The Taos News makes its endorsements Tom Udall has been a good U.S. senator for New Mexico. He is a statesman who truly cares about jobs, the environment and the less fortunate. In spite of the toxic atmosphere in Washington, he has been able to bring substantial federal funds to our state. Campaign finance reform, a revision of our immigration laws, a stronger Social Security and Medicare system, help for veterans and college students, renewable energy and water projects are important to him. Vote to keep Democrat Tom Udall in the Senate. Newer to Washington is our District 3 U.S Representative, Ben Ray Luján. He finds himself in the difficult position of being a Democrat in a Republican-controlled House. However, he has kept up his enthusiasm for serving the people of New Mexico, with a record of voting for liberal causes. His district runs from Shiprock to Portales, yet his local offices are well staffed to help constituents with their needs and problems. Vote to return Ben Ray Luján to Washington. Democrat Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Bernalillo county clerk since 2007, runs an efficient and honest office in New Mexico’s most populated county. She is running for secretary of state, the head of the office that oversees elections. After recent restructuring of the Public Regulation Commission, the secretary of state has also taken over the task of registering state corporations. This candidate’s major goal, however, is to make it easier for people to vote. Introducing same-day voter registration, online registration and improving early voting systems in rural areas are some of her campaign promises. She is opposed to requiring voters to present a photo ID at the polls, a tactic that discourages election participation by ethnic and racial minorities. Vote for Maggie Toulouse Oliver. Tim Keller, the Democratic majority whip in New Mexico’s state senate, is running for state auditor. The auditor’s job is to make certain that the finances of state governmental entities, such as counties, cities, state agencies, school districts, land grants and acequia associations, have proper fiscal management. Keller graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in finance and holds an MBA from Harvard. One of his campaign promises is to “shine a light on the billions we give away on tax breaks,” to find out which ones truly create jobs in our state. Vote for Tim Keller. Hector Balderas is currently the state’s auditor, but he has reached the limit of his term and cannot run again for that position. The Democrat is in the race for attorney general. He holds an undergraduate degree from Highlands University and a law degree from the University of New Mexico. The Mora County native began his political career as a popular and able member of New Mexico’s House of Representatives. He says that as state auditor, he has made “a career of cleaning up waste, fraud and abuse.” He promises to continue that career as the state’s leading lawyer. Hector Balderas is our choice for attorney general. Democrat Tim Eichenberg, with a long and respected career in state and local government, is running for state treasurer. The office manages and invests the state’s cash, bond proceeds until they are needed for projects and funds in the local government investment pool. The treasurer also is the state’s banker, managing cash for state agencies. Eichenberg has served as state property tax director, in the New Mexico senate and as Bernalillo County treasurer. He is respected by our legislators, as well as by those who worked with him at the state and in Bernalillo County. His campaign promise is to prudently manage taxpayer’s money, with emphasis on safety and liquidity. He pledges to invest some taxpayer dollars within the state to help improve New Mexico’s economy. Vote for Tim Eichenberg. Democrat Ray Powell is the incumbent commissioner of public lands. His office manages 13 million acres of mineral rights, and 9 million acres of surface land in the state. The revenues from these lands — mostly from oil and gas leases — help support state schools, hospitals and penal institutions. In the last three-and-half years, revenues have been about $2.3 billion dollars. Powell is a good manager with an environmental bent. He seeks to maximize revenue while preserving the long-term health of state-owned land. Although they will supply only a fraction of his office’s revenue, his projects to develop land near urban areas, bringing jobs to the state, are innovative. Vote to keep Ray Powell in office.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:51:48 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015