Candidate for New Mexico State Senate - District 20 in 2020 New Mexico Primary Election.
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Get StartedOur judges and police know who is violent and who is an untreated addict, and need the latitude to sentence accordingly. (Aside: despite the media, judges do not sentence erratically—they are limited by law only to enforcing the laws that our state senators make. Also, the judiciary is a co-equal branch of our state government, but receives only 3% of our state budget. Last year, of 26,000 cases in 2019, we prosecuted only 4%. To keep the violent offenders incarcerated, we need to prosecute more.). Learn more
Our officers need more and different training, equipment, and software. And let’s recruit new cadets also from social workers, colleges, and community leaders. (Aside: as senator, I will use capital outlay money to transition the APD substation at Tramway and Montgomery back to community policing, away from Open Space offices. Mayor Keller and I are collaborating on this.). Learn more
Properly paid and trained educators. This includes pay, health benefits, retirement options and continuing professional development. Learn more
Properly paid support staff like social workers, cooks and nurses. If children are hungry or troubled, they do not learn well. Learn more
Welcoming, eco-friendly and safe school buildings. Learn more
That said, the data tell us that our communities will experience less violence when there are fewer guns. We are overdue for common-sense gun reform, like closing the gun show loophole and requiring universal background checks. These laws, and the recent red-flag law passed in January, will help lower domestic violence and suicides, and may reduce some violent crime as well. Learn more
Gun reform is actually the second question we should be asking. The first question is: why do so many people feel unsafe? Is it lack of community? Abuse from police? Perception (or fact) that violence surrounds? These are complex questions, with complex solutions. Learn more
I support universal health care coverage. Learn more
Healthcare is even more foundational than a right—it’s a necessity, like food and water. For example, you cannot exercise your First Amendment right to free speech if you’re lying in a hospital bed with a respirator breathing for you. Learn more
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