Republican lawmakers host event for families on child care assistance

RIO RANCHO — Three New Mexico lawmakers hosted an event Aug. 16 at the Loma Colorado Library to help families learn about child care and preschool programs.

Only a few people showed up, but that didn’t stop New Mexico Republican Reps. Catherine Cullen, Alan Martinez and Joshua Hernandez from continuing the event, a collaboration with the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department. The lawmakers dubbed the gathering “Early Childhood Education Day,” just one in a series of monthly meetings on different topics.

Cullen, who was a member of the Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education from 2013-21, said in an interview that the event was part of her pledge to hold monthly meetings with her constituents.

“A lot of people are not always aware of the services that are available by the state,” Cullen said, referring to the need for the gatherings. “It’s not about the numbers, whether it’s a few people or a lot of people, that they’re able to come out and understand what their benefits are.”

Department staff assisted with and accepted applications for the Child Care Assistance program, which subsidizes the cost of child care for families whose income is less than four times the annual income considered to be the poverty line, according to the department’s website.

Douglas, a Rio Rancho father, told the Observer he attended Friday’s event to find affordable day care for his 6-month-old daughter and two older children.

The search and the expense are “about as frustrating as everything else,” said Douglas, who declined to give his last name due to family circumstances.

He said lack of day care keeps him and his wife from having the careers they want. He works remotely, allowing him to “watch the kids” while his wife works at a kids’ gym.

Friday’s event, Douglas said, was beneficial, allowing him to find reputable day care service. He said he plans to reach out to those places soon.

Douglas said the services he found out about give him “peace of mind” because a few offer live video feeds.

“That helps us a lot because we’ve never had kids in day care,” Douglas said.

Elected officials’ ‘important role’

The recent event was billed as a House Republican Caucus event, and Rep. Kathleen Cates, a Democrat, was not invited, according to a GOP spokesperson. A spokesperson for Cates confirmed the event was not on her calendar.

ECECD Communications Director Sonya Martinez wrote in an email that her agency regularly participates in community events to connect with families. ECECD’s services are nonpartisan, she added, before explaining why the agency participates in events with lawmakers.

“New Mexico’s elected officials play an important role in connecting their constituents to the programs and services they want and need, and ECECD welcomes opportunities to join community-based events that help expand access to information and resources for families across the state,” Martinez wrote.

When Cullen was asked by the Observer why she didn’t invite a Democrat, she responded, “It was an event I had wanted to do for my constituents. It wasn’t that I was trying to exclude anybody.”

Cullen added that many Democrats hold events just like the one she hosted Friday.

Later in the afternoon, Cullen sat down with Douglas for a slice of Dion’s pizza and a meet and greet with his child.

Cullen said beforehand, “It’s more about (the department) and their services than it is about me.”

But judging by the look on Douglas’s and his child’s faces, they certainly seemed to appreciate the common touch.