Richardson to visit area

Freedom Newspapers

SANTA FE — Gov. Bill Richardson is scheduled to tour 11 communities — including Clovis and Portales today — during a three-day swing through southeast New Mexico, according to a news release from his office.

Richardson will discuss the recent legislative session, and talk about upcoming initiatives, including the education-reform election in September and a planned special session of the Legislature to overhaul the state’s tax system.

The governor will be in Clovis from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Clovis-Carver Public Library for a town hall meeting.

He will be in Portales from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. today at Portales’ public library.

A representative from the governor’s constituent services office will also attend the events. Constituents who need help dealing with a state service or agency should be at the events early, so they can talk directly with the governor’s staff, the news release said.

If possible, constituents should put their concerns in writing in order to expedite a response from the governor’s office, the release said.

Richardson’s tour begins today in Moriarty. It wraps up Friday in Carrizozo.

Here is the tentative schedule for Gov. Richardson’s three-day trip through southeast New Mexico:

TODAY

Moriarty: 8:45 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. (Town hall at El Comedor)

Santa Rosa: 10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (Town hall at Joseph’s Restaurant)

Fort Stanton: 12:15 p.m. - 1 p.m. (Speech, Rotary Club)

Clovis: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. (Town hall at public library)

Portales: 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (Town hall at public library)

THURSDAY

Hobbs: 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. (Visit agencies)

Carlsbad: 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. (Town Hall at Steven’s Inn); 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m. (Visit full-day kindergarten)

Artesia: 2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. (Town Hall meeting)

Roswell: 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. (Economic Development meeting); 7 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (Address City Council meeting)

FRIDAY

Ruidoso: 8:30 a.m. - 9 a.m. (Town hall at senior center)

Carrizozo: 11 a.m. - noon (Speech at Municipal building)