Richardson visits Gallup
Locals express gratitude for numerous area projects

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson listens Tuesday as Bill Lee talks about the success of the recent Junior High School Rodeo finals held at Red Rock Park. Richardson made brief stop in Gallup and Grants to hold a town hall meeting and listen to concerns shared by local residents. [Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent]

By Darrel Beehner
Staff Writer

GALLUP — If Tuesday's town hall meeting was any indication, people in Gallup and the surrounding Navajo Nation are thankful for what Gov. Bill Richardson has achieved on their behalf.

That doesn't mean, however, they're completely satisfied.

Dozens of people, mostly representatives of various local organizations, agencies and governments, packed City Hall for a half-hour-long Q&A with the governor. Nearly every person who addressed the governor expressed gratitude for money or assistance his or her organization received before making a pitch for funding or support in the future.

Albert Long, a Navajo Council delegate representing the Thoreau Chapter, told the governor he is pleased with the help the New Mexico government has given to a new adult residential care center in Shiprock.

"You (Richardson) have been a lot of help" in getting funding appropriated, Long said. "We're $800,000 short and will be asking for more" in the next legislative session.

John Leper, with Navajo Water Resources, lauded Richardson for recent agreements pertaining to Navajo water rights, saying "the Navajo Nation and State of New Mexico have reached the starting line" in reaching a sustainable accord. However, he pressed Richardson to help bring water to the Manuelito Chapter. He also told the governor that per capita income among Navajos is approximately one third of the rest of the state.

"If we can close that gap by even 5 percent, the difference would be overwhelming," Leper said. "We're going to need as much help as you can muster."

As representatives of NCI thanked Richardson for giving them "the ability to make a difference" in part by lengthening stays at the detoxification facility to three days Virginia Ballenger, of the Navajo Women's commission, urged the governor to do more to curb public intoxication in Gallup.

"You need to do more to deal with the issue" of public drunkenness, she said. "The town of Gallup has too many alcohol permits." She asked the governor to look into the number of liquor licenses the city is allowed to have.

"The dealers have blatantly ignored the law," Ballenger said. "If you really want to change a problem, you will find a way to bring down the number of establishments" licensed to sell liquor.

She also said the City of Gallup needs to employ more Navajos because "we are very much a part of the fabric of your society."

"We need to do a better job of enforcing (liquor) laws and we will do that," Richardson assured her.

The governor was evasive, however, when asked by Gallup-McKinley County Schools superintendent Karen White about his thoughts on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals agreeing to hear an appeal of the impact aid rules that have stripped local school districts of federal funding and diverted the money to other districts throughout the state.

"Let me duck that question," Richardson said.

For the most part, however, the governor said the state is in good shape financially and has a balanced budget.

He touted the $800,000 that has been committed to the Mendoza Road project. He said the state is trying to find money for this year's Ceremonial and to make future contributions to the annual celebration continuous.

Other goals, he said, include:

• Making Red Rock Park a state entity once again;
  
  
• Promoting biking and horse trails in the area;
  
  
• Increasing communications with tribal leaders in Window Rock in an effort to expedite projects that are partnerships between the state of New Mexico and the Navajo Nation;
  
  
• Bringing more Navajo rodeos to Gallup; and
  
  
• Helping bring the Wrangler National Junior High Finals Rodeo back to Gallup next year.

The governor also announced the appointment of local rodeo enthusiast Dudley Byerley to the state rodeo board.

Richardson also sprinkled humor throughout the short meeting.

When a woman commented on the professionalism of New Mexico State Police, Richardson planted his tongue in cheek and quipped, "They're not worth a damn. They drive too fast."