Jay Block

Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block announces state Senate run

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On Tuesday, Republican Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block announced his candidacy for New Mexico state Senate in District 12, currently represented by state Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, a Democrat, who is retiring after his current term.

Ortiz y Pino has served in the seat since 2005, and this will be the first time the seat is up for election since the redistricting process. According to the Princeton Gerrymandering Project, the seat is composed of a 51.4 percent Democrat and 48.6 percent Republican vote share — a winnable seat for the GOP.

Block, a former 2022 gubernatorial candidate, wrote in a press release, “Since the end of the 2022 election, many of you have asked what my future would look like in our fight to save New Mexico. The answer to this question wasn’t immediately clear, but after many months of prayer, discussions with my family, and encouragement from you, I have some news to share.” 

“I will be launching my campaign as the Republican candidate to represent the incredible people of New Mexico’s Senate District 12. This decision was solidified after it became clear during the 2023 legislative session that the woke left would rather pass policies that help them virtue signal to their small base rather than help hard working New Mexicans.”

He continued, “New Mexicans want and need a fighter in Santa Fe that will stand up for our values of God, family, and freedom. If you know anything about me, then you know I’m not here to make friends—I’ll go head-to-head with the woke left and spineless politicians in the Roundhouse.”

“I will address the fentanyl crisis and drug addiction by using state resources to secure our southern border. I will protect New Mexico’s Second Amendment Rights. I will work to reform our failing education system, INSTEAD of teaching our children taboo gender ideology. I will cut wasteful spending, fight inflation, fight for bail reform to keep criminals off the streets, back our law enforcement by fighting to get their qualified immunity back, support pro jobs and business policies to stop the bleeding of jobs and businesses from New Mexico, introduce voter ID and other election security protocols to ensure election integrity, and reduce taxes to put more money back in your pocket.”

Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block announces state Senate run Read More »

‘Revictimizing a child’: Dow, Block respond after Ronchetti’s scorched earth attack

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Mark Ronchetti, a Republican candidate for governor, recently sent out a mailer and aired a television ad making untrue claims about state Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences). The attacks from the Ronchetti campaign make claims regarding a lawsuit involving a sexual predator who assaulted children at a daycare, AppleTree Education Center, which Dow helped found.

In Ronchetti’s television ad and mailer, he claims Dow “promoted” the pedophile and then “bullied” the victim’s family. Despite Dow being cleared of all wrongdoing whatsoever in the case, Ronchetti, whose campaign is being run by scorched earth political consultant Jay McCleskey, appears to be weaponizing the child’s trauma for political gain. McCleskey is known for his “win at all costs” tactics, resulting in even lengthy litigation where he has paid hundreds of thousands to candidates he defamed.

“The only truth this ad revealed is that Mark is willing to do or say anything to gain power,” said Dow. “By revictimizing a child in his false ad he’s trying to score cheap political points at the cost of making that child relive one of the worst moments of his life. I was not involved in the day-to-day functioning of the Boys and Girls Club as a member of the Club’s board. To suggest that I enabled this horrific event is slanderous and beyond insulting as somebody who has dedicated their life to protecting children and helping them reach their fullest potential.”

Even fellow Republican candidate, Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block, who is critical of Dow, spoke out against Ronchetti’s attack that went too far, despite his disagreements with the state representative. 

“For Mr. Ronchetti, and of course Jay McCleskey — you know that evil guy — for them to do this over a Memorial Day weekend, is just… there’s no honor in that, Mark and Jay. You have no honor doing that to not just Mrs. Dow, but the family that has to relive this event over and over again because you sent that out and you did that for political gain. And you should be ashamed of yourself for what you did. That’s something I would expect from MLG,” referring to Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

“And when you sit there and you actually talk and lie to everybody about uniting the party, you’re full of you know what,” he added. You and Jay McCleskey are destroying the party and you are destroying the lives of many people that you are hurting, including by the way — look up a gentleman named Scott Chandler, a great American, who Mr. McCleskey by the way had to pay $400,000 in a defamation lawsuit.” 

Dow dispatched a new television advertisement responding to Ronchetti’s latest attack, with Dow saying: 

I’m Rebecca Dow and I approve this message.

It’s shocking how blatantly dishonest Mark Ronchetti will be to win an election.

His claims are false and slanderous, as I’m sure a judge will agree.

I’ve dedicated my life to helping children learn and grow, serving on dozens of children’s charity boards.

Mark Ronchetti knows I had no direct involvement in this incident.

But he’s so desperate for power he’s willing to use abused children and their families for political gain.

That is inexcusable.

The primary election is on Tuesday, June 7, and early voting goes through this Saturday, June 4.

‘Revictimizing a child’: Dow, Block respond after Ronchetti’s scorched earth attack Read More »

GOP convention: Block, Sanchez, Thornton, Martinez Johnson win

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On Saturday, New Mexico Republican delegates met in Ruidoso at the MCM Elegante Lodge for the 2022 convention to advance candidates for the gubernatorial, lieutenant gubernatorial, congressional, and statewide races to get on the ballot on the June 7 primary.

GOP Congresswoman Yvette Herrell of the Second District fired up the crowd with a speech targeting the radical Democrats in Washington.

After the candidates gave their speeches, delegates voted via paper ballots after the electronic system previously announced to have been used malfunctioned. It is said this malfunction was regarding programming each individual delegate to their congressional district Therefore, the delegates gathered in lines outside three sets of doors in the convention center by congressional district to cast their votes, entering voting rooms two at a time.

Late on Saturday night, the Republican Party of New Mexico announced it would release the results from the vote on Sunday morning. The Party wrote, “The paper ballot voting went smoothly, and the results of the contests will be released once all ballots are properly and carefully counted.”

Delegates waited in lines for hours to cast their ballots with individual delegates voting first and then those who held proxies for those not in attendance voted afterward. Counting went late into the night, stopping in the 9:00 hour. The official results are below:

In the First Congressional District, Louie Sanchez garnered 66% with 181 votes, qualifying him for the primary ballot. Michelle Garcia Holmes garnered 28% of the vote (76 votes), meaning she will also qualify.

In the Third Congressional District race, Alexis Martinez Johnson qualified for the primary ballot with 185 votes or 87%.

Retired aerospace engineer Ant Thornton clinched a top spot on the ballot for lieutenant governor with 407 votes (59%) while no other candidates for the office made the ballot.

The official results show Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block got 199 votes, state Rep. Rebecca Dow got 192 votes, retired Brigadier General Greg Zanetti got 157 votes, ex-weatherman Mark Ronchetti got 110 votes, while former Cuba Mayor and executive director of the Right to Life Committee of New Mexico Ethel Maharg got 39.

According to Ronchetti’s campaign, it claims the failed U.S. Senate candidate did, indeed, make the ballot because of its “over 7,000” signatures gathered, which have not been confirmed to all be acceptable. The Republican Party of New Mexico confirmed this information that Ronchetti will be on the ballot due to his sufficient signatures.

Therefore the gubernatorial candidates who made the ballot other than Ronchetti include Block, Dow, and Zanetti.

The unopposed statewide candidates’ vote totals are below:

Secretary of State: Audrey Trujillo                 100%    681 votes
Attorney General: Jeremy Gay                         100%    678  votes
State Treasurer: Harry Montoya                      100%    679  votes
Commissioner of Public Lands: Jeff Byrd    100%    670  votes

GOP convention: Block, Sanchez, Thornton, Martinez Johnson win Read More »

Piñon Post interviews GOP gubernatorial candidate Jay Block

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On August 21, 2021, Republican gubernatorial candidate Jay Block had a one-on-one interview with Piñon Post editor John Block (no relation) to discuss the 2022 governor’s race to take out Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, current events, and what Jay Block brings to the race. Jay Block is a retired lieutenant colonel in our nation’s Air Force and a current Sandoval County Commissioner in his second term.

WATCH:

If the video is not showing up for you, please visit the video here.

Find out more about Jay at BlockForNewMexico.com.

All Republican candidates for governor are scheduled for interviews and these interviews are being posted in alphabetical order by their last names. The next batch of one-on-one interviews will be posted this week featuring Rebecca Dow and Ethel Maharg.

The Piñon Post has made it a policy of not endorsing candidates. 

Piñon Post interviews GOP gubernatorial candidate Jay Block Read More »

In desperate ploy, embattled Gov. Lujan Grisham lashes out at GOP challengers

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On Friday, embattled Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who has been criticized far and wide for her scandal-ridden tenure full of crotch-grabbing settlements and mismanaging taxpayer funds, is now lashing out at the Republican candidates for governor who are working to fire her in 2022.

In an email to supporters asking for money titled “calling out far-right extremism,” Lujan Grisham, who previously called anti-MLG protesters “QAnon lizard people,” has once again devolved to name-calling and gaslighting. 

She wrote, “[A]ll our progress could be wiped away if Trump’s allies take control of the governorship.” 

Her email continued: 

I’ll be frank: The GOP candidates for Governor are a danger to our state’s progress. These candidates parrot Trump’s lies about the 2020 election and are hellbent on disenfranchising voters. Many of the GOP’s top picks also cater to far-right extremist groups – pushing hateful agendas to take away LGBTQ rights and reproductive freedom and threatening to roll back all of the progress we’ve made in the last two years.  

We’ve seen what divisive, radical agendas do to states and their economies. The GOP’s slate of candidates for Governor are out of touch with New Mexicans. If they are elected, it would be disastrous for the people of New Mexico and our state’s economic progress.

… Please, friend, donate $10 – or whatever you can spare – by midnight tonight to help me keep our state safe from far-right extremism:

The latest attacks by Lujan Grisham appear to grasp for straws, bashing Republican opponents as “extremists” for wanting to fight election fraud and trying to claim Republcians’ economic policies would cripple New Mexico, despite her very own policies plunging New Mexicans into poverty while Republican-led states, such as North Dakota and Florida that did not lock down their citizens during the pandemic have rebounded tremendously, outperforming New Mexico’s snail-like recovery. 

Three Republicans have announced their runs for governor, including business Karen Bedonie of Mexican Springs, Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block of Rio Rancho, and Albuquerque financier Greg Zanetti of Albuquerque.

In desperate ploy, embattled Gov. Lujan Grisham lashes out at GOP challengers Read More »

New Mexicans honor fallen heroes on Memorial Day

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Memorial Day is a time for reflection and thankfulness for those men and women who served our country and died in battle protecting American freedoms. New Mexicans from across the state are holding ceremonies statewide to honor these fallen heroes and paying their respects to them for their sacrifice. 

Here are some New Mexicans’ messages of thanks to those who served: 

Congresswoman Yvette Herrell, New Mexico’s Second District: 

Today we remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedom.

…

“Greater love has no one than this,” Scripture tells us, than “to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Today we honor the men and women of America’s armed forces who gave their lives for their friends, for their families, and for a grateful nation.

Congresswoman Herrell honored Gold Star families over the weekend at a memorial dedicatinon ceremony in the Second District.

Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block, Gubernatorial Candidate and Retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel:

This Memorial Day, I ask you to take some time to #rememberthefallen and the sacrifices they and their families made to keep our Nation free and strong. We will always honor them and never forget them. This picture was taken Memorial Day 2014 in France. The name on the Cross is my great Uncle, Euclid Bourke who was KIA in Jan 1945. I think I am the only family member to visit him and I told him that day I will be back.

Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce: 

“Today we all honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our freedoms. We must never forget the brave men and women of our armed forces who served and gave their lives for our great nation throughout its history. These fallen heroes have allowed us all to live in a country that’s safe and free. Today we pay special tribute to these patriots who served to defend our way of life,  and we should always be inspired by their courage and dedication to protect the ideals of freedom, justice and equality.”

State Sen. Mark Moores, Republican Nominee for Congress in the First District: 

“On this special day of remembrance, my wife Lisa and I want to pay tribute to the brave men and women of our armed forces who fought and died in defense of our great nation. We honor their memory and their service. These heroes were our greatest public servants, and they made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of democracy.  This is a day to reflect, remember and honor those fallen heroes who help protect our nation, defend our freedoms and ensure our American way of life.”

From all of us at the Piñon Post, we give the greatest honor and respect to our fallen heroes this Memorial Day and wish the most profound thanks to all who continue to honorably serve our great nation to protect our God-given freedoms.

NOTE: The Memorial Day sentiments listed above by public officials and organizations are by no means a complete list. Please check back for possible additions.

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Gov. MLG forcing masks on toddlers, jabs for teens to attend campaign event

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Embattled Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is poised to formally launch her 2022 campaign for governor on June 3rd at the Albuquerque Museum on Mountain Road in Albuquerque.

However, for fans of the scandal-ridden governor to get through the door, attendees must both be fully vaccinated and wear masks, which goes against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. 

“This will be a limited capacity event due to COVID-19 restrictions. You must register in order to join us in person. Registrations are handled on a first-come, first-served basis and general admission tickets are sold out for now. By registering for a waitlist ticket, you will be notified as soon as spots become available. Vaccinations are required for attendees over the age of 12. Masks are requested for those older than two,” reads the invitation.

In the invite for the event, Lujan Grisham’s campaign writes, “New Mexico has accomplished so much — but we’re not done yet.” 

The Governor also tweeted out an invitation video to the 2022 campaign launch, saying, “You’re not gonna want to miss this.” 

One concerned New Mexican who lives in the Albuquerque area recently wrote a letter to the Albuquerque Museum concerned over the event’s requirements, which go against the CDC guidelines. 

“It is particularly concerning that anyone over the age of 12 needs to mask and be vaccinated to enter. Children are considered at low risk for covid, both in terms of transmission, contraction and long-term effects. As a parent myself, I would not sign my child up for an experimental, non-FDA approved shot for a virus that likely would not affect them. I may reconsider once it is FDA-approved and/or research shows that it is risk-warranted. The governor has been recommending masking and vaccinating children against the advice of national experts, and by hosting her event, your organization is complicit in replicating this unethical recommendation,” they wrote. 

“I have long been a patron of the museum and am shocked and disappointed that you would tarnish your otherwise upstanding reputation by hosting this event under the present conditions. I urge you to either reconsider hosting this or revising the guidelines for it. As a taxpayer, patron and one who hosts visiting guests in my business work, I will not be visiting or recommending the museum to others any longer, should this go forward. Medical discrimination in a public facility, perpetrated by a political figure that should be acting in the best interests of her constituents is not something I wish to support,” the letter continued.

Lujan Grisham already has two Republican challengers, including Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block and businesswoman Karen Bedonie.

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Karen Bedonie announces candidacy for New Mexico governor

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On Saturday, businesswoman Karen Bedonie of Mexican Springs, north of Gallup, entered the 2022 race for governor of New Mexico, making her the second Republican to announce their candidacy following Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block who announced last Saturday. 

In an announcement video, Bedonie says, “I am a woman of courage and I have worked tirelessly to formulate a liberating plan for the beautiful state of New Mexico.”

“The heaviest burdens that weigh my mind are what we need to do to save our state: energy, safety, law enforcement support, education, reducing taxes, cutting the red tape for small businesses, freedom, independence, jobs, agriculture, forestry, and all of our very precious industries here in New Mexico. And we also need to keep God in our endeavors.” 

“I have respect for the moderate Democrat[s] that are also the same as my Democratic parents. The common ground is based on conservatism. It’s the teachings that have shaped my life to become a loving person and a hard worker.”

The announcement video, which features inter-spliced photographs of Bedonie holding a rife, posing with law enforcers, her husband, and her family, portrayed her campaign’s focuses on a family, faith, and freedoms-based message.

“I believe the Second Amendment of the Constitution is absolute, written so beautifully that the builders of this nation installed these rights to withstand tyranny and the trampling of our liberties and freedoms. As a mother of five daughters, we will bear arms to protect ourselves. Missing, murdered, and indigenous women is real and is also unresolved,” Bedonie said in the announcement video. 

Bedonie’s formal announcement took place at Allen Hall in Grady, New Mexico, where people from across the state, including Albuquerque-area and Hobbs, gathered to support the candidate. At the event, Bedonie and her daughters served fry bread to attendees and spoke with supporters about issues to turn the state around. She previously ran for Congress in 2020 for the Third District, which covers most of northern New Mexico.

If Bedonie wins the GOP nomination, she will face embattled Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who was accused and later settled $62,500 for sexual assault. Lujan Grisham has been a controversial figure in New Mexico, grabbing national headlines for her hostility toward New Mexicans during COVID-19 and her penchant to ram through extreme far-left legislation to further her agenda.

Karen Bedonie announces candidacy for New Mexico governor Read More »

Jay Block announces candidacy for New Mexico governor

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On Saturday, Republican Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block announced his candidacy for the governorship of New Mexico in 2022, the first prominent GOP figure in the state to throw their hat in the ring to replace embattled Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who was accused and later settled $62,500 for sexual assault. The announcement was held at the Rio Rancho Veterans Memorial Park.

Block, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force as a nuclear weapons officer in Afghanistan and a two-term county commissioner in Sandoval County, said, “I intend to be a governor that New Mexico can finally be proud of.” 

Block was a co-sponsor of a 2018 measure establishing a “right-to-work” law in Sandoval County. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham-signed law was later passed that bans the enforcement of “right-to-work” laws, forcing New Mexicans to pay into labor unions even if they don’t want to. 

“We are seeing us being silenced, being canceled. And today, we find ourselves fighting for our freedoms once again. Our way of life is being threatened and encroached upon by our own government, by elected officials that are tasked with representing us,” said Block during his remarks. 

“Under the guise of safety, power-hungry politicians have stripped more and more of our rights away and erected laws that benefit their elitist allies while handcuffing hard-working New Mexicans.”  

“Yet, Michelle [Lujan Grisham] is proud of where New Mexico stands today. Michelle is proud that New Mexico ranks last in education. Michelle is proud that New Mexico ranks first in child poverty. Michelle is proud that New Mexico ranks first in child hunger. Michelle is proud that New Mexico ranks at or near the bottom when it comes to violent crime, unemployment, and poverty,” said Block.

“These are things not to be proud of. These are things to be ashamed of, and Governor: New Mexico is ashamed of you.” He added, “All we are asking today is we want our freedoms back.” 

Regarding Lujan Grisham’s silence on Joe Biden’s anti-energy policies such as canceling the job-rich Keystone XL pipeline, Block said, “The governor lied to all of you. She stayed silent because the governor wanted to go to D.C. to be either vice president or cabinet secretary because she knew she was leaving this state a disaster. And now we are going t hold her accountable.” 

Block has a good turnout at the event, with many high-profile names showing up to back his bid for governor, including firebrand state Rep. Stefani Lord (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval, and Santa Fe) and Rep. Joshua Hernandez (R-Sandoval). Block is the first in the ring on the Republican side for the GOP nomination, however, others may have shown interest. State Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Grant, Hidalgo, and Sierra) has teased the idea, and 2020 candidate for Congress in the Third District, Karen Bedonie is planning an announcement later in April.

Jay Block announces candidacy for New Mexico governor Read More »

Dem county official blasted for saying people are being shot because of ‘the shape of their face’

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During the closing remarks at Thursday’s Sandoval County Commission meeting, first-term Democrat Commissioner Katherine A. Bruch of the First District made eyebrow-raising comments regarding mass shootings, claiming recent uses of guns to kill can be attributed to the “color” of peoples’ skin and “the shape of their face.” 

Across the country, the media has been fixated on crimes involving Asian American and Pacific Islanders after a gunman in Atlanta, Georgia shot up multiple massage parlors where he killed eight people, including people of multiple races. It has been surmised that the shootings were tied to sex addiction, not racial hatred.

Bruch said during the meeting, “This has kinda been a hard week in many ways with more mass shootings and even longer than that, with certain communities being assaulted more directly and I know I have some family members that fall into some categories that are more visible for whatever reason and I am just very saddened that we are having these individuals that are—for whatever reason—going out and shooting or assaulting people because of the color of their skin and the shape of their face.” 

“So, I just want you all to remember them in your thoughts and prayers, and then let’s get to work and let’s do something more effective than thinking about them by getting serious about helping with mental health, making sure that we provide the correct training and tools for our law enforcement, and that we are regulating the possession of weapons by those who have no business owning them,” she concluded. 

Second-term Republican Commissioner Jay Block of the Second District chimed in on the conversation after Bruch’s assessment regarding the need for more gun bans amid shootings. He took exception to her comments regarding face shape because he has children who are interracial. 

He said, “I am not sure what the ‘shape of their face’ means. We all have different shapes of faces unless you’re talking about my kids who are interracial. I don’t know. I would maybe change those words a little bit.” 

This is just the latest racially questionable comment made by a Democrat politician in recent weeks after Democrat nominee for Congress, state Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-Bernalillo) said that displaced Navajo workers who would be losing their good-paying jobs “can sell their art or their wool” instead, insinuating that Native American workers can somehow shift focus in their job prospects to another field that Stansbury stereotypically decided was arts and crafts. 

Dem county official blasted for saying people are being shot because of ‘the shape of their face’ Read More »

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