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New Mexico voters to decide on bond issues
By Pam Roy, Government Relations, New Mexico
Voters will choose among candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, attorney general, 70 state representatives seats (34 of which are uncontested), commissioner of Public Lands, judge of the Court of Appeals, district court judges, and the state’s three congressional districts in the U.S. House and Senate.
In a state that is ranked one of the nation’s poorest in economic growth, food insecurity and education, policymakers have a full plate to contend with. Though the recession is officially over, New Mexico has had the slowest growth rate in the country with only 17,400 jobs added over the last three years while manufacturing has shrunk by 10 percent. Though these issues are at the core of the challenges, social issues such as licenses for immigrants, same-sex marriage, and legalizing marijuana are also on the top of the list for some candidates.
In the upcoming election there will be three general obligation bonds which allow the state to borrow money to finance capital improvement projects. These bonds include senior citizen facilities; academic, public and tribal libraries; and educational institutions. A complete breakdown of capital projects designated in each bond can be found on the New Mexico Legislature website at www.nmlegis.gov.
Five proposed amendments to the state constitution will, if approved:
Move school elections to dates that do not overlap with partisan elections.
Change the Northern New Mexico State School Board of Regents by allowing one regent position to be a student.
Allow the legislature to set the date for filling declarations of candidacy for judicial retention elections.
Allowing certain counties to become urban counties and to clarify the majority vote needed to adopt a county charter.
Amend the constitution to preserve the land grant permanent funds by increasing the duty of care.
More on the amendments can be found on the New Mexico Legislature’s website: http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/reports.aspx.
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By Pam Roy, Government Relations, New Mexico