Today's Opinions

SANTA FE — Ever since legislative bodies were created, observers, ranging from philosophers to comedians, have showered us with cynical assessments of these bodies.

Somehow legislatures and Congress always are the easiest to dislike and demean. Their popularity rating always is lowest. Governors and presidents can charm their way along but legislative bodies have no personality. Constituents often like their own legislator but dislike all the rest.

Response to Friday’s letter to Eddie Roy Duran of Pecos: The Pecos Independent School District bond election on ... in help our district do necessary repairs, remodels, and purchase equipment as allowed by state law. This important bond will help our bonding capacity when we ask for state monies. Passing the bond will answer legislative questions regarding “How is your community supporting the schools?”

On Tuesday, voters in San Miguel and Mora counties will go to the polls to elect school board members. We urge people to do their duty.

In recent years, school boards in New Mexico have lost some of their powers. They don’t have hiring authority other than picking a superintendent. That’s a good thing; we don’t want elected bodies getting into the day-to-day process of hiring new employees.

At the same time, boards still have much authority over the purse strings. And this is a vitally important responsibility.