Does Sheriff Darren White Approve of Racial Profiling in the South Valley

Last evening was the Congressional District One forum on Civil rights. The South Valley which is largely Hispanic in cultural make up of its residents was the choice place to hold such a forum. Although the forum was not well organized or well attended the message was loud and clear. The Valley will not support a republican candidate who sees the Hispanic culture as trash that needs to be taken out by way of putting them in jail and not in control of our local government. Why is the enforcement not more even in this city when it comes to DWI checkpoints? All you have to do is drive down Bridge Blvd S.W. to see red and blue lights flashing to know where the local county law enforcement is after dark. Yet most of the local bars are on central. You also do not see much community policing during the day light hours. The South Valley has never been known to be where the well paid rich of our city lives and rather then helping and encouraging the working middle class residents like they do in the richer areas of the city they choose to enforce the letter of the law. More community based policing by the county sheriff’s office would be welcome in the area by the local residents. Could it also be because a large number of working class Hispanic democrats live in the south valley where their families have owned land for generations that has prompted more county law enforcement in the area by the Sheriff’s office after dark? Is Sheriff Darren White in fear of the very people who could elect him to office this fall? The Local Ward Chair wondered aloud why Sheriff Darren White chose not to attend last night’s forum.

Community leaders that did choose to show for the forum were Eric Griego, Linda Lopez, Michael Padilla and Garry Breeswine. All of these candidates have strong connections to the Hispanic culture. The Congressional District One Candidates were Michelle Lujan Grisham, Rebecca Vigil Giron, and Robert Pidcock. Both Michelle Lujan Grisham and Robert Pidcock are showing great improvement on delivering their views to voters in an organized well thought out message. Clearly the forums have helped them to perfect and hone their message to the local voters of Bernalillo County. The question is has it come too late in the race to help them halt Martin Heinrich from walking away with the democratic nomination? Martin Heinrich has the advantage of having been a city councilman and has the experience of having worked with Bernalillo County voters in the past. His message was already well organized for the start of this race. Unlike the other candidates he also has a political record for voters to view when it comes to the issues. Fair or not fair this has given Martin Heinrich the clear advantage in this race.