NM State Representative District 21
Represents a district in the New Mexico House of Representatives, which has 70 members. In odd-numbered years, the legislature meets for 60 days; in even-numbered years, it meets for 30 days. The Governor may call for special sessions. Representatives sponsor and vote on “reasonable and appropriate laws,” represent the constituents of their districts, and serve on legislative committees. Positions are unpaid, except for per diem expenses. Elected for a two-year term.
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Debra Marie Sarinana
(Dem)
What abilities do you have that qualify you for this office?
What is your top priority, and how do you plan to address it?
What additional water policies and actions, if any, are needed in New Mexico?
What, if anything, should be done to improve public safety?
What programs or actions, if any, would you support to provide more affordable housing?
How can New Mexico diversify its economy?
Should legislators be paid a salary? Why or why not?
Campaign Phone
505-974-9408
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/DebbieSarinanaForNM
Campaign Website
https://www.debbieforabq.com
Occupation
Retired
I was a high school & middle schools math school teacher for 20 years, my background helps me with Education issues. I have been on the Energy Committee for 8 years and have learned much about Gas and Oil and water issues. These are areas that I carry bills for. I have been on the Finance & Appropriations committee for 4 years. I have learned much on how money is allocated to the different agencies and how to get money for specific causes. I support miltary & veterans due to my AF background.
My top priority this year is climate change when it comes to water use and how our land, water and air is being polluted. I will be carrying a setback bill to keep any new extraction sites at least a miles away from schools, a leaks and spills bill to hold the gas & oil industry accountable, and I will have a water bill allowing the gas & oil industry to use only 5 percent fresh water. NM is in a mega drought, 5% times 70,000 wells is a lot of NM fresh water being made unuseable by gas & oil.
We need to moderize our water infrastructure, protect ground water health both in water quality and quantity, and we need to moderize administrative practices for water. Most of all we need the Legislature to FUND and make water issues a priority in the next legislative session. We need to make sure the agencies that deal with all our water have the capacity they need to do their jobs.
We have great leadership in the Public Safety arena, but funding and capacity is where improvement needs to be made. We need to increase community policing efforts and invest in crime prevention programs. We need to enhance and fund access to mental health services addressing socioeconomc factors contributing to crime. We need to implement effective gun control measures & utilize technology for surveillance & crime prevention. We need to foster trust between law enforcement and the communities.
I'd support affordable housing strategies like incentivizing developers to build afforable units, offering subsides or tax breaks, promoting mixed-income developments, and invest in public housing initiatives.
NM can diversify its economy be leveraging its natural resources for sustainable energy development. We need to promote outdoor recreation, tourism and film industry while investing in technology and the innovation sector. We need to develop workforce training programs to meet the emerging industry needs and improve infrastructure to attract businesses.
Yes, legislators should be paid a salary. Being paid would help legislators focus on NM's issues. When I was working as a teacher and a legislator my priority had to be the job that paid the bills and supported my family, so being a legislator had to come second. Now that I have retired, I can begin researching and working with the stakeholders throughout the year to get good bills ready for the Session.
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