The New Mexico Family Action Movement (NMFAM) Legacy Dinner on December 3, 2025, in Albuquerque celebrated faith, family, and freedom. Hosted by Michael and Jodi Hendricks, the event emphasized building a legacy where God is honored, life cherished, families thrive, and religious freedom flourishes. Attendees heard inspiring stories from pastors, parents, and policymakers, reflecting on NMFAM's impact since its 2022 launch.

Key initiatives highlighted included Cultivating Communities, featuring the Family Fun Festival with AFP's Sarah Hetemi; the Christian Action Network (CAN), with Pastor Carlos Montoya urging church mobilization; My Kid My Choice for parental rights, via Rep. Rod Montoya; and The Movement's lobbying, praised by Sen. Jay Block for blocking harmful bills affecting children.

Freedom Champion Awards honored legislators like Sens. Jay Block and David Gallegos, Reps. Rod Montoya, Jenifer Jones, and Rebecca Dow. T. Greg Merrion received the Legacy Partner Award. A keynote dialogue between Vince Torres and Jodi Hendricks stressed spiritual warfare, engaging Gen Z, and fundraising, believing in 2026 expansions. The evening ended with calls to action, inspiring attendees to shape New Mexico's future.

Paul Spencer of Will for Prosperity hosted an event in Grants, New Mexico. Spencer shared his journey from traumatic brain injury and family accident to community advocacy on water inequities and government overreach.

The focus shifted to threats in schools, families, and faith. Spencer critiqued 2023 New Mexico bills like HB7, alleging they enable hormone blockers and transitions without parental consent, penalize teachers $30,000 for notifying parents, and amount to "legalized child trafficking." He highlighted Emerge America’s 70% win rate training progressive candidates across 45 states.

Clips from Beneath Sheep's Clothing warned of ideological subversion via social-emotional learning, while Save Our Children trailers exposed family court biases, a $128 billion industry treating children as "chattel," and abortion pressures. DJ and Damara Andrade detailed auditing 125 explicit books in Albuquerque libraries using Follett Destiny, pushing age-appropriate policies against SB552.

Ramona Goolsby stressed accountability through IPRA requests, attending meetings, and running for office. Q&A addressed gender curricula in schools, vaccine mandates in free childcare, and root causes like poverty and faith decline. Spencer closed with a poem urging attendees to be "watchmen on the wall," fighting locally to save children and reclaim freedoms.

At a faith-centered voter education event in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Carla and Larry Sonntag endorsed Louie Sanchez as the top choice for mayor in the upcoming election. They emphasized his alignment with Christian values and his strong qualifications to address Albuquerque’s challenges, urging evangelical voters to support him based on Romans 13:1.

Sanchez, a 26-year veteran of the Albuquerque Police Department and current city councilor, was praised for his bold leadership. He’s endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police and has pushed for public safety reforms, including calling for the police chief’s dismissal. As a conservative Democrat (“DINO”), he votes with Republicans 98% of the time, reflecting his family values stance.

The Sonntags addressed Sanchez’s controversial sanctuary city vote from 1.5 years ago, clarifying it aimed to maintain fair policing, not support sanctuary policies. He now opposes such status. Citing Matthew 10:16, they urged unified support for Sanchez, leveraging his Hispanic background to defeat incumbent Tim Keller in a Democratic-leaning city.

Paid for by:

New ABQ, Chairman Larry Sonntag. Top 5 Donors: Larry Sonntag. Secondary Donors: None. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.

Summary: Math proficiency? Reading? The Socorro Consolidated School District forum tackled these high school problems. Candidates demanded high standards, strong principals, and classroom tools to ensure genuine learning over manipulated graduation rates.

Discussions focused on teacher recruitment through competitive pay, administrative support, and "grow your own" programs with New Mexico Tech. Rural resource gaps drew calls for maximized grants and broadband expansion. Vocational training and athletics emerged as vital for engagement, promising $80K jobs via community partnerships. Special education compliance with federal IEPs and age-appropriate library materials were generally agreed on.

A student's plea for playground repairs highlighted maintenance needs, while audience questions pushed vocational paths and athletics retention. On LGBTQ+ support, candidates stressed safe schools with parental consent; critical race theory faced opposition for promoting division over character. The forum underscored bipartisan unity to elevate Socorro's schools.

This Forum was brought to you by the candidates:

Cynthia Canner (Executive Producer)

Jane Anderson

Mark A. Martin

Ronnita Marie Montoya

Sefie Michael Anaya

Steven L. Edmondson 

Moderated by:

David Koshkin

Lead Producer of KTEK

@NMTKTEK-007 (YouTube)

Iliana Perez

Socorro High School

Student Body President

Question Coordinators:

Russell Huffman

Publisher

SocorroCountyTime.com 

Iliana Perez

Socorro High School

Student Body President

Venue:

Loma Theater

Socorro, New Mexico

Paid for by: 

Canner for Socorro School Board 

Special thank you to:

Free New Mexico Party for the generous donation to support this forum.

Campaign Committee (Jane Anderson)

Ronnita For School Board

Steve Edmondson for School Board

Jacob Smith, an independent candidate for New Mexico governor in 2026, delivered a prayer, a speech, and answered some questions outside the Santa Fe State Capitol. He prayed for safety during the special legislative session, urging bold change, bravery from leaders, and reduced hateful rhetoric amid recent violence.

Smith announced his candidacy, emphasizing unity across New Mexico's diverse communities and independence from parties or donors. He criticized government failures like corruption, wasteful spending, and lack of transparency, promising performance audits, citizen oversight, and real consequences for breaches of trust.

Key proposals addressed crime (harsher gang penalties, community prevention), economy (workforce training, diversification beyond oil/gas), water scarcity (infrastructure investments, tribal collaboration), education (stable funding, community-tailored plans), and healthcare (rural access incentives). He criticized the current administration's special session as self-serving and called for legislative reforms.

Smith urged support via his website, envisioning an accountable, transparent "new New Mexico" for all residents.

US Representative Melanie Stansbury participated in a town hall in Corrales, New Mexico, weaving her local roots into a passionate plea for democracy. A New Mexico native with a water resources background, she traced her unexpected path to Congress, sparked by opposition to Trump’s first term.

She touted major wins, over a billion dollars for infrastructure like water and broadband, plus hundreds of millions for community needs, shelters, clinics, and schools, while pushing climate resilience. Her tone shifted as she tackled the Trump administration’s recent moves, accusing it of dismantling agencies, firing inspectors, and issuing illegal orders under Project 2025.

With Republicans dominating Congress and the White House, Stansbury pointed to over 160 lawsuits fighting back, urging just two GOP members to defend the Constitution. She rallied attendees to act, call representatives, aid legal efforts, and support neighbors, stressing grassroots power.

Questions hit hard, Musk’s sway, election integrity, and Social Security risks. Stansbury praised New Mexico’s secure voting, pledged court battles against funding cuts. Her core message? The nation’s on fire, but united voices can extinguish the blaze, safeguard democracy for the future.

Eddie Varela, a retired firefighter and Christian candidate for Mayor of Albuquerque, addressed supporters at a campaign fundraiser. He expressed deep emotion for his volunteers' dedication, sharing personal stories like parading in his jacket and discovering the origin of his surname's spelling variation! Varela called for a moment of silence for victims of a Minneapolis school shooting, warning of similar violence in Albuquerque if crime and homelessness aren't addressed.

He recounted his decision to run after consulting with Jesus Christ, assembling a trusted core team, and highlighting firefighters as the backbone of his campaign. Introducing the dog Willow as a mascot that boosted visibility, Varela celebrated gathering over 4,000 petitions legitimately, contrasting it with opponents' methods.

Outlining future strategies, he emphasized meeting large groups, producing targeted videos for seniors and youth, and promoting affordable housing to restore the American Dream. Varela urged more volunteers for street campaigns and social media sharing, affirming his commitment to Christian values and hard work for victory.

Ant Thornton, a candidate for New Mexico State Senate District 19, discusses his campaign and the Emerge program with his wife Glenna. He describes the district, spanning from Albuquerque's east side to rural areas like Edgewood and Clines Corners, noting it's smaller than his previous statewide run for lieutenant governor.

The conversation focuses on Emerge, a national program training Democratic women and non-binary individuals from diverse backgrounds for public office. Ant highlights its mission to boost progressive leaders, criticizing it for targeting specific groups like women of color and LGBTQ+ individuals while excluding others, promoting DEI hypocritically, and pushing agendas like equity over equality.

He reveals Emerge's success in New Mexico since 2006, with over 400 alumni, 126 in office, including high-profile figures like Deb Haaland and Melanie Stansbury. With a 97% win rate in 2022, it's influencing policy on issues like abortion and gender-affirming care.

Ant calls for conservatives to counter by creating a similar training model for inclusive Republican candidates to reclaim offices and align with New Mexico's values, emphasizing long-term strategy over short-term fixes.

Deb Haaland, proud to be a New Mexican, spoke in Albuquerque. She talked about the state's challenges; economic struggles, safety concerns, and climate change impacts; while emphasizing her belief in New Mexicans' resilience, informed by her own hardships as a single parent and financially strained individual. Announcing her campaign for governor, Haaland outlined goals to enhance safety, affordability, education, jobs, and environmental protection. She highlighted past achievements in renewable energy, community safety, and rural infrastructure, stressing immediate action and inviting New Mexicans to join her campaign for inclusive governance.

A grassroots Republican rally energized supporters with pledges, prayers, and speeches from candidates. Hosted by Pablo Martinez, the event highlighted local leadership and community involvement.

Speakers addressed critical issues including border security, fentanyl overdoses, parental rights in education and healthcare, opposition to bills enabling transgender treatments without consent, and criticisms of groups like Emerge New Mexico for undermining conservative values. Personal stories emphasized economic struggles, infrastructure needs, and the importance of voting Republican.

The rally urged attendees to mobilize friends and family for Election Day, stressing unity against perceived threats to freedoms, and calls to fight for a better future. Enthusiasm grew amid hopes for a Trump visit, ending on a note of hope and action.

Ralph DiPalma criticizes Albuquerque's approach to its exploding homeless repeat offender problem, highlighting the misuse of $70 million in taxpayer funds, including $15 million federal, at facilities lacking drug testing, warrant checks, or background screenings. Despite being full with 150 residents and a waiting list, success rates are near zero, as individuals are introduced to methadone and Suboxone without genuine rehabilitation.

He accuses contractors of appearing only when federal money became available, ignoring real needs while enabling drug trafficking in shelters. Volunteer ministers like him, who help without government funds, face dangers daily and call for federal investigators to probe why problems persist after 40 years of funding.

DiPalma warns of an expanding "international war zone" due to lax policies allowing drug-addicted individuals into housing without checks, fueled by orders for police to stand back. He urges alternatives to addictive substitutes, offering to fund bus tickets to successful programs, and pleads for mercy on vulnerable homeless amid rising addictions and missing persons.

KymberLee Voss talks about healthy living, focusing on nutrition, exercise, and mental health. She encourages nurturing mind, body, and soul with practical lifestyle changes.

Voss pushes for eliminating processed foods and additives, urging people to check labels closely. She swaps processed sugars for natural sweeteners like local honey, which may help with allergies. Linking diet to mental health, she highlights suicide’s prevalence among youth, tied to poor nutrition and preservatives.

She calls exercise a "magical drug," boosting dopamine and serotonin for better mood and sleep. Hydration is crucial too, 64 to 128 ounces of water daily, to fight fatigue and brain fog. Voss champions positive self-talk, recommending "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill for inspiration.

Voss suggests gradual changes, like cutting distractions (phones, TV) and cooking at home. For parents, she notes sugar’s effect on kids’ behavior, advocating active role-modeling. Blending personal experience with actionable advice, she offers a compelling take on living healthier in a challenging world.

Eric Vigil, CEO of the New Mexico Renaissance Celtic Festival, talked with Shane Dean and Gil Ortiz at Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood. Eric discussed the Renaissance Celtic Festival, launching in 2019 after years of assisting other events, growing into New Mexico’s largest festival across two weekends in April. Featuring diverse acts like the Harp Twins, jousting, and Italian band Daridel, it offers free entry for kids under 17, with tickets at $25 online or $30 at the gate.

The festival, set in a historical immersive environment, includes a masquerade ball and supports local vendors and Wildlife West, raising $49,000 in three years for the nonprofit zoo. Eric also highlighted the Wild West Frontier Festival in June and Pirate Viking Summer Festival in August, emphasizing community engagement, cultural education, and affordable family fun.

Yvonne Duran and Danny Sedillo, from New Mexico's East Mountains, discuss their experiences as older students pursuing degrees, sharing lighthearted stories about Doctor Who fandom and local life. They celebrate personal achievements like Yvonne's master's in Scottish heritage and Danny's associate's degree, emphasizing that education has no age limit.

The conversation shifts to supporting the LGBTQ+ community, highlighting backlash faced on social media for pro-LGBTQ+ posts. They express heartbreak over conditional love, hate, and high suicide rates due to lack of support, debunking myths that being LGBTQ+ is a choice or harmful. Personal anecdotes underscore the need for unconditional acceptance in parenting and society.

They advocate for education on history like Stonewall, resources such as the Trevor Project and 988 hotline, and small acts of kindness to foster safety. The dialogue stresses that hate perpetuates division, while love and dialogue build bridges.