News for Immediate Release
May 9, 2018
Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, [email protected]
New Mexico BHA chapter questions candidates for federal and state office
on a range of topics important to hunters, anglers, other public lands owners
SANTA FE, N.M. – Voters in New Mexico can familiarize themselves with the positions of candidates seeking federal or state office on a range of public lands-related issues through an online forum developed by the New Mexico chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.
New Mexico voters, including tens of thousands of hunters, anglers and other public lands owners, go to the polls on June 5 and again in November to elect a new governor, commissioner of public lands, U.S. senator and all three of the state’s delegates in the U.S. House of Representatives. More than 30 candidates are running in the June 5 primary in those races alone. Both absentee and early voting (at county offices) started on Tuesday.
To help voters understand where candidates stand on issues ranging from wildlife and public lands management to the future of the state’s multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation industry, New Mexico BHA sent each candidate a series of questions on April 16. BHA members in New Mexico followed up via email, phone calls and Facebook messages to ensure the campaigns had received the questionnaire. Reminders were sent as the deadline approached, and additional time to complete the questionnaire was provided if necessary. Most campaigns responded.
“Hunters and anglers must educate ourselves on candidate positions if we intend to pass on our outdoor heritage to the next generation,” said New Mexico BHA chairman Jarrett Babincsak. “The future of hunting, angling, public lands – all of the things critical to our way of life – is at risk, and it’s our turn to step up and protect it. My two daughters are counting on me, and on all of us, to take action. New Mexicans need to educate ourselves. We hunt, we fish, and we damn well better vote.”
Click the following links to read candidate responses:
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is the sportsmen’s voice
for our wild public lands, waters and wildlife.
Learn more about BHA: