who was working in the states and had just design and pharmacy techcompleted immigration nology from Eastern New paperwork for his children. Mexico University-Roswell, At the time, she spoke as well as made marked barely a word of English. gains in employment. According to 2012 data “You feel, like, stupid the U.S. Census from when you go to any store and they ask you some- Bureau, 12 percent of thing and you don’t know Roswell residents are forwhat they say,” she says of eign-born and 37 percent of residents speak a lanher initial frustrations. She quickly arranged for See LANGUAGE, Page A3 a tutor through the Roswell
TESS TOWNSEND RECORD STAFF WRITER
Mark Wilson Photo
McCornack to push Doña Ana Republican runs for US Senate for economic growth Ann Turner helps Natalie Vail of China study for her citizenship test at the Roswell Literacy Council, Tuesday.
JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
City Council candidate James McCor nack, an operations supervisor for the New Mexico Gas Company, wants to see the city thrive. “I’m running because I want to see our city succeed and I want to see us grow. I feel we need to change to get there,” McCornack said. McCornack is running against Caleb Grant and Jerry Heck for the Ward 2 seat, to be vacated by Councilor Jimmy Craig. Crime and economic development will be his focus, McCornack said. “Obviously, our crime rate and also our economic development isn’t where we need it to be,” he said. “We
McCornack
haven’t seen the growth where other communities around us have experienced growth.” McCor nack, who has worked for NMGC for the past seven years, first as a district engineer, attended the University of New Mexico and earned a degree in mechanical engineering. As a licensed professionSee MCCORNACK, Page A2
Republican David Clements of Las Cruces, a candidate for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Tom Udall, was in Roswell Wednesday visiting with Chaves County party members. The former prosecutor and employment attorney is taking time off from his career to campaign full time before the primary election. Clements faces former New Mexico Republican Party Chairman Allen Weh, a businessman who finished second behind Gov. Susana Martinez in the gubernatorial primary in 2010. Clements describes himself as a constitutional conservative. Outside of Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, “everything should be left to the states though the 10th Amendment,”
Clements
Clements said. “That guides my decision-making on areas we should legislate and not legislate,” Clements said. “Most people in New Mexico agree, the federal government has gone too far in every aspect of their lives. I think what they need is someone that is treating this as an office of a public service employee who is working for the people.” Clements’ position on national health care, he said, was free-market solu-
tions and the ability to sell policies across state lines. “This would improve care and reduce costs by aligning the interests of patients, doctors and hospitals,” according to his website. This would also give consumers the freedom to transition from the employer-based health care system. “Udall voted for Obamacare without reading it,” Clements said. Udall promised New Mexicans they could keep their insurance plans, Clements said. “He hasn’t kept that promise,” he said. He also had an opportunity to sign a two-page plan for residents to keep their insurance plans until after the rollout, but didn’t sign it, he said. “He’s not listening to the people. He had an opportunity to stand by New Mexicans and instead he stood behind the president,”
Rodriguez brings family-friendly comedy to Civic Center Saturday JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Paul Rodriguez will bring his family-friendly comedy show to Roswell Saturday. The popular actor and comedian has entertained audiences across the country and in Latin America for 30 years. “I’m just there to have a good time with the audience,” Rodriguez said. “It’s worked for me for 30 years and I don’t think I’m going to change horses now.” Though he is billed as the “Latin King of Comedy,” Rodriguez said he talks about everyday,
“human” things during show. “I’m as country as country can be,” he said. “I still farm and wear overalls. I try to connect with people on mundane, ordinary things: my dogs, my life, my failures — why the color of skin has had so much importance to our lives.” The accomplished actor, writer, director and producer said he enjoys visiting with audiences everywhere. He has always believed in making himself understood by his crowd. He doesn’t use profanity. “It’s not necessary,” he
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said. “After the show, I will stay there until the last person wants a photograph,” he said. “I’m a people person.” Rodriguez has appeared in some 45 films and several television series and comedy specials. His film credits include “Without Men,” “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore,” “The Deported,” and “Beverly Hills Chihuahua.” He has also made guest appearances on several shows, including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Last Call with Carson Daly” and
“Politically Incorrect.” Rodriguez grew up “the poorest of poor” in an immigrant farming family, he said. When he was able to make some money, he bought his folks a farm. Recently, his most important work is fighting for water rights for farmers in central California. He is chairman of the California Latino Water Coalition and a driving force behind the Califor nia Water Bond Measure. He was awarded with Humanitarian of the Year by the City of Fresno for his work on behalf of water conservation. “We’ve been fighting the
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGES A2 & A7 • LUPE SOENS • MARILYN M. CATES • DELORES JEAN DAY • GENE A. WARREN • MARJORIE HELEN ADAMS BENTLEY • RALPH “BOB” SNAITH • JOHN R. CONLEY • ROGELIO GARCIA
Clements said. Clements said he will focus on policies to allow small businesses to create jobs, balancing the federal budget and fighting to preserve privacy rights and Second Amendment rights. One of five children, Clements was born in Seattle. His family suffered hardship in his formative years when his father was laid off from the aerospace industry during a recession. He moved to Las Cruces in 2001 and married his wife, Erica, a civil engineer. The couple has a 3-year-old son. Clements earned his law degree from the University of New Mexico. He served as chairman of the Doña Ana Republican Party and started the Republican Liberty Caucus in 2012. He was a prosecutor in Doña Ana County and the 6th Judicial District.
environmentalists right now for six years. These laws were passed without taking in mind the interests of the far mer,” Rodriguez said. “The minnows have better lawyers in their pockets than the farmers. The day they cut the water off to my mom’s far m, they made a mistake. And we will win.” Rodriguez’s show will start at 8 p.m. at the Roswell Convention Center. Comedians Juan Villareal and Adrian Washington will be the opening acts. For tickets, visit showtimeconcerts.com, or call 575-622-4919.
CLASSIFIEDS ..........B7 COMICS .................B6 ENTERTAINMENT ...B10 FINANCIAL ..............B5
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2 HOROSCOPES .......B10 LOTTERIES .............A2 NATION..................A8
OPINION .................A4 SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ............A10