ALBUQUERQUE — Amid cheers and applause, Gov. Bill Richardson concluded a public hearing on the future of EXPO New Mexico Friday afternoon by stating unequivocally that "at least as long as I’m governor, the (State) Fair will not move" from the grounds.

A second "definite" to come out of what he heard after about an hour and a half: "We have to be sure we replenish and upgrade the fair buildings that are here," the governor said. "The Legislature has been very good at doing this … but we need to do better."

However, in response to the sentiments of some who wondered why the fair couldn’t keep using the track to race horses — especially in light of comments by Sen. Shannon Robinson during the hearing — Richardson said, "There’s no reason we can’t keep the fairgrounds … but the (racing) license — I think that’s gone."

Robinson had said that despite the Racing Commission’s decision to allow the Downs at Albuquerque to move racing to Moriarty, "The State Fair owns the license to race horses at this site."

Nearly 20 people spoke of the 130 or so who turned out for the hearing in the auditorium of the newly dedicated Sheryl M. Williams African American Performing Arts and Exhibit Center. The governor and a panel of state and local officials heard equestrians, livestock people, 4-H Club leaders, neighbors and long-time fairgoers talk about the traditions of the fairgrounds and its value as a family venue that, as one neighbor put it, provides accessible jobs for "the walking community."

Gallery owner Mary Ann Weems, whose Weems International Artfest attracts up to 40,000 visitors to the grounds each year, said she and many other arts and crafts shows would cease to exist without the fairgrounds. Another gallery owner echoed her sentiments, saying all of those who exhibit at the fair could bring in more money and help the fair become more self-sustaining if exhibit space could be expanded beyond the current limits of the Manuel Lujan Exhibit Building.

Several expressed the desire for an equestrian center on the grounds and said they were concerned that talks about housing such a center at Mesa del Sol could undermine their efforts.

Early on, senator-elect Tim Keller (who will replace Robinson in representing a district near the fair) asked for a show of hands of those in favor of keeping the State Fair at the current site. Essentially all but one in the auditorium voted to stay. That one, Basil Akers, lobbied for use of the grounds as an innovation center for emerging technologies.

The audience had been asked four basic questions: should the fair stay on the current grounds, what should be done with Tingley Coliseum and the Downs racetrack, and are there ways to create more green space and stimulate the economy.

Bobbie Nobles, a board member of the Asian American Association of New Mexico, said his group hopes to eventually have a building on the fairgrounds, ideally in the corner of the grounds across from Talin Market at Louisiana and Central. Victor Limary, director of operations at Talin Market, said he would like to see a sports arena or concert venue on the grounds.

Most of the comments about Tingley supported keeping the facility — but as a livestock venue, not a concert venue. Julie Wilson of the New Mexico Quarter Horse Association said she’d like to see Tingley kept as a "dirt in" facility, one that shouldn’t be used for concerts and other events that don’t have a dirt base. "Our hope is that it would be an arena for several equestrian events," which she said are currently prohibited from using Tingley because of the cost of hauling dirt in and out. Only minor improvements are needed if Tingley is used as a livestock venue, she said.

Erica McGuire of the Duke City Derby inline skating team said her league has been in the Top 20 over the last three years of more than 300 leagues nationwide, but has never had a venue large enough to host a full tournament. Albuquerque has a BMX facility and skate parks, she said, "But we don’t have women’s alternative sports support in Albuquerque."

Arabian horse breeder Gary Dearth said fairgrounds around the nation are "falling victim" to the philosophy of multiple use. New Mexico’s State Fairgrounds "is one of the last livestock-friendly, true fairgrounds in the U.S.," he said. "It’s not the best one, it’s not the best maintained, but it could be." He noted that Albuqeurque lost the Senior Arabian Horse show to Tulsa because ithat city upgraded its facilities. "We should work to steal it back."

Currently one State Fair building is listed in the State Register of Cultural Places: the Agricultural Building, listed in 1988, according to John Murphey, architectural historian with the state Historic Preservation Division.

"Since 2003, we have advanced on several occasions the idea of a potential historic district along Main Street between Racetrack and Oscar M. Love avenues," Murphey told the New Mexico Independent. "Contributing resources to the proposed district would include the Fine Arts Building, Indian Arts Building, Natural Resources Center, Hispanic Arts Center, New Mexico State Agriculture Building, Youth Hall, the Cattle and Horse stables, Asbury Café, and the so-called Taco Hut."

These buildings "were constructed during the 1930s with Works Progress Administration (WPA) labor and funding, and demonstrate both this important chapter of social history and the use of local architectural traditions." This was pointed out on the New Deal 75 anniversary section of HPD’s Web site.

The other buildings were built between the 1940s and 1950s and contribute to the district’s cohesive historic feeling and character, Murphey said.

Murphey added that the division has had inquiries from a number of citizens concerned with the disposition of the campus, particularly the Cattle/Beef Barn and the Leon Harms Youth Barn.

The state will continue to take comments on use of the grounds until Aug. 15 by email (expo.comments@state.nm.us) and U.S. mail: Expo Comments, P.O. Box 8546, Albuquerque, NM 87198. As Richardson said at the hearing, "Any serious idea is welcome."