They say that timing in politics is everything.

It is being reported that Legacy Church Pastor Steve Smothermon issued and endorsement of Republican Dan Lewis for Mayor.

The endorsement comes the same day as early voting starts and exactly three weeks before the October 3, 2017 election for Mayor.

(See Albuquerque Journal “Pastor: Lewis won’t support homosexual agenda”)

https://www.abqjournal.com/1062574/pastor-lewis-wont-support-homosexual-agenda.html

Legacy Church has a membership of 20,000 and if they vote, could influence who gets in a runoff.

Legacy Church pastor Steve Smothermon’s endorsement comes with a caveat when he said:

“I wholeheartedly support Dan Lewis for mayor. He’s the one true believer in the race, and could never in anyway support the homosexual agenda. He will bring business to our city and he will reduce crime.”

Who is Smotherman to say who is a true believer?

It was Pope Francis who said “Who am I to judge?”

What is meant by the term “homosexual agenda” other than bigotry against someone who is born the way they are?

In the past, Smothermon has criticized Gov. Susana Martinez for appointing a gay man to the state Public Regulation Commission and he has previously taken issue with Mayor Richard Berry for signing a proclamation supporting the annual gay pride parade.

City hall insiders claimed eight (8) years ago that Smotherman and Berry had a dispute when Berry hired a gay man to work as a public information officer and who later left a few months after he was hired.

Dan Lewis is an ordained Baptist minister and said the nation is being ripped apart by divisive personal agenda politics, “driven mostly by the media,” something he said weakens us.

I guess the massacre of over 50 gay people at the “Pulse Bar” in Florida just a few years ago was “driven mostly by the media”.

I also recall that Dan Lewis has been nowhere to be found during Albuquerque’s gay pride parade, nor did he show up to give support to Albuquerque’s gay community during the many vigil’s that were held when the Pulse mass shooting occurred.

I think actions and how one treats people, not words, reflects people’s true philosophy.

Lewis was asked if he would hire a gay person in the mayor’s office if he wins or whether he would be open to signing a proclamation for the gay pride parade, Lewis said he would and said:

“As mayor, I would never refuse to hire someone for a job based on their sexual preference. Not only is it unconstitutional, it is just plain wrong to set such a condition to get a job”.

As a candidate for Mayor, Lewis should have said he does not accept endorsements with any conditions or caveats and should have said “thanks, but no thanks” to pastor Smotherman, but that no doubt would have alienated a large core of Dan Lewis’ constituency.

It’s been just over four (4) years that marriage equality was recognized by New Mexico Courts and a few years by the United States Supreme Court.

Baptist Minister Dan Lewis needs to be asked if he recognizes same sex marriage or if he still believes that marriage can only be between a man and a woman.

Baptist Minister Dan Lewis also needs to be asked if he would ever perform a same sex marriage and welcome gays into his congregation.

Will Mayor Lewis allow city facilities be used for same sex marriages?

It is never good to mix religion and politics.

The last thing we need is a Mayor who will take religion into consideration when forming policy for the city.