Campaign Phone
505-569-3364
Occupation
Consultant
I am the first former DACA recipient to be appointed by the White House, where I served as Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, supporting 64 field offices, implementing innovative methods to address homelessness, and engaging in ongoing Tribal partnership. I have 20 years of policy experience, from affordable housing to education. I have also lived all the policies I advocate for. It’s not theoretical for me. Policy is how we change lives.
My top priority is that everyone in our state has access to the New Mexican Dream, without the obstacles that I have overcome to attain it. That means expanding affordable housing programs, recruiting and retaining talented health care professionals to provide access to high quality healthcare, and transforming our educational system to the top-notch system our children deserve, from early childhood to public elementary and secondary schools to trade schools and universities.
To improve water policy and actions, we need only to look to New Mexico’s elders and ancestors: that means protecting and funding acequias and implementing strong water quality policy to protect the water from pollution. We also need to work collaboratively with surrounding states to ensure that we as a region are protecting our water supply and using water responsibly.
Safe neighborhoods and communities are a key priority for me. Gun crime is out of control and we must implement common sense gun safety reforms, like waiting periods, age requirements and capacity bans. We also need to prioritize better funding for mental health and problematic substance use treatment, including both outpatient programs and residential programs. Finally, we need continued training, staffing, and funding support for law enforcement.
At HUD, I worked to ensure that first time home buyers and others in need of housing could make home ownership and housing stability a reality. NM has billions of dollars available to create affordable housing stock, while creating thousands of jobs. We need more first time homebuyer programs, loan counseling and low-interest loans. I am a first generation homebuyer. I know how much these resources help. We also need to grow accessible housing options for those experiencing housing instability.
We have so many opportunities to diversify our economy in New Mexico, which is so rich in potential. We’ve seen the demand for renewable energy skyrocket, and New Mexico is rich in solar and wind power; if we improve and create infrastructure, we can create thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of investment into our economy. Because of our resources and dedication to renewables, we can also sell renewable energy to neighboring states, generating millions in revenue.
I am very lucky that my job affords me the flexibility to manage Legislative responsibilities with my career, but that opportunity is not open to so many in New Mexico who would make incredible legislators. Our Legislators should be professional policy makers, and we cannot do that without professionalizing the Legislature by paying these public servants, hiring staff to support them, and extending the amount of time the Legislature meets.
Campaign Phone
505-720-0315
Occupation
Small Business owner/semi-retired
I have an MA in Public Admin. BA Criminology, BA Spanish/Portugues, and have been very active in my community in the public and private sectors. I have volunteered for our community in numerous positions including the Parent Teacher Assoc. (PTA) as the President/ Treasurer as well as the Parent Teacher Org. (PTO) President. I am a small business owner and director of the Corrales Mentor Center (CMC) I organized community anti-bully seminars for the public. Most importantly I love NM citizens.
My top priority is keeping my community safe. I plan to partner with our local law enforcement to address the issues and establish a fiscally responsible plan to ensure safety measures have the necessary funding needed to combat the different problems faced. Task forces and other ideas will be looked at in more detail as well as seeing what is working in different areas similar to ours. I also want to build our economy by attracting new small businesses by eliminating gross receipt tax & reg.
I am a firm believer in protecting our waters and making sure our drinking water is safe for our citizens. I would like to see more testing and the standards be raised to ensure our citizens are drinking healthy water.
I believe our first responders and police should have the proper equipment and technology to help them do their jobs. I also would like to see more community engagement in combating crime through public awareness programs and neighborhood watch groups. Finally I believe that keeping a clean well taken care of community, keeps crime down. Pride in a community is very powerful.
I believe in pride of ownership. I think that programs that help first time buyers need to be expanded. I also believe that infrastructure needs to be well-maintained to sustain any new housing developments. A planning team that is knowledgeable and fiscally responsible to the taxpayers.
New Mexico needs to be more business friendly in order to attract more businesses. There needs to be tax incentives to do business here and hire locals needing jobs. I would like to see internships attached to these new businesses. I believe this would attract our graduates fresh out of high school and entice them to get a skill in a high paying job.
I believe in volunteering for public service. The legislature is an elected position and countless hours are spent creating or passing laws that affect us all. Our legislators work long hours without pay as servants to the people of NM. It is an honorable position to be elected into. If one runs for any office, they need to have the time and energy to serve and show up. I don't believe legislators should be paid a salary unless they have no other job and are designating this position.
