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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 government and religion. “This notion is wrong,” he told the panel, arguing against government-sponsored prayer. Dr. Martin Boyd, a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, urged replacing invocations with a moment of silence. “The biggest enemy of this country is Christian nationalism,” Boyd said, distinguishing his criticism from religion in general.
Other public speakers pressed for equal access to opening remarks and for removal of clergy preference from the county’s policy. One commenter identified the governing policy by number and date: Resolution 2018-25, adopted March 27, 2018, which the speaker said sets a prayer policy and includes language favoring clergy by the selection process.
Commissioners responded with explanations and some clarifications about current practice. Commissioner Sheldon Hernandez (chair) and other commissioners noted the agenda packet included proposed changes and that one portion of Resolution 2018-25 does permit a non-clergy person to deliver an invocation. Commissioner Sanchez said the item should be revisited and acknowledged confusion about the change; he said the resolution language allows non-clergy to speak but that practice needed review to ensure compliance.
No formal policy or ordinance change was adopted at the meeting. Commissioners agreed to review the resolution text and to be transparent about any future votes on invocation policy. Several commissioners noted the invocation or moment-of-silence item appears in the agenda packet and said they would look again at how it was presented to the public.
The discussion continued through public comments and commission input rather than ending in a formal directive or vote. Commissioners encouraged public participation and said staff would bring additional clarification to a future meeting.
Ending: The commission did not take formal action on invocation policy at this session; staff and commissioners said they would return with clarifying information about Resolution 2018-25 and how the county implements invocation or moment-of-silence practices.
