Roswell Daily Record
By Lauren E. Toney

Members of Chaves County Republican Women held a forum Thursday night at the Best Western Sally Port Inn for the six Republican candidates running for the 2nd Congressional District seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce.

Bonnie Carter, president of Chaves County Republican Women and moderator for the event, said of the candidates, “We have a great group of public servants.“ Carter, who organized the forum, said this is the first event of its kind the organization has held in many years.

“The first goal of Chaves County Republican Women is to educate and inform,“ she said. “That’s why we held this forum — to give candidates a chance to speak their opinions and give the public the opportunity to make an informed decision.“

Candidates were each given an allotted time to answer questions submitted in advance by members of the organization and the audience regarding immigration, fuel, the national budget and their goals if elected to Congress, among other topics.

Capitan rancher and restaurant owner Edward Tinsley said he supports increasing the number of border patrol agents and using technology to identify areas where breaches are most common. He is also in favor of constructing border fences in those problem areas, saying, “Fences are not the answer to all problems regarding immigration.“ He added, “Our immigration policy is totally broken and needs an overhaul.“

Tinsley said that, if elected, he would work to make permanent the tax cuts implemented by President Bush. He said he believes U.S. military officials, not members of the House or Senate, should make decisions regarding the war.

Hobbs Mayor Monty Newman favors increasing the number of border patrol agents and using aerial surveillance to prevent illegal immigration.

“I am opposed to amnesty,“ he said. “We need to bring immigration policy into the 21st century.

Newman said he plans to work to eliminate taxes on savings accounts and reduce taxes on corporations to help the economy grow.

Truth or Consequences real estate broker Earl Greer favors increasing the number of border patrol agents, but feels the border fence is too costly to construct along the entire U.S. border. He said building a fence in high—traffic areas, such as near Palomas, Mexico, would be beneficial, however. “We need to enforce the laws already in place and do it with boots on the ground,“ he said.

Greer said that, if elected, he will work to balance the national budget by lowering taxes and cutting wasteful spending.

He said he also believes in opening up federal lands, including the Otero Basin, to oil and gas exploration.

Las Cruces businessman Greg Sowards said lower—paid individuals need to be hired to process the paperwork that is typically a burden for border patrol guards.

He is in favor of lowering taxes and cutting spending and entitlements.

Sowards also said the government needs to push back environmentalists and open up federal land to oil exploration.

Capitan rancher Aubrey Dunn Jr. favors increasing the number of border patrol agents and building the border fence to decrease illegal immigration. He said that, if elected, he would work to cut spending by eliminating the federal No Child Left Behind program. Dunn also favors random drug testing for those who receive welfare from the government and said he believes tax incentives should be given to those who are willing to build oil refineries.

Former state Rep. Terry Marquardt of Alamogordo said, “We need to get serious about penalizing employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.“ He favors using technology such as infrared terrain mapping and unmanned aircraft along the borders to prevent illegal immigration.

If elected, Marquardt said he will work to lower taxes on capital gains.