Gov. Richardson Calls Otero County Commissioner Nivison at Home to Talk About NM Spaceport (Tax)

Ronnie Rardin, candidate for Otero County Commissioner (to replace Mike Nivison, lame duck) told attendees of the RWOC meeting yesterday, August 6, 2008, that the Govenor had called one of our three commissioners to urge support of the NM Spaceport and accompanying tax. One can only guess how the conversation went but it would be safe to speculate that Mike Nivision was reminded of how much the State of New Mexico has done for Cloudcroft (water, etc.). THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TAKE STATE OR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE. PAYBACK IS A BEAR! Now we have the deciding vote on the Spaceport Tax being made by a lame duck beholden to the guv.

Oh, but you could say that this vote on August 21, 6:00 pm, second floor of the county courthouse, is just to put it on the ballot for the little people to decide if they want another tax or not.

No, it is not that simple. First, bond/tax issues on the general election ballot almost always pass. That is why the State and the NM Spaceport promoters want it on the ballot. If this spaceport tax is voted to be on the ballot, which we have been predicting since February (click on title for link to post, scroll down to post entitled "The Goose and the Gander in Otero County") then Commissioners Moore and Nivision have not done their duty as Otero County Commissioners.

Commissioner McGinn has stated in meetings that she will not vote to put the tax on the ballot because she knows exactly why she was elected and knows what her constituents want.* I submit that she also is unafraid to do her job and knows how to say "NO".

We are sorely disappointed in Mike Nivison. He did get some things right such as the U.N.World Heritage Ordinance and the Release of Wolves, Jaguars and Grizzly Bears Ordinance. After all the time he has spent in public service, you would think he wouldn't want to leave a bad taste in our mouth and a hole in our pockets with unjustified, additional taxes.

If Commissioners Moore and Nivision wanted to get this right, they would vote to not put the Spaceport Tax on the ballot. Then, they would take a vote right then and there to have the Spaceport Tax because the vote again would be two to one with Commissioner McGinn voting NAY. But, don't expect to see that kind of backbone or respect for our form of governance from Moore and Nivision.

* The NM Spaceport Tax scheme is private enterprise being subsidized on the backs of the taxpayers. It is classic redistribution of wealth.