In this February 16 file photo, House Speaker Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, speaks during the House of Representatives debate on the proposed civil rights law. (Eddie Moore / Albuquerque Journal)
SANTA FE – House Speaker Brian Egolf and State Representative Daymon Ely condemned New Mexico Counties President Steve Boyle Monday for commenting on Egolf’s sponsorship of a proposed civil rights bill.
In an email to other members of the New Mexico Counties Board, Boyle said of Egolf, “If I had a list, he would be on it.”
Ely, D-Corrales, speaking outside the State House late Monday as the Chamber began its evening session, described Boyle’s comment as an attack that crossed the line.
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“That’s not appropriate,” said Ely. “It’s a hint of violence.”
The dispute revolved around an email Boyle – Otero County’s appraiser and president of the county councilors’ association – sent in response to a journal story about the proposed civil rights law and Egolf’s work as a private attorney.
The article found that Egolf’s law firm had resolved ten legal actions against government agencies for more than $ 2.3 million in the past five years. He is also co-sponsoring laws that would allow people to sue public agencies for alleged constitutional violations of civil rights – laws that are vigorously opposed by New Mexico counties.
“Another Democrat gets rich from the people instead of serving them,” Boyle wrote in the email. “That’s why New Mexico struggles uphill all the time. If I had a list he would be on it. “
In an interview on Monday, Boyle said his words were not intended as a threat. He said he was upset when he sent the email and shouldn’t have sent it at all.
In fact, Boyle said, he sent a follow-up email confirming that the first message was inappropriate.
“New Mexico is really important to me,” said Republican Boyle on Monday.
Egolf, D-Santa Fe, asked Boyle to obtain a revocation for his “use of disguised threats”.
“These threats reflect the violent rhetoric and incitement to violence that has penetrated public discourse across the country,” said Egolf. “These and other county scare tactics used to fuel opposition to the New Mexico Civil Rights Act are nothing short of bullying and intimidation.”
The Civil Rights Act, House Bill 4, passed House 39-29 and is now pending in the Senate.
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