Letters to the Editor (Nov. 30)

Concession letter 

Editor: 

The voters have spoken, and I have heard their voices loud and clear. 

This has been an incredible campaign, and I have enjoyed being front and center as a candidate for the UNM-Valencia Campus Advisory Board. During our time on the trail, our campaign met many good people, exchanged many different viewpoints and helped to bring a new sense of awareness regarding how important this office is in the lives of all our fellow community members. It has been an exciting, uplifting and thoroughly memorable experience, and I was proud and humbled to be able to be a part of it on your behalf. 

Now, the votes have been duly counted, and our new leaders have been chosen to fill these most important local posts throughout our County. I congratulate the new board members-elect on their victories, and pledge my continued support for the Valencia campus and its work to build a better future for all our county’s students.  

I wish our newest board members good luck as they undertake their duties, and enjoy fostering our students and their success for the next four years. 

As always, the Valencia County board of elections oversaw this election in their usual exceptional fashion. As a candidate, my full and complete confidence in the integrity and soundness of this election is absolute, and I have no doubt whatsoever that the results of my contest and those for every office on the ballot were collected, counted and verified according to the very highest standards of state and local election law.  

I also would like to thank the countless poll workers who had the unenviable task of counting and certifying the many write-in ballots that were cast on election day. As a fellow poll worker myself, I appreciate the constant professionalism and dedication these men and women bring to the job each and every election day, and I thank them for taking the extra time and effort required to count these ballots in a transparent, efficient and professional manner. 

I would also like to send special thanks to the people of my hometown, Meadow Lake, who were my biggest supporters in this contest. The Democratic Party of Valencia County for their wise counsel and support throughout the campaign. My campaign coordinator, George Columbo, and my voter outreach coordinator, Patricia Barlow. 

Finally, my heartfelt thanks go out to all those who participated in this election, and took the time to cast their votes in this critical election. Your voice is the very voice of democracy itself, and it is a welcome thing to hear it spoken so loudly for such an important election as this. 

Godspeed to the victors, grace to those who came close to their prize. Regardless of what the votes indicate, their existence proclaims for all that democracy still endures — strong, proud and indomitable. 

God keep and bless the people of Valencia County. 

Torres G. Leyba 

Meadow Lake 

  

Thank you to the Bugg Lights volunteers 

Editor: 

It’s been said that the best things in life are free. Well, it seems they are but don’t last forever.  

We, here in Valencia County, are very fortunate to have had the Bugg Lights adorn the city of Belen for so long. They were and still are a big attraction for everyone to see every Christmas season.  

I was sad when I read the news that this will be the last year the display will be here in Belen. These decorations are something that brings the community such joy, and it was a great that everyone was able to see them for free.  

We owe a debt of gratitude not only to the Bugg family for donating them to the city of Belen way back when, but to the volunteers who have been such caring stewards of the display.  

Ronnie Torres, CeCe Aragon,  Patti Bucklew, Kelly Cross, Larry Huffman and all the rest of the volunteers deserve much more than a simple “thank you.” They deserve at least a parade in their honor. 

I’ve seen the Bugg Lights numerous times, first in Albuquerque and then in Belen. It’s a tradition that I hope continues in the future.   

Charles Garcia 

Los Chavez