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Doña Ana County public commenters, commissioners debate invocation policy and Resolution 2018-25
Summary
Public commenters and several commissioners questioned a recent change to invocation practices at the Doña Ana County commission meeting and asked the board to clarify application of Resolution 2018-25, a 2018 prayer policy. Speakers urged either a formal moment of silence or clearer, more transparent rules that do not favor clergy.
Doña Ana County commissioners heard an extended public discussion on invocation and a request for clearer rules at their February meeting after speakers said a recent change to start meetings with an invocation had not been transparent.
Several members of the public told the commission they believe government meetings should avoid privileging religious expression. Diane Starbuck Roboto, a resident and meeting speaker, said she had not realized the invocation change had been on the packet and told commissioners, “I feel the entire process was not transparent.”
Jim Wilcox, a public commenter, cited Founding-era documents and said the nation’s founders intended a wall between…
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