Republican incumbent Susana Martinez faces Democrat Gary King in the race for governor. Here are profiles on both candidates:
Susana Martinez
The basics
• Republican, 55
• Running mate for lieutenant governor is John A. Sanchez
• Lives in Las Cruces
• Contact information: 505-884-1258
Background
• Family: Married to Chuck Franco; stepson Carlo.
• Education: Bachelor of arts from University of Texas at El Paso; J.D. from University of Oklahoma.
• Current occupation and previous experience: Current governor of New Mexico, elected in 2010; elected district attorney, 3rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Las Cruces, 1996, re-elected in 2000, 2004 and 2008; attorney, New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD), 1993-1996; assistant district attorney, 3rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office, 1986-1993.
Please tell us who you are, why you are running and what you will do if re-elected.
We’ve come a long way since the days of Bill Richardson. We closed the largest deficit in state history without raising taxes, all while protecting classroom spending and healthcare for our most vulnerable.
We reduced taxes 24 times and cut red tape to strengthen our private sector and loosen Washington’s grip on our economy. Because of our efforts to diversify our economy, businesses have created 32,000 private-sector jobs since January 2011.
We’ve also enacted reforms to improve our schools. As a result, our graduation rate is now growing at a faster pace than any other state in the country. We still have work to do, and I am the only candidate committed to moving our state forward.
What can be done — governmentally, economically and otherwise — to address the number of New Mexicans who are leaving their small towns and communities for larger cities?
We have to end New Mexico’s reliance on federal dollars and diversify our economy so that New Mexicans — no matter where they live in the state — can find a good-paying job.
One way to do that is to help small businesses grow. That’s why my administration started the Office of Business Advocacy, which has helped create or save 2,000 jobs. We’ve also invested in dozens of communities throughout the state through our Main Street Program, helping to bring over 400 new small businesses into downtown areas.
There’s more work to do and I am committed to finishing the job.
What in your opinion is rural New Mexico’s biggest single problem, and how should it be addressed?
The biggest challenge facing our rural communities is jobs. To create a vibrant private-sector economy, we need to continue to help small businesses grow and end our reliance on federal dollars.
That’s why we’ve cut taxes 24 times and eliminated harmful red tape. Through our Main Street Program, we’ve invested in dozens of downtown areas, and small businesses have created thousands of new jobs in communities across the state.
Our efforts have helped businesses create 32,000 private-sector jobs since I’ve been in office. We’ve made a lot of progress, which is why we need to continue moving forward.
Under what circumstances should economic development trump environmental concerns? Feel free to give examples.
State government should help — not hinder — companies from setting up shop in New Mexico or expanding their current operations. For example, New Mexico now processes energy permits within eight days or less, allowing companies to create jobs without getting entangled in bureaucracy.
At the same time, we must also protect our state’s environment. My administration vigilantly enforces our environmental rules and regulations. The Environment Department has fined polluters more than $30 million for violations of the state’s environmental regulations since I took office and we have collaborated with other state agencies to broker a number of important settlement agreements.
Gary K. King
The basics
• Democrat, 60
• Running mate for lieutenant governor is Debra Haaland
• Lives in Stanley
• Contact information: phil@garykingforgovernor.com
Background
• Family: Since 1987, I have been married to Yolanda Jones King, also a scientist and community leader. Raised on the family ranch in Stanley.
• Education: Attended New Mexico State University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Received my Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Colorado University at Boulder. I then attended law school at the University of New Mexico, where I received my J.D.
• Current occupation and previous experience: I currently serve as New Mexico’s attorney general. In 1984, I formed the law firm of King and Stanley in Moriarty, where I carried out the general practice of law. Served for 12 years in the New Mexico State Legislature. During 10 years as the chairman of the Consumer and Public Affairs Committee, I utilized my leadership position to work vigorously on health care, environmental and civil rights issues. In 1998, I began serving as policy advisor to the assistant secretary for Environmental Management at the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. Within a year, I advanced to the department’s director of the Office of Worker and Community Transition. While at the DOE, I developed and implemented a program fostering cooperation between federal, state, local and Native American governments to enhance cleanup activities.
Please tell us who you are, why you are running and what you will do if elected.
King: My entire adult life so far has been spent either preparing for or actually serving in some capacity for the public good. I suppose I inherited the desire to help people through political advocacy from my father Bruce King. My mother Alice King fostered my deep regard for the well-being of children.
As governor, the most important issue for me is to get our economy back on track. Our economy has been the worst in the country for the past three years. Our rate of poverty is increasing and we have negative job growth. I will make my first priority economic growth.
Our government is broken. I will focus on restoring state agencies to the competency and capability needed to serve the needs of our children, families and environment. I will work to increase the minimum wage and to stop the practice of high-stakes standardized testing in our schools.
I have the skill and experience necessary to get us back on track. I will be honest with New Mexicans about our challenges and will work hard every day to be positive and move us from being the worst state economically and in child welfare.
As attorney general, I placed a high priority on getting legislation passed that, for the first time, made it a felony crime to engage in the practice of human trafficking. Combating this crime of human slavery will always be a high priority for me and, as governor, my support for anti-human trafficking efforts will continue.
What can be done — governmentally, economically and otherwise — to address the number of New Mexicans who are leaving their small towns and communities for larger cities?
To rebuild our economy we must restore well-paying jobs and stop the brain-drain of our young people who leave the state to find work and raise their families.
Small businesses drive our local economies — our state government must work to help them get started and grow.
Large businesses and clean industry should also be encouraged to come to New Mexico and provide a living wage for our workers so that they do not have to supplement their income with government assistance. I consider this to be job one for my administration.
What in your opinion is rural New Mexico’s biggest single problem, and how should it be addressed?
Rural New Mexico faces many of the same challenges that more densely populated areas have. People need more jobs that pay well and small businesses in rural areas need help to start up and grow.
However, some problems are unique, such as access to technology that city dwellers take for granted. Some areas of the state do not have telephone, Internet, or electrical services.
As governor, I would work to ensure that rural areas are better served in terms of basic infrastructure by helping service providers expand in ways that benefit them and the local populations.
Under what circumstances should economic development trump environmental concerns? Feel free to give examples.
I believe economic development and protection of our environment can coexist. As attorney general I have been working for years to help strike a balance between the need for economic growth while protecting our air and precious water resources.
Using today’s new technologies, I believe we can share the burdens and the benefits of extractive industries, energy producing industries, and other forms of economic development.
Growing up on a ranch, I have seen how land management such as crop rotation and preventing overgrazing by livestock helps maintain the land’s ability to produce what we need. Those same principles should apply to development and our environment.
— Compiled by Gazette Media Services
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