VIEWS ON TOP ISSUES
1. What are the top two things you would do to address the state’s high crime rate?
RODELLA: I voted FOR the 8.5% raise for State Police and for the 17.6% increase for the district attorney to establish a crime strategies unit, reduce case backlog and prosecute violent crimes against children. Drug addiction leads to crime. We need to invest more in education, prevention, intervention, rehabilitation and treatment.
HERRERA: Work to increase wages and training for all law enforcement. Encourage the development of neighborhood watch groups to assist local law enforcement. Expand the concept of community policing.
2. Do you support or oppose legalizing recreational marijuana use in New Mexico and taxing its sales?
RODELLA: I’m undecided. I have engaged voters on both sides of this issue. Supporters think we should follow Colorado with legalization and taxing sales. Opponents bring up our drug epidemic and believe we are sending the wrong message to children, and that it’s still against federal law. I support medicinal marijuana and de-criminalization.
HERRERA: I support legalizing recreational marijuana use in New Mexico and taxing its sales.
3. Do you support or oppose raising New Mexico’s minimum wage, currently $7.50 per hour? If so, by how much?
RODELLA: I support raising the minimum wage. I was primary sponsor of 2017’s HB 442, which passed and was pocket-vetoed by the governor. HB 442 was the result of much negotiation and resulted in compromise/consensus to raise the minimum wage to $9.25. The bill wouldn’t have affected municipalities with a higher minimum wage.
HERRERA: Minimum wages for Colorado and Arizona are $10.20 and $10.50, respectively. I support raising New Mexico’s minimum wage to $10 per hour on an incremental basis.
4. Do you favor making New Mexico a sanctuary state?
RODELLA: I believe New Mexico is already a sanctuary state.
HERRERA: YES.
5. What would you support to make New Mexico schools safer? Would that include changing New Mexico’s gun laws? If so, what specific changes to the gun laws would you support?
RODELLA: Student safety should be the top priority. I voted FOR SB 239 to provide funding to make schools safer. I am proSecond Amendment and a hunter. I would consider supporting improved state-federal information sharing to keep guns from persons posing a danger to themselves/others. I support keeping guns from those with domestic violence convictions.
HERRERA: I would encourage every school district to apply for a Student Resource Officer funded by the U.S. Department of Justice. I would support commonsense gun legislation, including universal background checks, banning assault weapons and temporarily banning weapons for individuals with restraining orders.