Priorities
Healthcare: Our healthcare system may work great for insurance companies but it’s failing us. I've seen this firsthand working as a nurse. If you have cancer, every ounce of your being should be focused on your treatment and recovery. Instead, patients and their families spend countless hours fighting with insurance companies, even though they’ve paid premiums for years on end. With Congress incapable of passing legislation right now, New Mexico can take the lead in reining-in price gouging by insurance companies so all of us can get the care we need and deserve.
Education: As a two-term school board member, I know that our public schools are a lot like our healthcare system. We have dedicated teachers who are working their hardest but the people they care most about - their students - often face monumental challenges at home: poverty, addiction, violence, homelessness and more. The best way to improve our schools is to fight for the people who serve our students and work smarter to address those root causes many families face today. That means more competitive pay, safe schools, professional development that educators actually want, and increased access to healthcare, housing, counseling and treatment programs for all New Mexicans in need.
Housing: Housing prices - both for ownership and rental - keep going up. Lack of availability with higher demand is driving much of this inflation. We need an all-hands-on-deck push, led by the state, to create thousands of new housing units, with a focus on affordable options for young people and families.
Safety: Local governments have created real innovation in making our communities safer. Santa Fe and Albuquerque have both added social service providers to their public safety units to serve as first responders for non-violent emergencies, allowing police officers to focus on violent crime. The state can help institutionalize these best practices with targeted funding for the most innovative solutions to crime and addiction.