Constituents slam Doa Ana County commissioner over Facebook comments
Doña Ana County Commissioner John Vasquez publicly defended an online dispute with a constituent, which she interpreted as calling her mother “ghetto.”
“These comments and this behavior are nothing more than misogyny and sexism,” said Johana Bencomo, who was involved in the comments.
“In reference to my ‘ghetto’ comment, when you purposely prevent the freedom of a United States citizen to travel freely down the road, you went from becoming the champion of those that are oppressed to becoming the oppressor,” Vasquez.
In the comments, posted January 19th, Bencomo asked Vasquez on Facebook if he endorsed (Jeff) Apodaca for governor of New Mexico.
BELOW ARE FOUR SCREENSHOTS OF THE FACEBOOK COMMENTS:
The commissioner replied, “I Endorserd (sp) your mom but it didnt mean anything.. if you want to keep this going.. Lets start…”
Vasquez continued to say that Bencomo’s mother “sent me a private message asking for really wierd (sp) favors.”
After Bencomo asked him to clarify his statement, the commissioner told her on Facebook to ask her family members to have “some decency.” He also said, “They say you can take a girl out of the ghetto.”
Close to a dozen people addressed the commissioner during public comment at Thursday’s meeting.
“I have no respect for a body that has somebody like John Vasquez sitting here,” said Lucas Herndon, who resides in the commissioner’s district.
“I voted and supported you, sir,” said Rose Ann Vasquez, the new chief deputy clerk. “I was wrong, because you have demonstrated time and time again that you do not respect women.”
Several people defended the commissioners’ comments and his freedom of speech.
“The first amendment of the constitution supersedes anything that the commission does,” said William Webb, who unsuccessfully ran for district four. “No one has the right to be offended. You have the right to speech, but not the right to be offended.”
“We need to get past this,” said Betty Bishop. “We need to do something to reconcile. As far as calling for his resignation, way too much. Over the top.”
Vasquez insisted he thought Bencomo’s mother was another Doña Ana County resident who asked for an endorsement.
“This was not about a ‘your momma joke,'” Vasquez said. “I actually received texts from someone named Martha Bencomo who is asking for an endorsement. Texts went on and on and the media chose not to do any investigative reporting. They just spun it the way they saw fit.”
“I don’t know who Martha Bencomo is,” Johana Bencomo said. “It’s certainly not my mom, so I feel bad for Martha.”
