Speaker Tripp gives us hope for a productive session

I WAS MOST gratified to read Deborah Baker’s Jan. 25 Albuquerque Journal article “Mild-mannered GOP speaker takes up House gavel.”

While I am a registered Republican, I can’t say I am especially proud of that fact. My tendencies are more toward the conservative side, but in no way do I consider myself to be a staunch Republican. I just want to have a say in the primaries, and I lean more to the right than the left.

Many years ago, I saw a bumper sticker on a vehicle that perfectly expressed my political sentiments: “Democrat/Republican, same s---, different pile.” I waited for the owner of that vehicle to return to his car so I could ask him where he got it because I wanted to get one myself. Of course, my wife would never have allowed me to put such a thing on our cars.

And it appears that Rep. Don Tripp feels the same way. The word “compromise” appears to be in his vocabulary. Besides being a nice guy, he states that he prefers to be fair rather than partisan.

I am absolutely convinced that this is what the vast majority of voters want to see, what we’ve been crying for over the years, someone who is willing to stand up and do the right thing, regardless of party affiliation.

I believe I speak for the majority of New Mexicans, who are so tired of partisan bickering. It is heartwarming to know there is now someone in power who thinks for himself and not merely defers to the party line.

Former house speaker Ken Martinez says “he’ll be pushed to be more partisan.” If this was Martinez’s mindset when he served as house speaker, I am glad he is now the former speaker.

With Tripp’s 16 years of legislative experience, and operating from a point of “fairness” and respect for all, I am actually optimistic that this 60-day legislative session could be quite productive. He certainly has my support. Besides, anyone who plays a mandolin and likes country music can’t be all bad. ROBERT B. FERGUSON Albuquerque