What they are saying about BRAC

The Associated Press

More reaction to the Base Closure and Realignment Commission’s decision on Cannon Air Force Base:

“It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out. It is a partial win and it appears to be a big loss, but we don’t know what’s coming.”

— Marshall Stinnett of Portales, a member of New Mexico’s Military Base Planning Commission

“We all would have preferred a clear and decisive vote from the Commission to keep Cannon open. It is, however, a victory that the Pentagon was not able to convince the Commission to close Cannon. ... We will now turn to convincing the secretary of defense that Cannon has important missions to perform for a long time to come.”

— Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M.

“Let’s not forget, the U.S. and the majority of the world are fighting an enemy we can’t see — terrorism. I’m sure there will be a mission for Cannon in the near future. ... The opportunities can be vast. We can’t just give up.”

— Dan Toledo of Clovis, vie e-mail

“I believe there will be enough missions for Cannon in the future. ... Cannon is very versatile.”

— Gov. Bill Richardson.

“Betrayed is a harsh word. I think maybe misrepresented is how I feel. I think they (Air Force officials) understated what’s available here. It disappointed me.”

— Clovis’ Terry Moberly, one of the region’s leaders in efforts to keep Cannon open, when asked whether he felt betrayed by Air Force recommendations to close the base

“Now, with the little reprieve we’ve been given, is the time to plan for Cannon’s possible closure in 2009 and what can be done to prevent that closure.”

— Bill Sconone of Clovis, via e-mail

“It’s time to go to plan two, to move forward and not look back. Leaving us in a perpetual limbo for five years, with no ability to attempt to overcome the economic loss, is just insanity. I hope to heaven someone explains this to the appropriate body so that we can pick up the pieces and move forward.”

— Randy Knudson of Portales, via e-mail

“Gen. Lloyd W. “Fig” Newton (a BRAC commissioner) deserves a special honor and will have our lasting appreciation for his strong and supportive words and for his amendment to keep Cannon ... open. Although the biscochito became New Mexico’s official cookie in 1989, I would encourage our governor and our Democratic Legislature to make the Fig Newton New Mexico’s official ‘soft cookie.’”

— John V. Wertheim, chairman of the Democratic party of New Mexico