OPINION: Griego obituary should have focused on more than his conviction

In reading the Albuquerque Journal article (Jan. 24) on the death of state Sen. Phil Griego, I was heartbroken that practically the only thing this paper had to say about him was to describe his “criminal record." I worked with Griego for five years — three as his bill analyst — and was amazed at how his door was always open to his constituents, how much time he spent with them and how readily he took up their cause. There is so much to say about this man. He worked around the clock during the legislative sessions (as most of the New Mexico senators do) for no salary, giving his time and his heart. Yes, he was a lightning rod and a target for many, especially if he disagreed with them or lost his temper (which he did on occasion with flair). He considered himself a Blue Dog Democrat and sometimes attracted the ire of progressives for not being liberal enough. But he knew collaboration was foundational to a functioning and fair government, and he had a talent for reaching across the aisle. He voted according to what he believed was beneficial to the state that he loved with all his heart.

I met Phil Griego when I brought 12 small-scale ranchers (my neighbors) into his office, all of whom came from families that had been ranching in northern New Mexico for five, six, seven generations — back before New Mexico was even a territory. They were struggling to maintain their culture and livelihood in the face of changing Forest Service regulations.

Griego set up meetings with officials of every stripe and level — federal and local — to see how he could mitigate the situation. He ended up sponsoring a bill that would amend the Off Highway Vehicle Act to be more just and fair to private landowners and those who leased and farmed or ranched property owned by the federal government.

As I sat through his trial, I heard the judge utter, just before sentencing, that the recommended sentence by then-Attorney General Hector Balderas sounded absolutely out of proportion and more like a vendetta than any sort of just punishment. He added that he had never had a case where so many educated people of different political persuasions and walks of life wrote in on behalf of Griego, testifying to his character.

What a shame that the possible last words to be written about him only speak of him as a criminal. Even in court he got more justice than the Journal was willing to give him. Your words matter, and can never be taken back once issued. It would behoove you as journalists to have a sense of respect for the deceased and try to see the whole of a person before condemning them based on one sad and ruinous event in an entire lifetime filled with humanity and civil service.

Leslie Barnard has lived in rural New Mexico County for 20 years. She worked with Sen. Phil Griego as a bill analyst in the 2010-2013 legislative sessions.