Animal advocacy group endorse Taos legislators Gonzales, Campos
—Staff report – Oct 25, 2016
The animal advocacy group — Animal Protection Voters — and its political action committee (APV-PAC) have endorsed 69 New Mexico political candidates that are seeking election or re-election on Nov. 8.
Two of the politicians represent Taos County.
In Senate District 8, Democratic Sen. Pete Campos earned “three paws,” designating him a “champion” in his record and position on animal protection issues. In House District 42, Democratic Rep. Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales earned “two paws,” designating him a “dedicated supporter” for animal protection issues. Both Campos and Gonzales are running unopposed in the general election.
APV-PAC officials say the designations are not based on party affiliation.
“We are excited to endorse a diverse, bipartisan slate of candidates who will represent the humane values of the vast majority of New Mexican voters,” said Jessica Johnson, chief legislative officer for APV in a news release.
The APV-PAC endorsement decisions emphasized two bills it says are priorities, expected to be reintroduced in the 2017 legislative session. The priorities are a ban on coyote killing contests and a ban on traps and poisons on public lands.
“A growing majority of New Mexican voters oppose killing contests and traps as scientifically ineffective wildlife management, an antithesis to widely held conservation and humane ethics, and a danger to public safety,” the release said.
In 2015, New Mexico became the first state in the nation where a state legislative chamber passed a bill to prohibit coyote killing contests — with a bipartisan majority of 27-13. The bill later died in a House committee. A 2015 bill to restrict traps and poisons on New Mexico’s public lands, sponsored by Gonzales, was also referred to and died in that same committee.
“The proven link between animal cruelty and human violence makes clear that [New Mexico] desperately needs more humane-minded lawmakers who see the bigger picture,” Johnson said. “When we pass laws to protect the lives of animals, we are also building compassion and protecting the lives of children, their families and all residents and tourists in our communities.”
More information is available at apvnm.org.
