Alamogordo GOP to host Senate, CD2 forums

The Republican Party of Otero County is the first to schedule a forum for U.S. Reps. Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson, both candidates for the Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici.

Both have confirmed their attendance at the forum, which is scheduled for Feb. 19 in Alamogordo, Otero County GOP Chairwoman Sassy Tinling confirmed. The forum will be held at 7 p.m. at the Willie Estrada Memorial Civic Center, 800 E. 1st Street.

Tinling said she did not know whether former state Sen. Tom Benavides, who is also running as a Republican for the Senate seat, will be invited or attend.

She said the two-hour forum will include five questions from the party and five questions submitted by people in attendance. Wilson is generally regarded as a skilled debater, while Pearce’s abilities are less tested. The forum will be held on Pearce’s turf in the Second Congressional District.

The county party also plans to hold its second forum for GOP candidates for Pearce’s House seat on March 4 at 7 p.m., also at the civic center in Alamogordo. All seven announced candidates have confirmed their attendance, Tinling said. The party held its first forum for the congressional candidates in December, but three of the seven did not attend.

The GOP congressional candidates are Bob Cornelius, a former Bernalillo County GOP executive director; Aubrey L. Dunn Jr., a rancher and retired banker; C. Earl Greer, the Sierra County GOP chair; Terry Marquardt, a former state representative; Monty Newman, the Hobbs mayor; Greg Sowards, the owner of several Las Cruces daycare centers; and Ed Tinsley, a restaurant-chain owner and rancher.