SAMUEL ISAIAH KANE SR
(Rep)
1. What qualifies you for this office?
I know how the law works, and I know why it's not working for the people of New Mexico. Throughout my career, I have tirelessly advocated for the legal rights of my clients. I have seen first-hand how the justice system places politics over people. The office of Attorney General was created by the legislature to represent and protect the people's interests. But that's not happening. Our state has some of the poorest nationwide rankings when it comes to the most basic aspects of safety and security. Helping families, protecting communities, and preserving our resources matter more than grabbing headlines. New Mexico needs an Attorney General that will advocate for the people on things that matter most. I am qualified because that’s all I do.
2. List your top priorities, and explain how you will achieve them.
While my platform includes many priorities and proposed solutions, there is no greater priority than community safety. I will first work to ensure that criminals who are taken off the streets stay off the streets. Our law enforcement officers work too hard only to have some criminal courts fail to effectively prosecute or sentence the offender. I will ensure that the courts no longer act as a revolving door for those who threaten our safety. And as the courts work harder to process and house criminals, our law enforcement can better direct their resources towards combating the specific crimes causing the most harm to our communities such as the influx of drugs. Protecting the people from harm, by whatever means, is my top priority.
3. How would you protect the rights of New Mexicans?
As the “chief legal officer,” the Attorney General has substantial power to protect the rights and interests of the people. In a very real sense, the AG is “the people’s lawyer,” but with the added ability to enforce the law for the people’s protection. When we talk about “the rights of New Mexicans,” we’re really talking about the rights we value most as a community. Safety, security, access to public resources, environmental preservation, constitutional freedoms—these are examples of the rights we value most because without access to these, we lose access to the rest. I will protect all the rights of New Mexicans by first fighting for and defending the rights that matter most—through whatever powers are available to my office.
4. What actions would you support to make citizens safer?
There is no excuse why New Mexico ranks at the very top of almost all national rankings when it comes to crime. Our crime rate is a product of decades of governmental neglect and meaningful change will take time. But when we prioritize success, we achieve success. First, we attack crime from the top down. Our law enforcement is already working hard to catch criminals, but the courts aren’t prosecuting. This will change. At the same time, we will work with communities and schools to create and implement comprehensive programs to identify and work with at-risk youth to take them off the streets before the police do. My office will fight anyone who seeks to harm our communities, from drug dealers to the government itself.
5. How would you protect states’ rights as guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution?
The Attorney General is sworn to uphold and defend the law and protect the interests of the people. It is a privilege of that office to represent the people in court when the federal government tries to overstep its power and infringe upon rights guaranteed us by the U.S. Constitution. When the interests of the people demand, and should our guaranteed rights be threatened, I will not hesitate to hold the federal government to account. I will also defend our own State’s legislation against federal government attack in defense of our citizens’ guaranteed rights. While I cannot rewrite the laws, I can, and will, prosecute and defend them with the full force of the New Mexico department of justice.