LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
OPINION: Talk of the Town
Ted Turner taught a lesson at ABQ event
I really admired Ted Turner as an environmentalist, humanitarian and successful businessman. He taught us a lesson in 1992 when he was here to speak at a Greater sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Chamber of Commerce event. I was present when the speeches started about 7:30 p.m., when many dignitaries and politicians got up to speak. They were obviously taking advantage of the crowd there to hear Turner. I think there were at least five. Finally, at 8:45 p.m., when Turner was called to the podium, I thought he handled it perfectly when he said, 鈥淚 think everything that you came to hear tonight has been said,鈥� and promptly sat down.
It was a good lesson from a successful man who used this drama to make a good point. It was the headline for a news story in this paper the next day.
Art Gardenswartz
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Coded language weakened column
I read Jeff Tucker鈥檚 column of May 11 in which he laid out his case for supporting Sam Bregman over Deb Haaland in the gubernatorial Democratic primary. I don鈥檛 take issue with his reasoning, but I do very much dislike the reference to Haaland as a 鈥渇igurehead for the radical left,鈥� and the assessment of Haaland promoting 鈥淣eo-Marxist policies.鈥�
I鈥檝e heard nothing from her that is either radical or Marxist; in fact, both of these gubernatorial candidates hold positions that are pretty much mainstream.
I think most clear-thinking and responsible voters would support universal healthcare, free lunches for economically disadvantaged schoolchildren, free or subsidized childcare, promotion of green and sustainable energies to reduce reliance on petroleum-based sources, environmental conservation, respect for Native American tribal sovereignty and lands, investment in rural and community infrastructure, and recognition that women should have agency over their own bodies and decisions regarding family planning and reproduction.
Words such as 鈥渞adical left,鈥� 鈥渘eo-Marxist and the ever-popular 鈥渟ocialist鈥� are nothing more than coded language 鈥� a dog whistle, if you will 鈥� to Republicans.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was called a socialist, even a communist, for his New Deal programs to combat the Great Depression. His successor, Harry S. Truman, succinctly said: 鈥淪ocialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.鈥�
Tucker undermines his own well-sourced argument by tossing about these phrases.
Of course, I could easily be dismissed as just another snowflake.
Rick Nathanson
Rio Rancho
Context of candidate鈥檚 first marriage important
It is important for public officials to be honest and transparent about their past, especially when it involves relationships with significant age and power differences, because voters have a right to evaluate both their judgment and their integrity.
Why is it so important that our leaders do not lie to us or hide facts from us? When someone asks us to trust them with public office, their honesty matters. If GOP gubernatorial candidate Gregg Hull has portrayed his first marriage as a simple 鈥渉igh school sweetheart鈥� story, then why was it not clearly disclosed that he was 20 and she was 16 at the time? If that detail was concealed, it raises real questions about whether the narrative he presents is accurate or deliberately misleading.
I find it deeply troubling that he was not fully transparent about marrying a 16鈥憏ear鈥憃ld when he was 20, especially given the clear imbalance in age and power in such a relationship. If you are comfortable with that, that is your choice. I personally think it is unacceptable and disturbing, and I believe voters should know the truth so they can decide for themselves what it says about his character and his respect for appropriate boundaries in relationships.
Shane Donofrio
Rio Rancho
Endorsement left out key facts
Jeff Tucker's endorsement of Sam Bregman (May 11 Journal) failed to mention the following: As of early 2026, criticisms of Sam Bregman鈥檚 2026 gubernatorial bid focus on his record as Bernalillo County district attorney, past legal work defending police officers and accusations of plagiarism in his policy platform. Critics from both the Republican Party and progressive factions within his own party have targeted his effectiveness on crime and political consistency.
Key criticisms:
His soft-on-crime record as DA: The Republican Party of New Mexico has accused Bregman of presiding over a spike in crime, arguing that violent offenders are released too quickly under his leadership.
Political inconsistency regarding law enforcement: Progressive critics argue that his pivot to promising accountability for law enforcement is politically convenient, citing his previous career as a defense attorney for officers accused of misconduct, as discussed in New Mexico Political Report
Use of dark money: His campaign has been linked to a 501c(4) nonprofit New Mexico Safety over Profit, that failed to report funding for lobbying activities. Critics have argued his focus on imposing term limits for legislators would actually increase the influence of lobbyists and bureaucrats.
Brian Hill
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