I care deeply for Albuquerque— I grew up here and it’s my home. I’m running because there are tremendous challenges to be met—providing healthcare coverage for all, creating new and well paying jobs, and investing more in education so our kids get the best education possible. I am proud to be endorsed by the Albuquerque Teachers Federation; City, County and State Firefighters Union; Conservation Voters New Mexico; Teamsters; Carpenters; AFL/CIO; Sierra Club; AFSCME; New Mexico Building Trades; ACORN; New Mexico Progressive Action and Democracy for New Mexico.
I am prepared to work hard and deliver results on the issues that matter most to our working families.
I will be a state senator that will put the needs of our district first.
As State Senator, I will:
1. Fight for affordable and accessible healthcare so that every New Mexican has healthcare coverage.
2. Promote new economic development through investing in locally-owned businesses, revitalizing the East Central Corridor, and embracing innovation like renewable energy to create "green collar" jobs and training centers in our area.
3. Work to strengthen our schools so our kids get the resources they need and the best teachers possible.
4. Stand up for ethics reform so we have an open and honest state government.
5. Work to make our neighborhoods safer by balancing traditional law enforcement with drug and alcohol treatment and prevention programs.
6. Support working families and organized labor as a critical part of a diverse economy.
1. Healthcare
I believe basic healthcare is a fundamental right. Our employer-based, insurance company-driven healthcare system is in deep crisis.
Nearly one fourth of the children in our state are without any coverage at all. We cannot continue to turn away people because of a pre-existing condition or illness. Nor can we continue to have double-digit inflation of health care premiums that outpace wage increases tenfold.
I support the following:
§ Ensuring healthcare coverage for all
§ Controlling rising premiums by standing up to insurance companies
§ Prioritizing preventative and primary care
§ Developing neighborhood health care delivery centers to coordinate health and social services
I will put the interests of people first, not the interests of insurance and drug companies.
2. Economic Development
We must have a business environment that retains homegrown talent while embracing innovation and a diversified economy. New Mexico has made progress in recent years and now we must expand our efforts to the broader economy. I will focus on not only just increasing the number of jobs, but also improving the quality and variety of opportunities available to working families.
We will also benefit economically from:
§ Promoting small business entrepreneurship and business skill training
§ Redeveloping the East Central Corridor to create a new commercial and retail destination
§ Further integrating our economic anchors like the Sandia Technology Park, Kirkland Air Force Base and Expo NM into our neighborhood economy
§ Developing a business incubator so we become a leader for "green collar" jobs
3. Education
Education is about more than math and science; it’s about developing the building blocks of a better society. All of New Mexico's priorities start with a strong public school system. Our schools are under-funded by $300 million, our teachers are under-paid and our curriculums need more support. I will make education a top-priority for the state and propose the following measures:
§ Making sure we attract the best teachers possible—especially bilingual and special education teachers
§ Prioritizing funding for schools and improve classroom resources for our kids
§ Extending the school year and expand pre-Kindergarten programs
§ Expanding curriculum options for students and teachers
4. Campaign and Ethics Reform
Our state government needs strong ethics reform, period.
New Mexico lacks campaign limits on contributions to candidates running for office. We also lack a watch dog guarding the Roundhouse in Santa Fe.
Right now, we need:
- An independent commission to investigate complaints against state officials
- Publicly financed campaigns for legislative offices
- Campaign contribution caps
- Government benchmarking to bring measurable accountability
5. Safer Neighborhoods
Everyone deserves to feel safe. But as our jails and prisons are stuffed to capacity, we suffer from a revolving door that allows violent offenders to go free. Treatment for drug and alcohol addiction options ease jail overcrowding, reduce the costs to taxpayers and improve our community.
As your State Senator, I will work to prevent crime with the following measures:
- Expanded drug courts and alternative sentencing
- Better treatment for drug and alcohol abuse
- Advance technologies to help police do their jobs
- Recruit more police officers and offer incentives to keep those looking to retire
