Dona Ana County considers changing fireworks ordinance

Dona Ana County may soon allow shops to sell banned fireworks to out of town visitors.

Right now, aerial and ground audible fireworks are not allowed to be set off in the county, so vendors can’t sell them.

But commissioner John Vasquez is proposing county ordinance be changed to allow vendors to sell them, if the customer shows proof they are not a county resident.

The customers would not be allowed to set those fireworks off within county lines. But Vasquez says it would bring more business to local vendors and boost the economy. Local firework vendors at Tuesday’s commission meeting said more than half of their customers are tourists, not county residents.

While no set decision was made, commissioners voted 4 to 1 to move towards changing the current rule. A final vote will be taken on April 11.

But some questioned whether the vote was influenced by campaign contributions. Three commissioners admitted to receiving campaign contributions from Bowlin Travel Centers, west of Las Cruces, which sells fireworks.

“I received $2,500 from Bowlins Travel Centers which does sell fireworks and they would benefit from this, that is not why I proposed this,” commissioner John Vasquez said.

“I received a contribution from Bowlin and it was $2,500,” commissioner Isabella Solis said.

Commissioner Ben Rawson said he accepted a smaller amount of money from the company a few years ago.

“I think I did receive one or two hundred dollars,” he said. “I mean a very different amount.”

The company’s director told commissioners the campaign contributions were to show support for small business.

“Our support was on the foundation of business and pro-business environment,” Director Kit Johnson said.

The county attorney said a vote was still allowed, if at least 3 commissioners believed they could be impartial.

If not, Dona Ana County Attorney Nelson Goodin said, that person “shall not participate further in any proceeding related to this item.

“I don’t have a problem, I don’t feel like we created any problems,” Commissioner Solis said.

The commissioners approved moving forward with the ordinance, despite opposition from Commissioner Billy Garrett.

“I find it hard to believe that if there hadn’t been contributions of that magnitude, I don’t think we would be talking about this today .”