Rawson’s Extreme Partisanship
August 22, 2008
State Senator Leonard Lee Rawson’s political weapons of choice in his 21-year legislative career have been extreme partisanship, confrontation and filibustering that have defeated important legislation for low income residents and the middle class of Dona Ana County and Sierra County. In terms of self-interest he appears to push for capital outlays that sometimes favor his own personal businesses i.e. infrastructure for 14th Street.
His overbearing partisanship is clearly revealed when he threatened the Dona Ana County Board of Commissioners to withhold state capital outlay funds from the County. The reason for this threat was the 2007 censure by the Board of Commissioners of the County Treasurer, Jim Schoonover. Mr. Schoonover was censured for a laundry list of misuse of county staffers and equipment for personal use at the taxpayer’s expense. By the way it is surprising that this tainted County Treasurer is running again. The Republican on the Board reported that Rawson would not seek funding for the County during the legislative session unless the censure was rescinded.
In addition, his political antics have lost $173,000 in Dona Ana County infrastructure funds, $295,000 for schools, parks, and museums and $50,000 for Sheriff’s equipment. His constant bickering with the governor and others has really hurt our community.
We need a new State Senator for District 37. That person is Steve Fischmann, a dedicated community leader, who is outspoken in his belief in government that services all the people not just special interests. James Madison, one of our great Presidents described the best public official as someone “whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of the people.” In the case of Mr. Fischmann, I know we have such a person.
Greg Lennes
Las Cruces
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