Coalition of Conservatives in Action was founded to encourage public involvement in politics and government, and foster dialogue with public officials.
Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin’s refusal to speak to the group has disappointed CCIA members. López Askin told the Las Cruces Sun-News that she would “... present to and have presented to any group that asks me to, to talk about elections or updates and/or … misinformation.”
But when she was invited to address the CCIA, she declined, chairman Juan Garcia told New Mexico Sun.
“The clerk declined stating ‘Your group is the local main proponent of the “Election Fraud in New Mexico” publication,’” Garcia said. He sought to clarify his organization’s views.
“I reached out to the clerk and explained why she wrongfully had that understanding and if we could meet one-on-one, I would explain and clarify," Garcia said. "She declined to respond to my request. Our organization believes in sharing information but doesn’t necessarily endorse it.
"The ‘Election Fraud in New Mexico’ was a publication that was in the public domain and was shared with those members wanting to read it via our website," he added. "The CCIA didn’t endorse the document or was part of the distribution or compilation.”
Garcia said other public officials have spoken at CCIA meetings.
“We have had school board president [Ray] Jaramillo and Superintendent [Ralph] Ramos, attorney Kasandra Gandara, New Mexico Patrol Capt. Jesse Williams, lieutenant governor candidate Zeke Rodriguez, gubernatorial candidate [Rebecca] Dow and Mayor Ken Miyagishima (via Zoom)," he said.
“All events went past the ‘normal’ hour allocated for the guest speakers and some up to two hours due to the interest and positive engagement between the members and the guest speakers,” Garcia said. “The guest speakers who were interviewed by the Las Cruces Sun reporter for the story on the county clerk spoke very favorably about their meeting with our organization.”
He said low voter turnout in 2021 spurred the invitation to López Askin.
“[The] 2021 election participation was very poor in Dona Ana, somewhere between 11-12%,” Garcia said. “I believe lack of education by the electorate on who was running, what positions were open, the correlation between a voter’s residence and the candidate as well as a distrust of the election process were all contributors. And, in many cases, voter apathy or lack of interest.
“There were strong candidates. But the voters didn’t show up. What I wanted to accomplish with a visit by the county clerk was to answer many questions the members had,” he said. “Some as simple as why are the signatures not verified as accurate on mail-in ballots to what type of security was provided at the drop boxes. The key point was for the county clerk to try and build a trust between her office and the members. That trust can only be built by having a civil discourse.”
Garcia said López Askin should be willing to talk to all residents.
“The county clerk can’t pick and choose her audience,” he said. “She represents all of the county. By refusing to meet the members, she compounded the distrust problem.”
The Coalition of Conservatives in Action was formed July 29, with Garcia chosen as chairman. The CCIA originated as the HCOC, Hispanic Conservatives Outreach Committee.
“We transitioned in order to become an independent, conservative, non-partisan organization with no ties to any political party,” Garcia said. “This gives members the flexibility to adjust our mission to more immediate local and state needs and requirements. In addition, CCIA has a more holistic and wider approach with action committees focused on crime, local politics, faith and Hispanic outreach, election integrity and education and school board.”
According to its website, Coalition of Conservatives in Action is “an America first grassroots ACTION organization of independent, non-partisan, color-blind, conservative citizens.” Although not directly affiliated with a political party, the organization advocates for many conservative issues.
“Our mission is to challenge, engage and hold accountable elected and appointed officials by educated and informed citizens through civil discourse in order to effect change,” Garcia said. “Through the will of God, critical thinking and merit, not race, ethnicity or victimhood, we shall advocate for and empower our citizens at all levels of the political process for the advancement of our communities, state and nation."
Garcia legally immigrated to the United States with his parents at the age of 5. He dropped out of high school at 17 and joined the Marine Corps, serving for 25 years. He recently retired as a Department of Defense contractor.
“I have a strong nationalistic view as defined ‘identification with one’s own nation and support for its interests,’ shaped by a solid Christian, conservative Hispanic upbringing and career in the Corps,” he said in an online biography.
The chairman has overall responsibility for the function, organization and execution of the CCIA, Garcia told New Mexico Sun. He said a key element is reaching out to guest speakers, meeting and engaging with elected and appointed officials as well as guiding the action committees. Getting the word out and expanding the membership is another key role of the chairman.
He said CCIA strongly believes in educating the electorate.
“This is the primary reason for the guest speakers. We want our citizens to know and be aware of the issues they are directly impacted by,” Garcia said. “School board decisions, crime, zoning elections, etc. They need to know their elected officials, regardless of party affiliation and how to reach and engage with them."
He said conservatives must take action to achieve their goals.
“People are expecting a ‘red wave’ in 2022,” Garcia said. “That wave is not going to happen by waiting on someone else. Everyone needs to get engaged.”