Dear Members,
The Holiday Season is busy for many different reasons, but it has been especially busy for our Executive Team and staff at IPANM.
For starters, New Mexico is officially a state in transition. The results of the November elections have brought new leaders and a switch of political party control to New Mexico. For the Oil & Gas industry, the most consequential results are in the Governor’s race and State Land Office. Democratic Governor-Elect Michelle Lujan Grisham and Democratic State Land Commissioner-Elect Stephanie Garcia-Richard will officially take office on January 1, 2019. We anticipate there will be swift and dramatic actions that will change the way our industry does business in the years ahead.
IPANM comes into the 2019 Legislative Session prepared for the political transition, and ready to protect, defend and promote our industry and independent producers. I am optimistic that the anti-industry campaign rhetoric will eventually give way to the economic realities in New Mexico in 2019. Regardless of party-affiliation, all elected leaders know the record anticipated $1.1 billion state budget surplus is because of our industry; however, we need to constantly remind them of this fact, especially as they consider new regulations on our industry!
For that reason, we are preparing new opportunities for our members to get personally involved in the upcoming Legislative Session. To put it bluntly, we need your help! Please strongly consider taking advantage of our new IPANM Legislative Session Overnight Visit Opportunity (See the Message from the Executive Director in The Independent: Winter 2018-19 Edition for more information). In the next two weeks, we will be emailing members to join us for day of activities and a free overnight in Santa Fe from Jan. 15 to Mar. 16, 2019.
Finally, please enjoy the additional information in this edition regarding industry updates, organizational updates at IPANM, and an overview of our exciting, new website.
May you and your family and friends have a wonderful Christmas and Holiday Season!
Regards,
John Thomas
