New Mexico
2024 Primary Election Guide: N.M. House of Representatives – Valencia County News-Bulletin
Tanya Mirabal Moya
Tanya Mirabal Moya (I)
Age: 49
Occupation: Physics teacher at Belen High School
Education: Bachelors of Science in health and wellness from Kaplan University (Purdue Global); Master of Science in sports management; athletic administration and coaching from Liberty University
Previous elected political offices: Current state representative for District 7
Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a felony or DWI in New Mexico or in another state? “No.”
- What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?
“It’s been too long for people who have never worked in a classroom to make decisions about how we educate our students. As a current teacher, I am that greatly needed voice in our state roundhouse for our students, educators, and our education system throughout the state of New Mexico.
- What do you hope to work on, or see passed, at the Legislature to address safety issues in our community?
“Going after criminals and not law-abiding citizens who are trying to protect themselves. By mandating tougher penalties for convicted felons who commit a crime with a gun, along with bail reform that would help keep violent criminals behind bars instead of on our streets.”
- Every municipality and county struggles with paying the high cost of infrastructure projects. How should the state address growing and costly infrastructure needs?
“The state should address the rising cost of infrastructure projects by making it easier to do business in New Mexico. This includes reducing or eliminating the state’s GRT (I have put forward a bill to do so for small businesses), as these costs are ultimately passed on to consumers.”
- What can the Legislature do to help address the teacher shortage in New Mexico?
“Create a licensure program that allows experienced individuals to teach higher level classes part-time, so they don’t have to leave their high paying jobs. Create a fourth tier in the teacher license that is for a master teacher, who manages several classrooms and teachers in their department.”
Brian G. Baca
Brian Baca (I)
Age: 53
Occupation: Educator
Education: BA, MA University of New Mexico
Previous elected political offices: N.M. House of Representatives
Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a felony or DWI in New Mexico or in another state? “No.”
- What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?
“I have served three sessions in the N.M. House of Representatives. I serve on the education committee, which sets policy for our pre-k through higher education institutions. I serve on the House appropriations committee which sets the budget and funding for the entire state of New Mexico.”
- What do you hope to work on, or see passed, at the Legislature to address safety issues in our community?
“We need to make tougher laws for violent and repeat offenders. We need to end the catch and release practice that puts criminals back on the streets. Finally, we need to adequately fund our first responders in our communities to recruit and retain personnel.”
- Every municipality and county struggles with paying the high cost of infrastructure projects. How should the state address growing and costly infrastructure needs?
“As a member of the House appropriations we have worked to address this serious need. We need to invest a larger portion of our budget surplus to infrastructure and needs of our community (roads, health care, police and fire departments). This investment will bring a higher return on our investment and impact the lives of all citizens.”
- What can the Legislature do to help address the teacher shortage in New Mexico?
“As an educator and a member of the education committee, I am on the front lines of funding our schools and improving education. As a member of the House appropriations committee, I advocated to put back the funding that had been cut to support the educator fellows and teacher residency programs that were created specifically to address our teacher shortage.”
Michelle Paulene Abeyta
Michelle Paulene Abeyta
Age: 40
Occupation: Lawyer
Education: B.A. in Native American Studies and Geography from University of New Mexico, J.D. with certificate in Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy from University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
Previous elected political offices: To’hajiilee Community School Board of Education
Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a felony or DWI in New Mexico or in another state? “No.”
- What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?
“As a lifelong resident of District 69, I know what it’s like to drive 100 miles for basic needs. My public service includes the To’hajiilee Community School Board of Education, National Native American Bar Association Board, and more I hold a J.D. with a certificate in Indigenous Peoples Law & Policy.”
- What do you hope to work on, or see passed, at the Legislature to address safety issues in our community?
“I want to see paid family and medical leave pass through the Legislature. I will support legislation that will provide critical improvements to District 69’s infrastructure, help with projects like uranium cleanup efforts, and bolster educational opportunities for children and adults alike.
- Every municipality and county struggles with paying the high cost of infrastructure projects. How should the state address growing and costly infrastructure needs?
“Children on school buses shouldn’t have to drive on roads with potholes so big I can sit in them. Community members have been advocating to fix these roads for years. District 69 needs a voice that will prioritize critical infrastructural improvements to positively and tangibly change our quality of life.”
- What can the Legislature do to help address the teacher shortage in New Mexico?
“We need to provide top-notch benefits, competitive pay, safe working environments, and additional support in the classroom for teachers wherever needed. As a member of my local school board, I helped secure millions in funding to improve our community school. I’ll bring that same level of advocacy to the Legislature.”
Stanley E. Michael
Stanley E. Michael
Age: 55
Occupation: Coal miner
Education: High school graduate
Previous elected political offices: None
Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a felony or DWI in New Mexico or in another state? “No.”
- What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?
“I am a strong advocate of the community. I have served 10 years in corrections, three years as director of Adult Community Corrections program, one summer at CYFD, three summers at the state highway department, 11 years in 4-H, and 15 years coaching youth, middle school, and high school baseball, basketball and football.”
- What do you hope to work on, or see passed, at the Legislature to address safety issues in our community?
“Above all, a three strikes law to reduce crime, followed by a way to keep criminals off the streets as they await trial. We need to do better at screening immigrants to keep criminals out of New Mexico and we need to improve rehabilitation efforts.”
- Every municipality and county struggles with paying the high cost of infrastructure projects. How should the state address growing and costly infrastructure needs?
“Two federal laws have already passed to help with infrastructure. They are the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act, which support communities by entering contracts and agreements on projects that would help to support our communities. Since New Mexico has a surplus, we should be able to provide matching funds to get more done.”
- What can the Legislature do to help address the teacher shortage in New Mexico?
“Talk to and listen to our educators. Really listen. They will be the best experts on what can be done and what is needed in our classrooms. They should be able to provide ideas on how to attract and retain educators to our state.”
Editor’s note: Incumbents N.M. Reps. Gail Armstrong (R-District 49) and Harry Garcia (D-District 69) are both running for reelection but did not return their answers to the Valencia County News-Bulletin’s questionnaire.
VOTING INFORMATION
Absentee by mail
The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the June primary election is Tuesday, May 21. Absentee ballots can be requested by visiting nmvote.org
If they are not returned by mail, absentee ballots can be returned in person at the following locations by 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 4:
- Valencia County Clerk’s Office, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas
- Any of the early in-person or alternate early voting locations.
- Any of the 15 Voting Convenience Centers open on Election Day throughout the county.
- Any of the three secure absentee ballot drop boxes
- Belen Community Center, 305 Eagle Lane, Belen
- Bosque Farms Public Library, 1455 W. Bosque Loop, Bosque Farms
- Valencia County Administration Building, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas
Early, in-person voting
8 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Friday, May 17, Monday through Saturday
Valencia County Administration Building, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas
Alternate, early voting
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, May 18, through Saturday, June 1, Monday through Saturday
- Belen Community Center, 305 Eagle Lane, Belen,
- Bosque Farms Public Library, 1455 W. Bosque Loop, Bosque Farms
- Pueblo of Isleta Veterans Center, 4001 N.M. 314, Isleta
- Valencia County Administration Building, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas
Voting Convenience Centers
7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 4
- Ann Parish Elementary, 112 Meadow Lake Road, Meadow Lake
- Belen Community Center, 305 Eagle Lane, Belen
- Belen Public Library, 333 Becker Ave. Belen
- Bosque Farms Public Library, 1455 W. Bosque Loop, Bosque Farms
- Century High School, 32 Sun Valley Road, Los Lunas
- Del Rio Senior Center, 351 Rio Communities Blvd., Rio Communities
- Don Jose Dolores Cordova Cultural Center, 426 Jarales Road Jarales
- El Cerro Mission Community Center, 309 El Cerro Mission Road, El Cerro
- Logsdon Hall, 19676 N.M. 314, Los Chavez
- Los Lunas Schools Administration, 119 Luna Ave., Los Lunas
- Meadow Lake Community Center, 100 Cuerro Lane, Meadow Lake
- Pueblo of lsleta Veterans Center, 4001 N.M. 314, Isleta
- Tomé Adelino Fire Department Valley Station, 2755 N.M. 47, Tomé
- Town of Peralta Town Hall , 90A Molina Road, Peralta
- UNM-Valencia Workforce Training Center, 1020 Huning Ranch, Los Lunas
The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.
Republicans from southeast New Mexico called for legislative priorities like stiffer criminal penalties and wildfire aid to the Ruidoso area as they await Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to set the agenda for the upcoming “public safety” special lawmaking session starting July 18.
The governor called the session earlier this year after several priority bills intended to increase restrictions on firearms were either softened via amendments or blocked during the regular 2024 Legislative Session ending in February.
Two guns bills passed: one to institute a seven-day waiting period for firearm purchases and another banning firearms at polling places. The wait time bill was shortened from its initial 14-day period, and both bills saw exemptions added for concealed carry.
This followed a controversial move by Lujan Grisham last year to ban concealed or open carry of guns in the Albuquerque area, in response to multiple shootings, which was struck down by a court.
New Mexico Rep. Cathrynn Brown (R-55) of Carlsbad warned that if Democrats attempted more gun regulations during the special session, the GOP would stand ready to oppose.
More: New Mexico GOP demands action on border security after visit to Santa Teresa crossing
“I would be very much against any additional gun restrictions,” Brown said. “I don’t know that she (Lujan Grisham) will try that. It certainly would take up a lot of time.”
Rep. Jim Townsend (R-54) of Artesia said instead lawmakers should focus on deterring crime, increasing security at the U.S.-Mexico border and providing some financial assistance to people and businesses in Lincoln County struggling amid two devastating wildfires.
The South Fork and Salt fires began burning in the Ruidoso area on June 17, torching more than 20,000 acres and leading to evacuations from the village and nearby Ruidoso Downs, while impacting more than 1,000 structures. Full-time residents were allowed to return Monday to assess any damage to their property, with many homes and businesses destroyed in the blaze.
“We have a lot of potential to get businesses going again, to help people that have lost things,” Townsend said.
Sen. Cliff Pirtle (R-32) announced a bill for the session on Monday to increase penalties for looting, specifically from homes and businesses evacuated in areas where an emergency declaration is in place, as with the fires in Ruidoso.
More: New Mexico GOP threatens ‘extremely painful’ special session if guns bills are introduced
GOP wants to address ‘impact’ of U.S.-Mexico border
To secure the U.S.’ southern border, which runs through a portion of the state to the west of Townsend’s district, he said lawmakers should meeting with law enforcement officials and follow their lead.
“If you want to address crime in New Mexico, you can’t ignore the impacts of the southern border. We should our law enforcement guys down there,” Townsend said. “We should listen to them, and do it.”
Members of the state GOP visited the border crossing at Santa Teresa on April 30, calling for funds for a series of cameras along the New Mexico portion of the border that could tie into an existing network installed by Arizona and a resolution to see State Police work with the U.S. Border Patrol on enforcement in the area.
Other initiatives in the GOP border package included legislation to prohibit state and local government policies to block cooperation with federal immigration authorities and adding a first-degree murder charge for distributing fentanyl resulting in death.
Brown said lawmakers should find ways to disincentivize drug traffickers she said target New Mexico’s border because of a lack of enforcement.
“The reason Cartels are dealing drugs in our country is because there’s money involved. It’s very profitable for them,” she said. “If we could blunt that, it would certainly help increase safety.”
More: Southeast New Mexico lawmakers claim victory, frustration after 2024 legislative session
Punishments for New Mexicans who commit crimes should also be increased, Brown said, through enhanced sentenced that could deter criminals while keeping those convicted of crimes incarcerated for longer.
“There’s a long list of topics we think are very germane to public safety, but it has to be true public safety,” Brown said.
She said Republicans were likely to publicize specific proposals in the coming weeks ahead of the special session and would look to address the topic in the next regular session starting in January 2025.
“The real cause of crime in Albuquerque is there’s no punishment for the people who are doing the crime,” Townsend said. “You got to take away the desire to do it in a meaningful way. The way you do that is when people realize the restitution they’ll have to pay society is not worth trying to get away with it.”
Republican leaders want crime, immigration bills considered
Republican lawmakers in the House on June 10 issued a letter to Lujan Grisham demanding the session’s priorities entail border security measures, higher penalties for fentanyl offenses and reforms at the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD).
“The governor has a unique opportunity to set a special session agenda that would allow Republicans and Democrats to work together and solve the problems New Mexicans are demanding the Legislature address,” said House Minority Leader Rep. Rod Montoya (R-1) in a statement. “Our constituents are growing tired of state government ignoring their calls to stop the revolving-door criminal justice system, secure our southern border, and protect those children who are abused and neglected.”
Legislation intended to strengthen the state’s Racketeering Act was introduced June 13 by Republican senators, intended for the special session. The bill would expand the list of crimes that can be prosecuted under the Act and increase sentencing for human sex trafficking and “sexual exploitation of children,” read a news release.
Senate Republican Leader Sen. Greg Baca (R-29) said similar proposals were blocked by the Democrat-controlled Legislature in previous sessions, but the issue should be taken up this year if the governor “is serious about public safety.”
“The New Mexico Senate Republicans remain steadfast in our commitment to making our communities safer,” Baca said.
Adrian Hedden can be reached at 734-972-6855, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.
Grant’s Tuesday Night Forecast
Higher moisture moves into New Mexico Wednesday. This will bring more showers and thunderstorms through Thursday, along with heavier rain and a higher risk of burn scar flash flooding.
Isolated and scattered storms developed again across New Mexico Tuesday afternoon. Major burn scar areas stayed mostly dry today, with the exception of the Cerro Pelado in the Jemez early this afternoon. A few spotty storms are continuing tonight in southern New Mexico. It’s also a very hot day, with many areas climbing into the 90s and 100s. Albuquerque hit 100° for the fourth time this year.
Another big surge of moisture will move into New Mexico Wednesday. This will work as fuel for more showers and storms to develop Wednesday afternoon. With even more moisture in the atmosphere to work with, storms will be capable of even heavier rainfall. Because of this, burn scar flash flooding is likely over the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon and Ruidoso wildfire burn scar areas by the afternoon. Locally heavy rainfall will be possible across the rest of the state as well.
A few showers will stick around Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Even more moisture moves into the state Thursday morning, along with an upper level wave that will pass across the state, will cause even more showers and storms Thursday afternoon. The threat for the heaviest rain will be in the northern half of the state.
We get a brief break from the rain across almost all of New Mexico on Friday. Another surge of moisture will move in this weekend, bringing more scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms across the state into early next week.
The Garcia Subaru Pet Pics segment highlights New Mexico Living viewers’ pets. Tuesday’s featured pet is Toki the cat. Owner Lois Brown said that Toki is known for unraveling entire rolls of toilet paper and dragging the evidence through the house.
Release/Acknowledgment
Before you submit, please read below:
Any photographs submitted to New Mexico Living, whether original or otherwise, I hereby represent and warrant that I own, control, or have obtained all rights (including all copyrights) in and to all such materials (“Materials”) and I hereby grant the Station, without charge, the rights necessary to use all such materials in connection with the Program in any and all media now known or hereafter devised for any purpose throughout the universe in perpetuity. This also allows the Station to post videos from the Program to KRQE’s YouTube. I further confirm that the Station’s use of the Materials will not infringe upon the rights of any person or entity.
Sponsored content disclaimer: The information and advice displayed in this story are those of individual sponsors and guests and not Nexstar Media Group, inc.
Beekeepers monitor hives for Africanized honeybees after confirmed detection in Alabama – The Atmore Advance
Alaska Natives sue EPA over Pebble mine veto, Northern Dynasty says
Republicans face off for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District
Heartland Forward Launches Broadband Careers Site with Arkansas and Louisiana
California coastal agency erodes climate and housing goals
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
At least 2 dead as tornadoes hit Alabama, damage homes across Southeast
Popular Republican and Trump running mate contender makes first Senate endorsement in 2024 races
US journalist Gershkovich on trial in Russia over spying charges he denies
New Jersey gamer flew to Florida and beat fellow player with hammer, say police
Mike Kennedy advances past crowded GOP primary to secure nomination for open Utah House seat
France elections: Germans prepare for seismic change in EU politics
-
World1 week agoProtesters in Brussels march against right-wing ideology
-
News1 week agoA fast-moving wildfire spreads north of Los Angeles, forcing evacuations
-
Movie Reviews1 week agoShort Film Review: Willow and Wu (2024) by Kathy Meng
-
Movie Reviews1 week agoMovie Review: Top 5 Movies to Watch This Father's Day June 16, 2024 –
-
World1 week agoAl-Qaeda affiliate claims responsibility for June attack in Burkina Faso
-
News1 week agoMass shooting at Rochester Hills splash pad: Everything we know
-
Politics1 week agoTexas Democratic candidate charged with faking racist comments to himself
-
News1 week agoJohn Everett Benson, Who Chiseled John F. Kennedy’s Grave, Dies at 85