Dona Ana County commissioners rescind prayer policy after public comment and debate

The Dona Ana County Board of County Commissioners voted to rescind Resolution 2018-25, which authorized opening commission meetings with a prayer, after extended discussion and public comment. The motion to rescind passed on a 4-1 roll call vote, with Vice Chair Chaparro the lone dissent.

Supporters and opponents filled the commission chambers and spoke during a public-comment period that stretched for more than an hour. Proponents described prayer as a longstanding civic practice and urged the commission to preserve it; opponents said state-sponsored prayer at public meetings creates the appearance of government endorsement of particular faiths and cited constitutional concerns.

The resolution up for rescission had been adopted in 2018 to permit an invocation at the start of Board of County Commissioners meetings. Commissioner Reynolds read an executive summary during the debate, noting the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause and presenting the commission’s tabulation of past invocations: 157 occurrences since February 2018, of which 112 (about 71 percent) were identified as Christian, several represented county departments, and smaller counts reflected Catholic, Jewish, interdenominational and Native American invocations.

Commissioner Sanchez told the board the item had caused online personal attacks against elected officials and residents, and he urged the commission to take a step that would avoid inflaming division. “There’s no place for hatred here in the Dona Ana County Commission chambers,” Sanchez said during debate. Vice Chair Chaparro said he would oppose rescinding because he viewed the prayer practice as historically rooted and consistent with legislative invocations at state and federal levels.

Public commenters included former county commissioner Isabella Solis, who cited tradition and national practice, and several residents who asked the board to repeal the resolution on separation-of-church-and-state grounds. Other speakers urged the board to retain the invocation as a moment of reflection and civic continuity. The board allowed two-minute turns from more than 20 speakers on both sides of the issue.

The formal motion recorded that Commissioner Gamedos moved to rescind Resolution 2018-25 and Commissioner Reynolds seconded. Brandy performed a roll-call vote: Commissioner Ramirez — yes; Commissioner Reynolds — yes; Commissioner Sanchez — yes; Vice Chair Chaparro — no; Chair Sheldo Hernandez — yes. The motion carried and the resolution was rescinded.

Commissioners and staff emphasized that rescinding the local policy does not prevent individuals from praying privately before meetings or assembling faith groups outside the chambers; it removes the formal, agenda-listed invocation practice. Several commissioners said they hoped the decision would reduce public conflict and encourage civic participation across the county’s diverse religious and nonreligious communities.