Area reps pin down state's attention
Gallup/McKinley County day at the legislature is Thursday

By Kristen Davenport
For The Independent

SANTA FE — If Gallup seems a little empty on Thursday, consider the possibility that a big percentage of the town's citizens went to Santa Fe.

Thursday is Gallup/McKinley County day at the state legislature in Santa Fe, with planned dinners and breakfasts and a special meeting with Gov. Bill Richardson to discuss issues important to the Gallup area.

"It's our goodwill ambassador day; everyone wants one of our Gallup pins," said Patricia Lundstrom, the Democratic Representative from Gallup. "Really, we're not kidding. They wait for them every year." The pins, which have been handed out annually at the Roundhouse for six years, are sterling silver, have a different design every year and say "Gallup" on the back (but not the front). This year's design is a corn stalk. Previous designs included rugs, pottery, and various state and national flags.

The Chamber of Commerce pays for the pins and hires an artist every year to design its new pin to hand out during Gallup Day at the legislature. About 200 pins are given away each year, 112 to lawmakers and the rest to state government staff. A large contingent will be coming from Gallup, Lundstrom said, including officials from the city, county and school district, as well as the college and the Ceremonial committee.

Festivities actually begin the day before. This morning at 7 a.m., Lundstrom and Rep. Irvin Harrison, D-Gallup, will meet with a variety of government officials to talk about Adventure Gallup and Beyond, a planned long-distance bike ride planned for this summer.

The Adventure Gallup bike ride is dubbed a "tour of nations," with a bike ride starting at Isleta Pueblo and heading through Laguna and Acoma Pueblos, ending in Gallup in time for the start of Ceremonial.

"We're shooting for 200 riders this year," Lundstrom said. Organizers hope the event will be an annual bike ride, and eventually incorporate other Pueblos or Indian tribes, hence the name "tour of nations."

"We're trying to promote these Indian nations," she said.

Harrison has introduced legislation at the current session which would give $125,000 for organizing the first bike ride. This morning, the lawmakers will meet with different potential sponsors of the annual bike ride, including the New Mexico Highway Contractors and various pueblos.

Tonight, Gallupians meet at Osteria, a Santa Fe-Italian style restaurant not far off the Plaza, for networking festivities and planning. Thursday morning, a breakfast for all legislators will begin at 7 a.m. at the Inn of Loretto. The coalition from Gallup meets with Richardson at 3 p.m.

"I haven't seen the final package for the governor," Lundstrom said. "But obviously, we will be promoting the priorities for these Gallup groups.

And, of course, they'll be handing out pins.

"They love them," Lundstrom said.