Event Brings Community Members Together To Talk About Good Government

By: Kevin Maestas 

April 5, 2017 – A group of New Mexicans gathered in Albuquerque on Tuesday evening to participate in a forum on how they would improve state government.

The event reflected on multimedia coverage of key issues covered this year in the People, Power and Democracy project NMPBS and our media partners aimed to gain a more in-depth community perspective on issues like ethics, accountability, transparency and trust in state government.

Moderators led small group discussions that asked attendees to answer three key questions that focused in the conversation in on potential solutions.

Three big questions we're tackling tonight at #NMGoodGov event: What are you made about, what is the alternative, and how do we get there?

— Kevin McDonald (@tvguy_nm) April 5, 2017

Issues raised by attendees included more accessible, accountable, and ethically-sound state government processes. Education reform, a longer legislative session, and open primaries were also proposed by some groups.

https://twitter.com/adriancarver/status/849431137156038656

Education on civic engagement and paying legislators, just two of the bright ideas presented at the @NewMexicoPPD #NMGoodGov event.

— Kevin McDonald (@tvguy_nm) April 5, 2017

https://twitter.com/ElaineWave/status/849428538398846976

#PaidLegislativeStaff brought up by 2 groups discussing #NMGoodGov, followed by redistricting, open primaries! Thanks @NewMexicoPPD, @KNME,

— Clifton Chadwick (@Kokopele1) April 5, 2017

Ideas bubbling up on #goodgovnm incl. ethics, legislative reform, redistricting, increased participation, better access @NewMexicoPPD pic.twitter.com/w4W2yZTTFG

— Megan Kamerick (@megankamerick) April 5, 2017

The event was held at Embassy Suites near one of Albuquerque’s historic neighborhoods, Martineztown-Santa Barbara.

The People, Power and Democracy project is on it’s third year of covering issues like campaign finance, ethics, transparency and accountability in state government.

An archived version of the events livestream can be found at People, Power and Democracy’s Facebook page.