![\"John](\"http:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Vasquez-John-336x294.jpg\")
Courtesy photo<\/p>
John Vasquez<\/p><\/div>\n
Screenshots from progressive activist Johana Bencomo show comments from Democratic Do\u00f1a Ana County Commissioner John Vasquez saying Bencomo\u2019s mother asked for \u201cwierd (sic) favors\u201d from the commissioner.<\/p>\n
In a time of #MeToo and public discussions regarding treatment of women by men in positions of power, Vasquez may have put himself, the county commission and the state and local Democratic party in an unwanted spotlight.<\/p>\n
Bencomo said Vasquez\u2019s personal shots came after she commented on a post he made criticizing other politicians for endorsing candidates seeking election in 2018.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just simply asked a question,\u201d Bencomo told\u00a0NM Political Report<\/i>.<\/p>\n
The screenshot shows Bencomo asking, \u201cDidn\u2019t you endorse [Jeff] Apodaca for Governor?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI Endorsed your mom but it didn\u2019t mean anything..if you want to keep this going.. Let\u2019s start\u2026,\u201d Vasquez appeared to write.<\/p>\n
The post in question cannot be found on Vasquez\u2019s Facebook page and the commissioner did not reply to questions from\u00a0NM Political Report<\/i>\u00a0about whether he made the comments or deleted the original post.<\/p>\n
But the screenshots Bencomo posted show Vasquez doubling down on his comments about Bencomo\u2019s mother. Other people weighed in, curious what Bencomo\u2019s mother, who does not live in New Mexico, had to do with state races.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/BencomoScreenShot2-336x597.jpg\")
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\u201cWhat is Johana\u2019s mom running for?!?! I thought she lived in Colorado,\u201d one person commented.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought so to (sic) but she sent me a private message asking for really wierd (sic) favors\u2026 I will have no part of it\u2026,\u201d Vasquez apparently wrote.<\/p>\n
Bencomo appeared to push Vasquez for an explanation, calling the commissioner\u2019s comments \u201cinsanely inappropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n
The screenshots show Vasquez firing back at Bencomo with, \u201cYour (sic) inappropriate\u2026 You should talk to your family members and ask them to have some decency.\u201d<\/p>\n
The screenshots also show other users questioning the appropriateness of Vasquez\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n
Vasquez seemed to end the comments with, \u201cThey say you can take a girl out of the ghetto but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Richard Ellenberg issued a statement to\u00a0NM Political Report\u00a0<\/i>regarding Vasquez\u2019s social media behavior.<\/p>\n
\u201cDemocrats expect elected officials to lead a professional and respectful dialogue at all times,\u201d Ellenberg said on Friday. \u201cCommissioner Vasquez\u2019s comments are out of line and fall below this standard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bencomo is a community organizer with the progressive activist group NM Comunidades en Acci\u00f3n y de F\u00e9, or CAF\u00e9, and admits the group’s relationship with Vasquez has been contentious at times.<\/p>\n
But, Bencomo said, her question about Vasquez\u2019s possible endorsement of Apodaca came from her role as a constituent and not as an activist or organizer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe childish, ridiculous type of behavior and comments that he\u2019s making, they\u2019re kind of infuriating,\u201d Bencomo told\u00a0NM Political Report.<\/i>\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s embarrassing that he\u2019s an elected official in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Bencomo is not the first person to feel the brunt of Vasquez\u2019s sharp comments.<\/p>\n
Not the first time<\/h3>\n
Sarah Silva, who has since left CAF\u00e9, still has a hard time recounting her experiences with Vasquez while she was the group\u2019s director.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve seen him systematically use tactics that dehumanize and demean women and also men,\u201d Silva said.<\/p>\n
Silva said when he was a county commission candidate in 2016, Vasquez made \u201csuggestive comments\u201d to Silva\u2019s staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt that time we had made a rule that no one could be left alone with him,\u201d Silva said.<\/p>\n
Like Bencomo, Silva once tried to contact Vasquez as a constituent and not an activist after Vasquez and three other commissioners agreed to dismiss the former county manager.<\/p>\n
Silva said she tried to call his mobile phone, but could not leave a message as his voice mail box was full, something\u00a0NM Political Report<\/i>\u00a0also encountered when seeking comment on this story. So, Silva sent him a text.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told him I was disappointed in his vote,\u201d Silva said.<\/p>\n
Documented by screenshots, Silva shared what followed on Facebook.<\/p>\n
The screenshot shows Silva\u2019s text to a \u201cJohn\u201d expressing her \u201cdisappointment\u201d with his vote to terminate the county manager\u2019s contract, adding that it showed Vasquez\u2019s \u201cshort sightedness and lack of vision.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/SilvaScreenShot1-336x597.jpg\")
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\u201cI don\u2019t think your (sic) capable of talking about Vision,\u201d the reply read.<\/p>\n
A subsequent screenshot shows six missed phone calls from a number matching Vasquez\u2019s publicly listed mobile phone within eight minutes.<\/p>\n
Another screenshot from Silva shows a series of text messages from \u201cJohn\u201d accusing Silva of not answering her phone because \u201cthere\u2019s no media to give you attention.\u201d<\/p>\n
NM Political Report<\/i>\u00a0also attempted to reach Vasquez by text message and Facebook message Friday, but did not receive a response.<\/p>\n
Vasquez praised Apodaca, who is from Do\u00f1a Ana County, on his Facebook page, calling him the \u201cPeople\u2019s Champion.\u201d In reply to Bencomo\u2019s post, Vasquez also called Apodaca \u201cthe best choice for Governor..\u201d<\/p>\n
NM Political Report<\/i>\u00a0reached out to the Apodaca campaign. We will update this story with their response when we receive it.<\/p>\n