Governor’s Race Hits High Gear After First Debate, Redistricting Report Revelations & the Effort to Protect Chaco Canyon

This week on New Mexico in Focus, Gene Grant and the Line Opinion Panel break down the recent debate for governor between Republican Nominee Mark Ronchetti and Democratic incumbent Michelle Lujan Grisham. The panel dissects the performances of both candidates and considers the key issues that are still developing ahead of election day. The panel also explores a new report from the Santa Fe New Mexican showing remarkable turnover rates for public school superintendents around New Mexico. The panelists end with a discussion about a new study from the University of New Mexico that quantifies the economic impact of the military in the state. Gene asks if environmental costs should have been factored into the data.  

New Mexico in Focus Correspondent Gwyneth Doland sits down with the co-author of a new report assessing the effectiveness of our state’s recent redistricting process. As Dr. Gabriel Sanchez explains, the Citizens Redistricting Commission made some significant strides towards proper representation for all New Mexicans, but it hasn’t been perfect.  

Our Land Senior Producer Laura Paskus catches up with a tribal leader from the Pueblo of Acoma to ask about the historical significance of Chaco Canyon, and the ongoing effort to stop new extraction projects from starting in the area.  

Senior Producer Lou DiVizio talks with a journalist and filmmaker who spent the last several months in Ukraine covering the Russian invasion. Patrick Hilsman has covered military conflicts for years and has family here in New Mexico. He shares the horrors, and the triumphs he witnessed during his time covering the war in Ukraine.

Host: Gene Grant 

The Line opinion panel: 
Diane Snyder, fmr. NM State Senator 
Laura Sanchez, attorney 
Inez Russell Gomez, editorial page editor, Santa Fe New Mexican 

Segments: 

Redistricting Report Reveals Public Desire for Independent Commission 
Correspondent: Gwyneth Doland 
Guest: Gabriel Sanchez, Ph.D., political science professor, UNM 

Protecting Chaco Requires Commitment From ‘All Levels’ 
Correspondent: Laura Paskus 
Guest: Theresa Pasqual, Pueblo of Acoma, Director, Historic Preservation Office 

Frontline Reporter Shares Experiences from War in Ukraine 
Correspondent: Lou DiVizio 
Guest: Patrick Hilsman, journalist, filmmaker