Association of Counties opposes Mexican gray wolf reintroduction
A month ago the New Mexico Association of Counties passed a unanimous resolution opposing the reintroduction of Mexican gray wolves into the state. Although the resolution and vote were reported by Wolf Crossing [here], the story did not appear the MSM (main stream media) until yesterday [here]. From the Daily Times (Farmington NM):
AZTEC — Members of New Mexico Association of Counties recently banded together to oppose the reintroduction of Mexican gray wolves into New Mexico.
“These wolves were kicked out of Arizona,” said Tony Atkinson, chairman of San Juan County Commission. “They’re not wild.” …
“The New Mexico Association of Counties shall oppose any rule or proposed rule related to the reintroduction of the Mexican gray wolf that does not provide the opportunity for continual involvement of New Mexico’s county elected officials in the decision-making process,” the resolution stated. …
County officials have repeatedly expressed their concerns about people’s safety, their own exclusion from the planning of management of the federal programs under whose purview wolf regulation lies, inability to address problem wolf behavior and related livestock issues — including “insufficient compensation” to ranchers.
“The nonessential experimental population reintroduction has not proven successful based upon the proposals to amend the current management stipulations that require wolves to establish home ranges within the designated recovery area and require initial wolf releases from captivity only into the primary recovery zone,” the resolution stated.
New Mexico Association of Counties represents all of the state’s 33 counties.
The entire resolution is available at Wolf Crossing [here].
Kudos to the New Mexico Association of Counties. The elected officials closest to the citizenry realize their duties and obligations are to their local constituencies, not to outside special interests. This is democracy in action, and power to the people most affected by the deleterious interference of outsiders with anti-human agendas.
Time and time again county commissioners (and county supervisors as the case might be) have shown a much greater appreciation for the problems facing rural Westerners than any other form or branch of government, including state legislatures and the U.S. Congress. Commissioners live and work in their communities, not in capitals far away. That closeness and involvement leads to better representation, concern, and understanding.
National politics dominates the MSM, even in local newspapers (and most blogs). But local politics are most important and affect lives and livelihoods more than any other kind. As this political season develops, it would behoove voters to get involved in local politics. You cannot change the national political scene, but you can influence the elections and elected officials that most impact your life.
We have many excellent county commissioners in Oregon (and a few duds, unfortunately). Like New Mexico, our elected county officials are accessible, engaged, and knowledgeable. They are our best hope and best champions of real democracy.
