Biographical Information
Education
PHD
Campaign Phone
575-649-9442
Twitter
Occupation
Doña Ana County Clerk
mailingaddress
8100 Wyoming Blvd NE, Ste M4 Box 708
mailingcity
Albuquerque
mailingzip
87113
mailingstate
NM
1. What qualifies you for this office?
As a public servant for 25 years, I bring extensive experience in both government and corporate organizations. I am in my eighth year serving as Doña Ana County Clerk, where I have administered 12 elections in New Mexico’s second most populous county. My experience gives me firsthand knowledge of what it takes to conduct accurate, secure, and accessible elections. I have worked directly within the systems that make our democracy function and understand the challenges election officials and workers face. I am prepared to bring that experience, commitment, and knowledge to the Office of Secretary of State and continue strengthening public trust, transparency, and access for voters across New Mexico.
2. List your top priorities, and explain how you will achieve them.
My top priorities are protecting voting rights, modernizing election administration, and restoring trust through transparency. I will work to expand voter access by improving voter education, strengthening language access, supporting county clerks, and making election information easier to understand and access. I will also focus on protecting election systems and voter data through strong cybersecurity practices, regular training, and close coordination with local election officials. Just as important, I will make the office more responsive and transparent so voters, candidates, and administrators can get clear answers and timely support.
3. What actions, if any, would you take to increase and protect voter participation in elections?
I would take every lawful action available to increase and protect voter participation. That includes improving public education around registration, absentee voting, early voting, and new election laws; expanding outreach to historically underrepresented communities; and working to remove barriers that discourage participation. I also believe voters should be able to cast a ballot free from fear and intimidation. That is why I supported SB 264 to prevent ICE presence at voting locations. Protecting voter participation means protecting access, dignity, and confidence in the process. I am the only candidate in this race who supported this bill.
4. How would you help the public navigate election information in this era of AI and social media?
The Secretary of State’s office must become a trusted, easy-to-find source of accurate information. In an era of AI, misinformation, and viral falsehoods, the public needs timely facts in plain language. I would prioritize rapid-response voter education, consistent myth-versus-fact messaging, multilingual outreach, and strong partnerships with county clerks, community organizations, and media outlets. The office should meet voters where they are while also making sure official information is easy to verify. We cannot allow confusion and disinformation to discourage participation or undermine trust.
5. What is the Secretary of State’s role in safeguarding the integrity of voter information and ensuring safe and fair elections?
The Secretary of State has a central responsibility to protect voter information, support secure election administration, and uphold fair access to the ballot. That means maintaining strong standards for cybersecurity, data privacy, training, and election procedures while working closely with county clerks and election staff across the state. It also means ensuring that elections are both secure and accessible because those values are not in conflict. A safe and fair election is one where voters know their information is protected, the rules are applied equally, and every lawful vote is counted accurately.
6. Should the Secretary of State be a partisan or nonpartisan position, and why?
The work of the Secretary of State should be carried out in a strictly nonpartisan way, no matter how the office appears on the ballot. I do think the Secretary of State's position should include party affiliation as voters want to know what party you're affiliated with and what platform your worldview and belief system is.. Voters want to know and will ask and the most transparent thing to do is to include the party affiliation. The responsibility of this office is not to serve a party, it is to serve the public, protect democracy, and administer the law fairly. Voters deserve to know that election decisions are being made based on facts, law, and fairness, not politics. Public trust depends on that.