Tagged: Voices Behind the Vote

This election year, we’ve heard from New Mexico families in KUNM’s Voices Behind the Vote series.

In our final installment, we meet an Albuquerque  man who is a vigorous defender of 2nd amendment gun rights and believes these rights are connected to other rights in a democracy.  He also makes a distinction between issues of the head and issues of the heart.

In the weeks leading up to Election Day, the KUNM News team has been exploring the lives and politics of  New Mexicans- in frank and intimate conversations.

This next installment in the KUNM Voices Behind the Vote series took us to visit with a couple in Rio Rancho.  Marriage equality for same-sex couples is the number one issue for them this year.

When Mary Houdeck and Norma Vazquez went on their first date in the late 1980s marriage for same sex couples was like a fantasy dream for many in the gay and lesbian community. 

As we close in on the last few days of the election season, the KUNM News Team has been hitting the streets, trying to get a sense of what's propelling New Mexicans to cast their votes.

“My name's Romeo Rocha…”

Romeo says when his mom was pregnant with him, his dad took her to see Romeo and Juliet, hence the name.

Romeo: “Yeah when you are younger and everyone is making fun with you it seems like a curse but after awhile you get used to it.”

Carol Lovato was born in Chicago. Her father was in the military so the family moved around a lot – to New Mexico, California, and Germany.

When it came time for her to choose a place to live as an adult, she went to the place where she felt the happiest as a child – Albuquerque. And she found a job that was just right for her.

CAROL: I was a history teacher at bulldog city, Albuquerque high for 30 years.

The KUNM Voices Behind the Vote series features intimate conversations with New Mexicans about the issues they care about most this election season. On a recent Friday morning, KUNM's Elaine Baumgartel met up with Abdu Wakil Cyeef Din and headed to a Motor Vehicle Division office in Albuquerque. 

Richard and Elaine Evans moved from Michigan to New Mexico for one...ok maybe two reasons. Aside from their grandchildren:

It was the flying that brought us to New Mexico. You have beautiful skies, and you can fly almost everyday. Richard and I had both flown, for years, small airplanes. And it's just been our passion.

Brianne Bigej has been really busy the past few years. She just finished law school at the University of New Mexico. Her partner, Eric Tomala is an academic advisor at UNM. He started a doctoral program in the Sociology department this fall. After work and school, Brianne and Eric try to squeeze in some time for fixing up a house they bought in Albuquerque in 2009.

BRIANNE: with all home projects, you have to have time and money…three years out will still have little bits and pieces left…laughing….

Our Voices Behind the Vote Series continues with Jessica and Danny Montaño of Los Lunas  who use their political disagreements to stay informed this election season...

When the 3rd period bell rings at Los Lunas High School...about 30 students make their way across campus to room B10 for Ms. Jessica Montaño's senior English class.

Ok this is the deal....we're going to take this step by step today.

Next in our Voices Behind the Vote series, we go to Texico, New Mexico, near the border with Texas.
Rita Daniels:  On a drizzly afternoon, I'm making my way into Texico, New Mexico, 16 miles east of Clovis, seeing signs for Romney/Ryan; no Obama signs out here.
On a drizzly afternoon, I met Mark and Twilla Koss
Twilla Koss:  I'm Twilla KossMark Koss:  Mark Koss

We've been profiling New Mexican families in KUNM's Voices Behind the Vote series.  We're asking people to speak frankly about the political issues they care most about this year.