Legislative Review: Chatfield ready for his third term

Editor's Note - With the New Mexico Legislature scheduled for a 60-day session starting Jan. 17, The News asked area lawmakers what to expect. This is one in the series.

Jack Chatfield, R-District 67 legislator is ready to start his third term representing the largest legislative district in the state.

“District 67 is one of the biggest land-wise,” Chatfield said Monday. “It starts at Raton and goes to the northern edge of Portales.”

Chatfield’s first term as district representative started with the 2019 legislative session.

Chatfield said he may go to Santa Fe in advance of the Jan. 17 start of this 60-day session.

“Republicans will have a caucus,” Chatfield said. “We’ll meet once before the legislature starts, kind of to hear what others in the party are going to be talking about, goals and things.”

Chatfield said some of the things he’s heard so far that will be brought up include fiscal restraint.

“We have $3.6 billion in extra money,” Chatfield said. “I’d like to see some of it go back into the permanent fund, some of it set aside to pay for needs in the future. We need to practice fiscal restraint, so funds are available when we don’t have a windfall.”

Funding water projects is also being discussed according to Chatfield. He says the legislators will be talking about watershed restoration, community water systems and “mutual domestic water systems” such as those found in small towns such as Roy and Mosquero in Chatfield’s district.

Chatfield said he will personally be pushing forward things he’s been working on a few years.

Chatfield sees a need to increase the number of mid-sized packing houses in the state.

“We have 30 in state now, we need more,” Chatfield said. “We funded a position at New Mexico State University and that person’s sole responsibility is to help people put in a packing house or increase the size of their packing house. We want to continue to push forward with that issue.”

Chatfield said a bill was passed allowing in-state beef inspections. Chatfield said he will be pushing to fully staff that operation.

Chatfield said he has not heard of any proposed action on abortion in this upcoming session.

“Currently New Mexico allows abortion,” Chatfield said. “In general, I oppose abortion. I am pro-life.”