The Clerk's Fiery Rebuttal: Truth, Politics, and a Very Public Showdown in Santa Fe

Honestly, you just knew it was going to be a legislative session packed with fireworks, didn't you? And here we are, barely into the swing of things, with a political clash that's, well, truly something. At the heart of it all is Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark, who, let's just say, isn't holding back. She's pushing back — vehemently, actually — against what she's calling utterly baseless allegations from none other than state Sen. Cliff Pirtle.

Pirtle, a Republican from Roswell, has made quite the splash, submitting a sworn affidavit to the State Ethics Commission. His claim? That Clark, and by extension her office, allegedly broke state law by dabbling in political endorsements on official county letterhead during the frenetic 2022 election cycle. It's a serious charge, of course, suggesting a misuse of public resources, an ethical line crossed.

But Clark? Oh, she's having none of it. Not one bit. Her response has been swift, sharp, and decidedly un-minced: the allegations are “totally inaccurate.” More than that, she’s labeling them “slanderous” and, for good measure, “reckless.” Her stance is clear, unyielding. She maintains that her office’s use of letterhead was strictly for official county business, never, ever for political endorsements. This isn't just a difference of opinion; it feels like a fundamental disagreement over facts, and perhaps, motive.

You could even say there’s a historical undercurrent here. Clark, a Democrat, hasn’t been shy about her suspicions regarding Pirtle's motives. In truth, she sees this whole affair as a form of political retaliation. She points to her past, very public, criticisms of his election bills. Remember that 2021 legislative session, when she was a vocal opponent of his Senate Bill 6? The bill, which ultimately saw a gubernatorial veto, aimed to give the state more control over election auditing and provisional ballot processes. It was a contentious moment, to be sure, and one Clark hasn't forgotten.

Now, Pirtle's formal complaint zeroes in on two specific letters. These were sent by Clark — on October 26 and November 3 of 2022 — to Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver. In them, Clark articulated some pretty substantial concerns about potential changes to election law. But Pirtle views these letters through a different lens entirely. He claims they were “campaign communications,” arguing that by opposing certain bills (which were, in turn, supported by particular candidates), Clark was effectively