Around the Roundhouse

Duke Rodriguez officially launched his candidacy for governor of New Mexico earlier this month by making the announcement in newspaper advertisements across the state. A former state human services Cabinet secretary who is now among New Mexico's most successful cannabis entrepreneurs, Rodriguez is the latest of three Republicans to announce a run for the highest office in the state. In this week&r...

Shel Neymark helped found the Embed Valley Library in Dixon in 1992 and, over the years, has seen it become a cornerstone of the small community. It’s a place to not only check out books, but also serves as a gathering place and a link to connect residents with resources that support their well-being. In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Neymark joins Santa Fe New Me...

Economists with the state of New Mexico delivered what Rep. Nathan Small, chair of the Legislative Finance Committee, called a “very sobering" revenue forecast to lawmakers Monday, with projections of total new money being revised down to $105.7 million from an August projection of $484.8 million. For a state that has been awash in new money in recent years, the latest forecast pointed to a...

While running a business coaching firm with her husband in Albuquerque, Nicole Tobiassen said she often hears complaints from her clients that it’s becoming harder and harder to be a business owner in New Mexico. Part of her coaching involves encouraging clients to be part of the solution, advice she said she took to heart when making the decision to run for public office. A rare Republican...

A fresh face in state politics, Cam Crawford was elected vice chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico in April and is working to build momentum for Democrats in an already blue state. On the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, the 20-something firefighter and substitute teacher joined Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to speak a...

The Republican Party has been dormant in Rio Arriba County for years, with Democratic candidates frequently running unopposed in local races and the number of registered Democrats dwarfing the number of Republicans in the county by well over a 2-to-1 margin. A former Democrat is looking to change that. Patricia Salazar was born and raised a Democrat but registered as a Republican about two years a...

Michael Garcia earned a decisive victory in Santa Fe’s crowded mayoral race Tuesday night and has made a commitment to voters to improve transparency and accountability at City Hall. He’s already making moves to prepare to take the reins, putting in place members of a transition team and discussing priorities for his first months on the job. In the latest episode of the “Around t...

New Mexico has the highest rate of SNAP participation in the country, with over 450,000 people receiving support through the federally funded food assistance program. The federal government has told states the benefits will run out in November if the federal shutdown persists, leaving local and state leaders bracing for the impact of a potential freeze of the program if a resolution isn’t ac...

Ken Miyagishima has run in 14 elections and won 11 of them, including being voted mayor of Las Cruces for four consecutive terms that he served from 2007-2023. The self-described political moderate has an uphill battle to translate his election success to the statewide level as he faces two candidates in the Democratic primary for New Mexico governor who have greater name recognition and far more...

New Mexico’s No. 1 ranking in MIT’s Election Performance Index that was released last year is something state election officials have proudly touted, but many are working to improve the state’s elections even further. Observe New Mexico Elections (ONME) is a nonpartisan observation effort that does work to increase trust and transparency in the state’s elections. Supported...

Letitia Montoya says collecting stray shopping carts dispersed throughout a city is a great way to understand a community and its issues. That’s what she’s been doing with her husband, Michael Segura, since June of 2023 through their company, Nebula Advisers LLC. The company is contracted by the city to collect and return stray carts to grocers and retailers. In the process, Montoya sa...

Jeanne O’Dean was the last candidate to enter the race for Santa Fe mayor and lacks the name recognition of others who are running, but she hopes her background in “disruptive innovation” resonates with voters enough to send her to City Hall. In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” host Daniel J. Chacón speaks with O’Dean about her plans for the...

Tarin Nix has had a taste of winning in New Mexico as a political consultant, including guiding Stephanie Garcia Richard to successful campaigns for the state House and, later, for state land commissioner. Now serving as the deputy commissioner of public affairs for the State Land Office, Nix is vying to win her own race in a crowded field of candidates running to be Santa Fe’s next mayor. N...

Oscar Rodriguez is a former finance director for the city of Santa Fe who has spent 30 years of his career in the public sector. He says his experiences serving in city management in communities large and small have given him the skills needed to be mayor of Santa Fe.  Rodriguez joins Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to speak about his background and share his vi...

JoAnne Vigil Coppler has served for two Santa Fe mayors and two New Mexico governors during her career and has worked in every branch of government. In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” she touts her decades of experience as what will give her the edge in her second campaign to be Santa Fe’s mayor.  Vigil Coppler finished runner-up to Alan Webber in the 2021 elec...

A chaotic first day as a foster parent dealing with the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department led Maralyn Beck to have a panic attack after thinking a baby had been lost due to a failure of communication by the department. Things didn’t get better from there, and the serious issues she witnessed and learned of in the months to follow led her to found a nonprofit organization ded...

Former Santa Fe City Councilor Ron Trujillo had an unsuccessful run for mayor in 2018, finishing second to Alan Webber. Trujillo has been a vocal critic of Webber during his two terms in office, especially concerning cultural issues and what he feels is a degradation of basic services.  Trujillo is back on the campaign trail as one of eight candidates who are looking to succeed Webber as Sant...

Alisha Tafoya Lucero was appointed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to be the secretary of the New Mexico Department of Corrections in 2019 and has served in that role for more than six years. In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” she joins Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón to speak on her path to becoming Corrections Department secretary and the work she...

Ray Sandoval has been involved with Burning of Zozobra since he was 6 years old and took over as event chairman for the Santa Fe spectacle in 2012. He’s been involved in a firestorm ahead of the 2025 burning due to the recent removal of 12 Siberian elm trees for safety concerns, an action that has drawn sharp criticism from some members of the community. Sandoval joined  Santa Fe New Me...

Sam LeDoux has worked on the campaigns and political teams of some big names in New Mexico and the nation, including former Gov. Susana Martinez, the late Arizona Sen. John McCain, former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan. LeDoux was elected to serve on the city council of his hometown of Española in March of 2024, and he says he’s seen a lot of dysfunction...

Roger Montoya has been a stalwart in the Española Valley for decades in his effort to help lead youth on the right path by connecting them with artistic outlets. Recognized as a CNN Hero in 2019, Montoya remains deeply involved in Moving Arts Española, the nonprofit organization he co-founded 18 years ago, as he continues the mission of setting up young people in rural communities fo...

Michael Garcia has been a vocal critic of Mayor Alan Webber in his time serving as a city councilor and is now seeking to succeed Webber in office and push to achieve his vision for his hometown of Santa Fe. In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,”  Santa Fe New Mexican  politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón speaks with Garcia in the second of a series of intervi...

State Rep. Matthew McQueen has served six terms in the Legislature and he now has his sights set on statewide office. The Galisteo Democrat has thrown his hat in the ring for state land commissioner and is one of three candidates looking to replace Stephanie Garcia Richard, who is term-limited and running for lieutenant governor.  McQueen, who announced his candidacy for state land commission...

Santa Fe County Commissioner Justin Greene on Wednesday formally announced his candidacy for the mayor of the city of Santa Fe, becoming the seventh person to enter the race to succeed Mayor Alan Webber. Greene joined  Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón Thursday for the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” in the first of a series of interviews wit...

A progressive Democrat from Santa Fe, Brian Egolf served in the New Mexico state Legislature from 2009 to 2022 and was the House speaker for five years. He chose not to run again at the end of his last term and has been out of politics for the past three years. In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Santa Fe New Mexican lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón catches...