During a public meeting, Ronny Rardin chastised a citizen for failing to worship Jesus. This is a flagrant violation of the US and New Mexico constitutions. All elected officials swear to uphold these constitutions. Rardin should be impeached. If not impeached, he should be recalled by the voters. If not recalled, he should be pelted with rotten tomatoes at the next public meeting. What a turd in the public punchbowl.
Otero County Commission: Women, Jesus and whispers | Albuquerque Journal News By Thomas Cole / Of the Journal PUBLISHED: Monday, March 16, 2015 at 12:05 am
After commission action on other items, it was time for public comment.
A man who identified himself as a Lutheran pastor and former military chaplain said he objected to Rardin saying “in Jesus’ name” during the invocation at the beginning of the commission meeting. The man said prayers in public forums should be nonsectarian.
“Why?” asked Rardin, longtime pastor of Saving Grace Independent Baptist Church in Alamogordo.
“Because not everybody here may be a Christian or share the same sentiments,” the man responded.
Rardin said he doesn’t expect others to believe as he does but added, “I’m going to give it (the invocation) under my opinion. … If you think I’m not going to say ‘Jesus,’ you’re wrong.”
The commissioner also told the man, “I’m really ashamed that you don’t want to say ‘Jesus.’ Shame on you, but that’s your problem.”
Rardin said the raising of such “trivial stuff” made him want to strike public comments from the commission’s agenda.
He didn’t do that. But at the next commission meeting, on Feb. 12, Rardin limited public comment to three minutes and to urgent matters. No one spoke.
Otero County Commission: Women, Jesus and whispers | Albuquerque Journal News
Note that Rardin also acted like a sexist ass and pushed the limits on public meetings. Then, unhappy with the public he was elected to serve, he imperially curtailed comments. He is the one who should be beyond ashamed.
Two months ago, Rardin was involved in an appalling act of nepotism and favoritism. Our new Land Commissioner, hardly a stellar public servant, gave Rardin a sweetheart deal of a contract. Rardin, in turn, wanted to share the wealth with the son of said Land Commissioner, who already suckles the public teat. Double-dipping, double-dealing, ethics-lacking scammers. Republicans determined to prove government doesn’t work and can’t be trusted. And Good Christians!
Official tries to give work to land commissioner’s son | Albuquerque Journal News By Thomas Cole / Of the Journal, PUBLISHED: Monday, March 9, 2015 at 12:05 am
Effective Jan. 2, Otero County Commission Chairman Ronny Rardin began work for the office of newly elected state Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn under a short-term $7,500-a-month contract.
Six days later, Rardin tried – but failed – to give Dunn’s son Blair more of the county’s legal work.
Official tries to give work to land commissioner’s son | Albuquerque Journal News