I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
At a forum in Taylor Ranch Wednesday night, Albuquerque’s two congressional candidates met in a community center packed with cheering supporters, but few sparks flew. The two candidates didn’t even directly address each other.
About 150 people filled the Don Newton Taylor Ranch Community Center to see candidates for several local and state offices and hear them speak.
Congressman Martin Heinrich, a Democrat from Albuquerque, spoke first, and said “For the last year and a half I have really tried to put everything I have into restoring and recovering our battered economy.” Heinrich blamed “recklessness and greed” on Wall Street for the economic downturn as well as “shady” mortgage practices.
“This election’s going to be about jobs,” Heinrich’s Republican opponent Jon Barela said in his opening statement. “It’s going to be about the economy. It’s going to be about righting the ship.
Barela attacked Heinrich’s time in office, saying, “His voting record has been about a lack of independence.”
The two candidates were asked what they would do to help reduce traffic, improve education and create more employment on the west side of Albuquerque.
On creating jobs, Barela said, “One of the things that we need to do is get off the backs of small businesses,” adding that Heinrich’s solution has been to get on the back of small businesses “and strangle them.”
On education, Barela said that he has problems with No Child Left Behind and said it is an example of why the “federal government shouldn’t meddle in the affairs of local government.”
Heinrich also said that small businesses should be helped as a way to help right the economy, mentioning that a small business lending bill needs to pass even before the November elections. He said the bill is “critical for businesses on the Westside, critical for businesses throughout the district.”
As for education, Heinrich said that they need to make sure that schools need to have curriculum “directly relevant to businesses and employers on the Westside.” He also called for Central New Mexico Community College, the University of New Mexico and Albuquerque Public Schools to work together.
The were also asked about traffic, an issue on the forefront of many Westside residents.
Heinrich said that Unser Boulevard is his number one infrastructure project and that he would work across the aisle and with the Albuquerque city council to help get the funds for the project.
Barela said that if Heinrich had his way roads on the Westside “would be very, very different.” Barela said that Heinrich voted against the expansion to Paseo del Norte and against expanding Montano from two to four lanes.
“We need to focus on infrastructure needs in this country,” Barela declared.
The format of the forum, and the fact that a large number of candidates were invited to participate in the forum, made for a somewhat restrained atmosphere. The two never directly faced off. Heinrich gave his opening, answered the two questions, then gave a closing. Then Barela repeated the process.
Each candidate spoke for less than 10 minutes total.
Moderator Joe Diaz, a meteorologist for KOAT, said that both candidates agreed on the format of the forum.
“We cannot go back to the same exact policies that made these times tough in the first place,” Heinrich said in his closing.
“I will never blindly follow a political party,” Barela said in his closing. “I will never blindly follow a political leader. I will gladly follow all of you and listen to all of you.”
