Judge Expresses State's Yearning For CYFD Changes In New Year; Brutal Child Killing Prompts Judicial Rebuke Of Agency; Problem Remains On MLG's Doorstep, Plus: Breaking Down The NM Rural-Urban Divide

Judge Whitaker 

The state's depression over the sad state of affairs at the state Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) doesn't just roll around during the holidays, it's a year round affair with abhorrent cases of child abuse mishandled by the agency surfacing regularly and with no end in sight. 

 It's all too much for ABQ District Court Judge Stan Whitaker who had the dreary duty of presiding recently over the sentencing of Derrick Marquez who was found guilty of the brutal 2019 beating death of four year old James Dunklee Cruz. 

Said Whitaker from the bench:

We hear too much of CYFD going in and seeing folks and seeing children in situations where probably kids should be taken out. And we just don’t have that happening. And as a result, we see way too many children needlessly being brutalized, abused and ultimately killed.

Marquez was given a life sentence but James is gone forever--like so many others. 

Whitaker, a Sandia High and UNM School of Law grad, has been on the district court bench since 2006. 

CYFD Secretary Barbara Vigil came aboard after MLG's first secretary was forced to abandon ship in the face of serious ethical allegations--a major disappointment since he was from out of state and brought hope for a culture change. He changed the culture all right--to benefit himself and his cronies. 

Now former NM Supreme Court Justice Vigil is in command but after nearly a year and half on the job still seems befuddled when appearing before legislative committees pressing for answers about the horrific child murders. 

GOP state senators are again backing a bill that would establish an independent ombudsman's office at CYFD that would investigate complaints, examine the failures and look for fixes. Sen. David Gallegos of SE NM:

I'm glad that the judge stood up and supported this. And that is going to go a long way to give us the credibility we need for people to understand that this is life and death. I think this might be the year that we get it done. So, pray for us but keep us accountable.

The Republicans criticize MLG's opposition to the ombudsman bill in the last legislative session and Democrats for tabling it. 

The Governor is quick to replace cabinet members, sometimes on a whim. Now it appears it is time to replace Secretary Vigil and finally bring leadership that will interrupt the killings and abuse. (And that ombudsman legislation deserves a full hearing as well.)

The Governor was re-elected but if that election were solely on her administration's handling of CYFD we likely would have a Governor Ronchetti. She knows that and has the skills to fix this. So where's the plan? As Sen. Gallegos declared, "people need to understand that this is life and death."

RURAL VS. URBAN 

NM's Christmas Tree

Election '22 was another in which the rural/urban split in NM was on display. Let's take a closer look with this analysis from the Sandoval County Signpost:

That divide played out between different precincts in Sandoval County. Take, for example, precincts of San Felipe and Cochiti Pueblos along I-25 and the Rio Grande in eastern Sandoval County. The 459 voters there went for Lujan Grisham 92% and 93%, respectively. On the other end of the spectrum, just 34% of 533 voters in precinct 138 near Southern and Unser Blvds. in Rio Rancho voted for Lujan Grisham. 

In the Town of Bernalillo, the governor carried all six of the largest precincts by an average of 59.5%. The 8 precincts covering Placitas averaged 62% for the Democrat. 

Precincts covering Corrales just barely preferred the Democrat with an average of 52%. 

The communities along Highway 4 and the Santa Fe National Forest, including Zia Pueblo, San Ysidro and Jemez Springs were almost evenly split, but averaged a 54% preference for Republican Ronchetti. 

In Cuba and the western edge of Sandoval County, just 40% of voters supported the governor’s re-election.

THE BOTTOM LINES

ABQ Dem westside state Rep. Joy Garratt writes to update the employment status of Flor Yanira Gurrola Valenzuela, a possible pick by the BernCo Commission to fill a westside state House vacancy and who we blogged about Monday:

Having seen Yanira in action as an educator and with such varied lived experience, I am supporting her for appointment to House District 16. Here is her current job: Dual Language Education New Mexico (DLeNM) 2019 - now Professional Development Coordinator New Mexico. 

I attached my letter of support sent for the two week House appointment that Marsella Duarte received--a lovely person as is Lan Sena, but Yanira's years of experience as an educator and former engineer are why I think she such a good fit for the legislature at this time.

The Commission is expected to make the appointment to a two year term for House District 16 in January.  

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2022