Keep politics civil — leave the signs alone

Whether people agree or disagree on heated issues, as New Mexicans, we have always tried to keep politics in our state civil, without the destruction of others’ political speech. Unfortunately, in recent election cycles, leftists have taken their gloves off to destroy Republican candidates’ signs to try and give their candidates an edge, or merely to be mean-spirited.

In one instance, a man was caught on video with a machete. He got out of his car and violently hacked away at a Donald Trump sign at Juan Tabo and Montgomery Boulevard in Albuquerque.

Somebody tagged the Trump Victory office in the Northeast Heights in Albuquerque with the word “Biden” in black paint on two window signs. Multiple candidates, including state Sen. Greg Baca, R-Belen, Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, as well as Isabella Solis, R-Las Cruces, are facing vandalism of their campaign signs, with vulgar phrases written on them and the names of their opponents.

This should not be the sign of our times. The Republican Party of New Mexico’s “Respect New Mexico” campaign was created to bring back respect to our communities, and that means lower taxation, fewer fiscal burdens on our working families, better schools, improved roads and everyday commonsense policies that affect New Mexicans and impact us each and every day.

But vandals destroying private property is not respecting New Mexico. This removes other voices for ideological and political gain, and shows intolerance, hatred and a lack of community spirit, which New Mexico has had for so many generations. It takes time, money and hard work for candidates of both parties to scrape together funds to print political signs and install them. New Mexicans probably have more in common than we may realize. Even if we disagree with a political sign on the side of the road, we have no right to deface or steal it.

So, let’s get back to those family values of tolerance and respect that have been instilled in so many of us so that we can all work together to turn our state around and bring prosperity back to the Land of Enchantment.

Anissa Tinnin is executive director of the Republican Party of New Mexico and a native of New Mexico.