This week on New Mexico in Focus examines a political race that tends to get overlooked: electing a judge to the New Mexico Court of Appeals. Six of the 10 judicial positions are on the ballot this election, and four of those are contested races. The races also present a unique election situation. All four feature incumbent Republican male judges appointed by Gov. Susana Martinez and all four female challengers are Democratic women.

Special correspondent Martha Burk sits down with the two candidates in Position 4: incumbent judge Daniel Gallegos, a Republican, and challenger Megan Duffy, a Democrat. They examine the role of an appellate judge and look at the dynamic of gender in these races.

Special correspondent Sarah Gustavus again visits Carlsbad to take a closer look at young professionals trying to make a life in a town bursting at the seams. This is part two of a series New Mexico in Focus produced with the Carlsbad Current-Argus.

Host Gene Grant and the Line opinion panelists discuss the role attack ads, big-name support, and newspaper endorsements actually play in political races. They also examine the disparity between high administrative pay and declining enrollment at The University of New Mexico, and look at a past lawsuit of excessive use of force that is clouding a recent Albuquerque Police Department hire.

New Mexico PBS’ one-hour public affairs show New Mexico in Focus regularly airs Fridays at 7 p.m. and repeats Sundays at 7 a.m. on Channel 5.1, and Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. on Channel 9.1, except during pledge drives.

Studio Guests
Megan Duffy (D), challenger, Judge of the Court of Appeals Position 4
Daniel Gallegos (R), incumbent, Judge of the Court of Appeals Position 4

Correspondents
Martha Burk
Sarah Gustavus

 

Line Panelists
Tom Garrity, the Garrity Group PR
Mary Hudetz, reporter, Associated Press
Andy Lyman, reporter, NM Political Report
Laura Sanchez-Rivét, attorney, Cuddy and McCarthy, LLP

 

Host
Gene Grant

New Mexico in Focus is New Mexico PBS’ prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues and people that are shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest.

Hosted by Gene Grant, NMiF takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic health, education, and arts issues, and explores them in-depth, with a critical eye to give them context beyond the "news of the moment."

The producer of New Mexico in Focus is Sarah Gustavus with associate producer Kathy Wimmer. NM PBS Public Affairs executive producer is Kevin McDonald.

Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided by the McCune Charitable Foundation, the Neeper Natural History Programming Fund for KNME TV and Viewers Like You.

Get updates, watch and follow New Mexico PBS on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and more.