As a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force, I am honored to serve on the Military and Veterans’ Affairs Interim Committee. This unique committee has traditionally not been political because advocacy on behalf of New Mexico’s veteran community is not a partisan issue. Unfortunately, under the new chairmanship of State Senator Harold Pope (D-Albuquerque), this committee has become toxic, dysfunctional, and you guessed it: political.
I was looking forward to serving with Senator Pope, who is retired from the Air Force. However, within just a few months, he has demonstrated his inability to be an effective leader, and it comes at a cost to New Mexico’s veterans. Instead of collaboratively working together on solutions and results for our veterans, Senator Pope has decided to use his chairmanship to score cheap political points with his progressive base.
Recently, he decided to promote a blatantly political letter attacking U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Douglas Collins and, by extension, President Donald Trump.
The letter was not listed on the meeting agenda, and we, the committee members, were intentionally given very little time even to review the letter before the chairman forced a vote on it. Republicans saw right through his scheme, immediately recognizing the bias and unfounded claims contained in the letter.
When we pushed back, Senator Pope threw a temper tantrum and called for a vote despite our sincere request to merely review and propose changes to the letter. I’ve never seen anything like that before.
So at the next meeting, I decided to present my own letter for consideration. To no surprise, Senator Pope threw another fit and denied the committee’s consideration of my letter, saying the matter was not on the agenda and that the letter was given to the members without sufficient notice. Sound familiar?
Furthermore, he lacked any sense of proper decorum and displayed unprofessional and frankly childish behavior. You can watch the video for yourselves, but any New Mexican, especially veterans throughout our state, will see this conduct entirely unbecoming of a leader.
Was this not bad enough for a committee chairman, Senator Pope is now seeking election as New Mexico’s next Lieutenant Governor. This role demands sensibility, patience, decorum, and the ability to work with others, like the current Lieutenant Governor, a Democrat, Howie Morales.
These recent events have revealed that Senator Pope cannot even properly conduct a meeting of a committee with approximately 10 members… how much less will he be able to preside over the entire State Senate or represent the diverse views of all New Mexicans?
As an elected leader and a veteran myself, I simply could not allow the public to remain uninformed about his leadership failures and the danger of giving him even more responsibility should he be elected to higher office. Instead, New Mexicans—and especially our honorable veterans—deserve fair and thoughtful leaders who will work towards solutions that benefit all New Mexicans.
Jay Block serves in the New Mexico Senate, representing District 12 in Bernalillo and Sandoval Counties since 2025.
Thank you for your service, Jay, and thank you of informing New Mexicans of Senator Pope’s inappropriate and unprofessional behavior. Unfortunately, he seems to be following the example of too many Democrats. This is a wake-up call to New Mexicans to not elect Senator Harold Pope for any position.
I have always appreciated your friendship and support my friend.
It’s mutual, Jay.
Paul, no democrat should be elected or re elected in any campaign for any position. This party is the party of childish evil and no New Mexican should ever, ever vote for a democrat again.
Sen Pope is a disgrace to his uniform I support what the VA has done for me I support Doug Collins and the work he’s doing
democrats suck
Pope apparently does .not have the maturity, or sensability to operate fairly or equally. John, I appreciate your service and you astute awareness to this kind of “railroad” management.
Stand Strong!
That was a great commentary on Pope. The democrat voters dont care. they are uninformed. If you try to inform them, they turn away. they would not read this article, and if they did, they would then vote for Pope. How do you think NM got itself into last place in everything ? with voters so blind to the truth they just vote party every time. NM is a beautiful place, but a place that is run by self centered imbeciles voted in by fools. Those that move to Texas see immediately the difference in governance, and are glad to be rid of this place. Nothing is going to change in NM because the voter is proud to be clueless. Jay Block, thank God we have you in Santa Fe to speak truth. the democrats have turned the Round House into a clown house used only to advance their own interests, financial and political. its a disgrace.
I have one liberal aquaintence. We speak at a functions we attend. When current events are discussed, she knows nothing about what is going on. When she chooses to speak, she repeats democrat talking points TO THE LETTER, down to the smallest and most ridiculous detail. it is amazing how programmed she is, and how well she has memorized what they have told her. Its like listening to a parrot. not one independent thought. its so ridiculous that I quit talking to her about anything other than the weather, whats good to eat, or a mindless movie that is out. She has ZERO interest in learning anything other than what the DNC tells her. Its frightening. thats whos voting for dems in NM
My son has served in the USAF the past 4 years & I am so proud of him. It’s always hard to believe anyone who has served in the military is DemoncRAT because that party is as anti-military as it is anti-cop, anti-religion, anti-family, ANTI-AMERICA, & all the rest of what decent people believe to be right & true. Or only PRO-military when it involves endless war (& outrageous sacrifice of flyover expendable Americans), coups, regime changes & such to line pockets.
Have you noticed that the Democratic Party has temper tantrums when they don’t get their way. I have noticed it on the National level as well as the local level. Look at the fit Mimi Stewart threw on a member of her own party, Melanie on National tv, Vasquez every time he’s interviewed.
Pelosi, Booker, Democratic Party in Texas heads for Illinois…I could go on and on. Their behavior is well documented but the voters still vote them in… I blame the voters for not doing their due diligence in educating themselves on those running for office.
As for Pope…mommy and daddy let him have his way…
Thank you Jay for the great job in representing Rio Rancho…is there a small chance you would move to ABQ and run for mayor? Keller is pathetic. I am hoping those running against Keller have a chance in beating this terrible mayor who has ruined our city..
Narcissist is the explanation of this man and the majority of political democRATS in NM.
Five key habits or traits of a narcissist include a grandiose sense of self-importance, a lack of empathy for others, a sense of entitlement, the exploitation of others, and a constant need for admiration and praise, all of which stem from an unrealistic belief in their own superiority.
More inspiration for hardworking, common sense New Mexico citizens to make the effort to vote.
Well… First off… Thank you for signing the dotted line giving up to…your life…as well what we all did volunteering for one of the greatest assets to our military…the USAF.
Without air support, without the 2nd and 3rd leg of a triade of national security in my day, of which I worked around both… our nation would not have the worlds undivided attention.
…and then… you run across sh*t like … Pope. People like Pope are the reasons I’ve questioned why I gave my youth up for an ungrateful little bit$h…. I find myself constantly reminding myself… I served for a better world that happens to include little bit#hes like Pope. Pope is… a scab. A democratic scab you keep pulling off to heal faster… but it just keeps bleeding.
Pope, served, we caint take that away…unless he fled like a prostitute like the Minnesota Governor Tampon Tim did, and skated by for a pension… but… somewhere Im certain had a brain bleed affecting his methodology.
You… not I boss, have got to find a way beyond the little bit$hes Pope, and damn near the entire DNC or Dead Democrat Party of NM.
I don’t have an easy answer for you either. Whatever you do…make sure its lawful. It can hit the gray area… but… keep it lawful.
Best of luck…in the worst of times…
Thanks for the heads up on one more deraingedocrat. At some point the newest generation will overcome the tradition of voting for democrats thanks to easy access to information. I am optimistic. Thanks
Jay, how can we access the video? Want to share with leftist friends. Thanks
Wow. Democrats always have rules for thee and not for me.
Hang in there. Pray without ceasing. We know who wins in the end; and we also know there will be tribulation.
My daughter, nephew & father were all in the Navy & my other nephew served in the Army. Unfortunately Pope like most Democrats are the perfect picture out of control 5 year old tantrum throwing brat. I honestly don’t understand why anyone would keep voting for them & letting them ruin this state.