Attendance

Present

• ViAnn Beadle
• Diane Cox
• Colton Dean (Vice-Chair)
• Patricia French (Chair)
• Dan Fry (Treasurer)
• Joel Mayer
• Nicole Olonovich (Political Director)
• Scotti Romberg
• Michael Sperberg-McQueen (Secretary)
• Jane Yee

Call to order

The chair called the meeting to order at 6:39 pm; a quorum of the caucus was in attendance.

As previously arranged, PF then asked CD as vice-chair to preside over the meeting.

Approval of minutes

The minutes of the meeting of 6 April 2023 were approved without correction (moved: NO; seconded: PF).

Treasurer’s report

The treasurer reported that the transfer of signing authority on the bank account is still being finished off; otherwise there was nothing new to report. There are outstanding expenses for the banner advertising the party for Cheryl Harris and some costs from a county meeting.

Bylaws change

The secretary reported that the balloting period for the vote on the proposed changes to the bylaws ended as scheduled on 27 April. There were 11 votes in favor and 1 against adoption of the changes. The chair declared the new bylaws adopted.

Tabling at SCC

The political director reported that the caucus had had a table at the state central committee meeting on 22 April, staffed by NO, PF, and MSM.

The table had prominently displayed a notice of a party to be held at Flora Lucero’s house on 4 June in honor of Adelante’s past chair Cheryl Harris. NO urged members to attend the party, and to RSVP. She also appealed to anyone who has pictures of caucus events including Cheryl to send copies to NO (and to MSM for inclusion on the web site).

Avangrid merger

NO described the background of the proposed merger of PNM with Avangrid. The Public Regulation Commission denied approval for the merger in 2021, but after the adoption of the constitutional amendment restructuring of the PRC the Governor’s new appointees have re-opened the case. NO urged members of the caucus to be aware of the issues and to work to help block the merger. She has a good deal of information she is willing to share, and recommended also consulting New Energy Economy and Indivisible Albuquerque for information.

Reduction of gun violence

Caucus member Diane Cox spoke to the caucus about the current state of gun reform in New Mexico. In this year’s legislative session, numerous bills on the topic were introduced, but only two passed. DC is working with others to prepare a resolution on the topic of gun control; she believes that advocates will have better success if they set lower, more realistic goals and focus on a small number of bills. She hopes to draft a report on the 2023 session with ratings of legislators. There was discussion.

Resolution on DPNM committee governance

Jane Yee reminded the caucus that a group including Scotti Romberg, Patti French, Cheryl Harris, Maurreen Skowran, and JY is working on a resolution on the constitution and governance of DPNM standing committees. The background for the resolution lies in the success of an earlier resolution to require DPNM candidates and officers to pledge to support the party platform; it was approved first by the resolutions committee of the Bernalillo County Democratic Party, then by SPARC, and finally by the state central committee. But there have been a number of complaints that Democratic legislators are not following the platform. The Environmental Justice Caucus, for example, made a depressingly long list of environmental legislation that failed despite the environmental planks in the platform.

The next step, JY said, would be some rules changes to make the resolution enforceable. But the DPNM rules will never change to include accountability for supporting the platform, while the state rules committee is completely appointed by the chair of the state party.

So the group is drafting a resolution seeking to make the rules governing standing committees more consistent across committees, regarding notice of meetings, reporting, and so on. And also: to fill the majority of seats on each standing committee by election rather than appointment. SR and JY will be meeting Wednesday to finalize the language.

JY also repeated that Diane Cox and Kathy Moseley are working on a plan for a gun-control resolution. Progressives need to work together on these things.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 8:14 pm.