GOVT/RRT SECTION Selected Items RRT INDEX 1-22 RRT-20a Governors RRT-20b See also: BLM1-23 List of Topics

--------------------------------------------------------------------- GOVERNORS (continued from other page BLM-20a) NEW MEXICO Michelle Lujan-Grisham (Democrat Governor) “Others like Michelle Lujan-Grisham, along with Attorney General Hector Balderas, have both shown a narrow minority bias in New Mexico which does not serve the greater American public in that state or the country as a whole.” --from PF Comments above Democrat governor - Hispanic, one of three Hispanic governors in a row in the 2000s; Governor Grisham+ NM Attorney General Hector Balderas Minority Power Movement signs = surround sound? Congresswoman for New Mexico’s 1st district; previously served as the head of New Mexico’s Agency of Aging and secretary of the Department of Health from 1991-2007 under Governors Bruce King, Gary Johnson and Bill Richardson; Richardson raised the position into the state cabinet and then named GGOrisham Health Secretary in 2004. Lawsuits and Complaints against Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham The Liberty Beacon 2020/05/21 International Criminal Court Complaint for Crimes Against Humanity – Against the NM Governor. Rico S. Giron https //www thelibertybeacon com/international-criminal-court-complaint-for-crimes-against- humanity-against-the-nm-governor/ NRAILA dot org 2020/04/10 NRA Files Lawsuit Against Anti-Gun New Mexico Governor: Suit is Among Many filed in Fight Against Gun Store Closures During COVID-19 Pandemic https //www nraila org/articles/20200410/nra-files-lawsuit-against-anti-gun-new-mexico-governor Santa Fe New Mexican 2020/03/26 Albuquerque Tea Party president sues Luján Grisham over coronavirus lockdown. By Danielle Prokop https //www santafenewmexican com/news/coronavirus/albuquerque-tea-party-president-sues-Luján- grisham-over-coronavirus-lockdown/article_9ee22126-6eaa-11ea-a75d-cbdefda582d7 html NMSU Roundup https //nmsuroundup com/9636/showcase/new-mexico-governor-candidate-Luján-grisham-has-less- than-impressive-resume/ Tim Covell served as ombudsman of the Agency of Aging until he resigned in 1997 when he claimed Grisham prevented him from sending a letter to the state Secretary of Health. According to the Albuquerque Journal in 1997, the letter asked the secretary at the time, Alex Valdez, to close a facility in Albuquerque that had continued to operate with the department’s knowledge for almost four years without a license in which they had been denied. Fort Bayard: Grisham told the Albuquerque Journal, that the department knew about these problems “for a long time from adult protective services” and that “her head was exploding” after receiving the reports. She also said that the administrator for Ft. Bayard was not licensed. Grisham hired GEO Groups, a company that provides rehabilitation to in- custody individuals, to run Ft. Bayard in 2005, the same year after the DoJ did their investigation.[Note from PF: The question is why didn’t she do anything about it earlier on?] https //nmsuroundup com/9636/showcase/new-mexico-governor-candidate-Luján-grisham-has-less- than-impressive-resume/ AP News New Mexico seeks court’s protection from business lawsuits. By Morgan Lee https //apnews com/article/michelle-Luján-grisham-health-lawsuits-coronavirus-pandemic-courts- b91a8df5f39fccc9ecd903f0941bc3ae New Mexico’s governor and top health officials are trying to fend off a flurry of lawsuits by businesses owners who say financial losses caused by the state’s pandemic health orders amount to a regulatory taking and should be compensated. In a Monday night court filing, the administration of Gov. Michelle Lujan-Grisham urged the state Supreme Court to intervene and defuse the lawsuits. “Under well- established law, harms caused by the exercise of the state’s police power to protect public health are not compensable,” attorneys for the governor’s office and the state attorney general’s wrote. Current Argus 2020/05/08 Eddy County sues Gov. Michelle Lujan-Grisham for unfair emergency orders. Mike Smith https //www currentargus com/story/news/2020/05/08/eddy-county-board-commissioners-vote-sue- nm-governor/3095209001/ Excerpt: Eddy County’s Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to file a cause of action against New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan-Grisham during a special meeting Thursday. “The described action was for the Eddy County Commission to make a motion to act in a local coalition with counties, municipalities and local legislators to draft a cause of action directed to the governor to address the equality and equitable applications of broad emergency orders in order to protect the civil liberties, including free trade of the citizens and constituents within the coalition,” said Eddy County Manager Allen Davis after commissioners reconvened from their closed-door meeting. State Rep. Jim Townsend (R-54) said commissioners were right in crafting the action plan. “The governor has infringed on the civil liberties of people when she picks and chooses who wins and loses,” he said. “When you allow one store to stay open and another one to close, and their both selling the same product, that’s not fair.” https //www currentargus com/story/news/2020/05/08/eddy-county-board-commissioners-vote-sue- nm-governor/3095209001/ 1/ KRQE New Mexico GOP backs business lawsuit against Governor, health order fines. Chris McKee https //www krqe com/health/coronavirus-new-mexico/republican-party-of-new-mexico-backs-lawsuit- against-gov-Luján-grisham-and-administration/ Democrat Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham. Notice that Grisham was one of the coalition of governors (See Willamette Week in Portland Governors) causing Trump a problem; one of the issues is that Republicans very strongly do not trust the mail-in voting process. Notice that New Mexico has only had Hispanic governors Bill Richardson, Susana Martinez and Michelle Lujan-Grisham in the 2000s. https //www krqe com/health/coronavirus-new-mexico/republican-party-of-new-mexico-backs-lawsuit- against-gov-Luján-grisham-and-administration/ Governors New Mexico 2003-2011 Bill Richardson (born 1947) Mexican American Democratic New Mexico January 1, 2003 January 1, 2011 2011 - 2019 Susana Martinez term ended 2019 (born 1959) Mexican American Republican New Mexico January 1, 2011 January 1, 2019 2019 - present [as of 2020/10] Michelle Lujan-Grisham (born 1959) Mexican American Democratic New Mexico January 1, 2019 present Articles COVID-19: Business Fines, Lawsuits Albuq. Jrnl Apodaca: Luján Grisham should be investigated over alleged discrimination https //www abqjournal com/1108324/apodaca-Luján-grisham-should-be-investigated-over-alleged- discrimination.html Current Argus 2020/08/07 9 businesses suing the State of New Mexico for compensation amid COVID-19 health orders. By Adrian Hennen https //www currentargus com/story/news/local/2020/08/07/new-mexico-businesses-sue-state-over-covid-19- health-orders/3292114001/ News Ballotpedia 2020/08/12 https //news ballotpedia.org/2020/08/12/new-mexico-supreme-court-rules-governor-Luján-grisham-may-fine- businesses-for-violating-public-health-orders/ KRWG 2020/05/15 Republican Party of New Mexico Announces Legal Action Against The Governor [over COVID-19 restrictions on businesses] https //www krwg org/post/republican-party-new-mexico-announces-legal-action-against-governor Excerpt: Today RPNM announced that a team of attorneys has been assembled in preparation to file a lawsuit against Gov. Michelle Lujan-Grisham. The specifics of this legal action will be made once the suit is filed. “We have heard from jobless workers and businesses across the state, and they are all saying the same thing –‘Without immediate relief, our livelihood will be lost for good’.'" said House Republican Leader Jim Townsend. “The outpouring of support to fund this legal effort has been overwhelming. The Governor’s orders have put our state in such a position that our only recourse now is legal action. Hundreds of businesses across the state have already gone out of business. 210 restaurants have closed their doors for good - that represents over 4,500 employees who have lost their jobs." NPR dot org [New Mexico - Grisham shows her true colors for a minority-centered position - she is not working for the broader American public inside or beyond New Mexico] 2020/08/18 New Mexico governor on DNC Latinx voters and the coronavirus https://www.npr.org/2020/08/18/903616322/new-mexico-governor-on-dnc-latinx-voters-and-the-coronavirus NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan-Grisham about her upcoming speech at the Democratic National Convention, the pitch to Latinx voters and the coronavirus in her state. I really appreciate this question because we've got active voter suppression that's now being led at the federal level in addition to, you know, generations - right? - of efforts to gerrymander and prevent communities of color and Hispanic and Latino communities from voting. So here's what we need. I think that the Biden/Harris campaign and the DNC - and I was pleased yesterday - need to do the following things. You have to remind people what's at stake. They're doing that. But they also have to motivate us about why we can make a difference. When we talk about racial injustice, we have to make sure that you're talking about all communities of color. You want to talk about racial injustice, talk about - to the Hispanic communities in New Mexico and immigrant communities and Native American communities. So they've got to reach in to those voters and motivate them that this really is the only way we start tackling those as a nation - is if we get Biden and Harris into the White House….This makes a difference in my state for sure. You're going to fix the procurement code so that you highlight and make sure that communities of color and Hispanic small-owned businesses are going to get their fair share of federal contracts. That is a game-changer in a state that needs - and frankly, we have a lot of federal dollars flowing through here. But are they getting to women-owned in particular, Hispanic women-owned businesses? No, they're not. And if they're going to dedicate their efforts to doing that across federal government, that can make the difference between real equity in a business. And businesses with that kind of equity could have survived in COVID. https://www.npr.org/2020/08/18/903616322/new-mexico-governor-on-dnc-latinx-voters-and-the-coronavirus Santa Fe New Mexican https //www santafenewmexican com/news/coronavirus/albuquerque-tea-party-president-sues-Luján- grisham-over-coronavirus-lockdown/article_9ee22126-6eaa-11ea-a75d- cbdefda582d7.html#:~:text=The%20president%20of%20the%20Albuquerque%20Tea%20Party%20filed,emerge ncy%20orders%20to%20prevent%20the%20spread%20of%20COVID-19. USA Today 2018/02/14 Transgender woman fired from internship accuses Rep. Michelle Lujan-Grisham's office of discrimination Michael Collins https //www usatoday com/story/news/politics/2018/02/14/transgender-woman-accuses-rep-michelle-Luján- grishmans-office-discrimination-after-she-fired-interns/338148002/ OREGON Kate Brown Democrat Governor - Why Portland is important: Some of the most intense and long-winded riots happened there in connection with the George Floyd event in Minnesota. Several months of ongoing riots. Much damage to buildings, including particularly excessive graffiti. Problems have often happened at night and around government buildings. The governor has been particularly oppositional with Trump and attempts at federal assistance. Here are some things to know about this governor: Republicans really dislike her - very low approval ratings; they tried to oust her in 2019-see Oregon Live-2019/07/15, mostly over climate change legislation-some Republican attorneys tried to sue her. She is bisexual. Bisexual Governor Brown The Conversation 2015/03/02 Oregon leads the way with nations first openly bisexual governor https //theconversation com/oregon-leads-the-way-with-nations-first-openly-bisexual-governor-37911 Releasing Prisoners in Oregon Newsbreak https://www.newsbreak.com/news/1547767830614/state-said-up-to-6000-oregon-inmates-would-face-release- to-allow-social-distancing-gov-kate-brown-said-no https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2020/08/gov-kate-brown-to-consider-estimated-400-prisoners-for-early- release-due-to-coronavirus.html Portland Officials Lack of Cooperation Barr/Wolf Letter Republicans Homeland House dot gov dated 08/06/2020 https://republicans-homeland.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/mdr-t-wolf-barr-re-riots-8.6.20- signed1268.pdf Dear Attorney General Barr and Acting Secretary Wolf: For the past two months Portland, Oregon has experienced nightly violence from rioters who are targeting law enforcement and federal buildings, including the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse. As much of the violence occurred in the vicinity of the federal courthouse and damage to the facility was mounting, the Department of Homeland Security deployed additional personnel to bolster security to the courthouse and other federal buildings in the vicinity, which is consistent with the Department’s authority under 40 U.S.C. § 1315 and responsibilities prescribed by Congress. Rioters directly targeted law enforcement with violence, including improvised explosives, rocks, glass bottles, a sledgehammer, ball bearings and marbles launched from slingshots, and used lasers to temporarily, and potentially permanently, blind the eyes of officers. I support peaceful protests, but this is not that. It is my understanding that over 245 law enforcement officers have been injured, including several who have sustained serious injuries. Just as all use of force cases by federal officers are and should be reviewed, cases of violent attacks on law enforcement must also be investigated, and the perpetrators must be brought to justice. As former Vice President Joe Biden said, the “arsonists and anarchists should be prosecuted.” The United States has a long history of law enforcement agencies supporting each other. This is particularly true in the post 9/11 environment. Acting Secretary Wolf has been clear that prior to surging federal resources to Portland, DHS requested assistance and coordination with state and local officials and law enforcement to address the violent rioters. Those requests were denied. Instead, Portland officials carried out a smear campaign against federal officials, dismissed calls to address the violence, and passed resolutions preventing local police from providing any assistance, coordination, or information with federal counterparts. This lack of cooperation made a difficult situation worse and may have further exposed federal personnel and facilities to violent attacks, putting politics over American lives. As of July 29, 2020, a joint security plan was reportedly finalized between DHS, the Department of Justice and the Oregon State Police, in which the state police agreed to deploy additional forces to Portland to assist with securing the area around the federal courthouse. Despite media reports that this action has ended the violent riots, it is my understanding that the violence has continued to occur around the federal courthouse, and federal officers have continued to be targeted with fireworks, lasers, and projectiles. As your departments review the violent rioting that has occurred in Portland, I am requesting you conduct a joint investigation into the breakdown of cooperation, mutual assistance and information sharing by state and local law enforcement with their federal counterparts in Portland, Oregon between May 29, 2020 and July 29, 2020. Furthermore, I request that you provide to Congress a full assessment of the injuries to federal personnel caused by violent rioters while on duty in Portland during this same time period, as well as an accounting of the damage done to federal facilities. It is vital that a thorough investigation be conducted into the violent actors that have disrupted a peaceful protest movement, caused significant damage to a federal courthouse, and caused injury to hundreds of law enforcement officers. As part of this investigation, I urge you to ensure that all security footage be maintained and nightly reports on violent incidents and the use of force be collected. To the greatest extent possible, while not endangering law enforcement operations, it is important that information be shared with the public. Thank you for your service and your continued commitment to carrying out the vital missions of your departments. I look forward to receiving a briefing on the results of your investigations into the violence in Portland and the problematic lack of state and local police support. Sincerely, Mike D. Rogers, Alabama Ranking Member From the point of view of someone not living in Oregon nor innately familiar with its politics and “players”, Willamette Weekly might have a bias toward the Democrat position; Oregon Live might either have a bias toward the conservative position, or is more objective in its reporting of both the Republican and Democrat issues. Oregon Live 2019/07/15 Oregon GOP launches effort to recall Democratic Gov. Kate Brown. By Hillary Borrud https //www oregonlive com/news/2019/07/oregon-gop-launches-effort-to-recall-democratic-gov-kate- brown.html Excerpt: The chairman of the Oregon Republican Party on Monday filed paperwork to launch a recall against Democratic Gov. Kate Brown, citing some of the laws Democrats passed in the 2019 legislative session. Willamette Week 2020/09/30 Gov. Kate Brown Joins Coalition of Governors Demanding President Trump Commit to Peaceful Transfer of Power. By Ariel McGee https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2020/09/30/gov-kate-brown-joins-coalition-of-governors- demanding-president-trump-commit-to-peaceful-transfer-of-power/ The governors adamantly dismissed rumors ignited last night by President Trump regarding mail-in voting. The coalition of 11 governors includes Brown, Jay Inslee (WA), Gavin Newsom (CA), Phil Murphy (NJ), Gretchen Whitmer (MI), Tony Evers (WI), Tim Walz (MN), Ralph Northam (VA), John Carney (DE), Steve Sisolak (NV) and Michelle Lujan-Grisham (NM), who have responded to fears associated with vote-by- mail ballots. All are Democrats. LIST OF GOVERNORS-MINORITIES (Wikipedia) NOT COMPREHENSIVE With the exception of Douglas Wilder (1990s), the governors Accessed from the broader list had terms ending in the 2000s. Virginia Douglas Wilder term ended 1994 (born 1931) African American Democratic Virginia January 13, 1990 January 15, 1994 Hawaii Ben Cayetano governor term ended 2002 (born 1939) Filipino American Democratic Hawaii December 2, 1994 December 2, 2002 Washington Gary Locke term ended 2005 Retired (born 1950) Chinese American Democratic Washington January 15, 1997 January 12, 2005 Retired New Mexico Bill Richardson term ended 2011 (born 1947) Mexican American Democratic New Mexico January 1, 2003 January 1, 2011 Massachusetts Deval Patrick term ended 2015 (born 1956) African American Democratic Massachusetts January 4, 2007 January 8, 2015 Retired Louisiana Bobby Jindal term ended 2016 (born 1971) Indian American Republican Louisiana January 14, 2008 January 11, 2016 New York David Paterson term ended 2010 (born 1954) African American Democratic New York March 17, 2008 December 31, 2010 Elevated to office from lieutenant governor. Retired New Mexico Susana Martinez term ended 2019 (born 1959) Mexican American Republican New Mexico January 1, 2011 January 1, 2019 Nevada Brian Sandoval term ended 2019 (born 1963) Mexican American Republican Nevada January 3, 2011 January 7, 2019 Term limited South Carolina Nikki Haley 2011 - 2017 (born 1972) Indian American Republican South Carolina January 12, 2011 January 24, 2017 Resigned to become to United States Ambassador to the United Nations Hawaii David Ige 2014-present [as of 2020/10] (born 1957) Okinawan American Democratic Hawaii December 1, 2014 present New Hampshire Chris Sununu 2017-present [as of 2020/10] (born 1974) Salvadoran American Republican New Hampshire January 5, 2017 present New Mexico (present as of 2020/10/24 internet extraction of list) Michelle Lujan-Grisham 2019 - present (born 1959) Mexican American Democratic New Mexico January 1, 2019 present Oklahoma Kevin Stitt 2019-present [as of 2020/10] (born 1972) Native American (Cherokee) Republican Oklahoma January 14, 2019 present Updates 2021/09/15 bolds cleared, some other editing; 2020/12/08 2020/10/26 more updates, Colorado governor added along with ObamaCare red flag; 2020/10/25 Select Governors section added; 2020/10/24 Page Started BLM20-Minority Governors, etc.