Journal concludes endorsements for NM Legislature
Today, the Journal concludes its endorsements in contested primary races for the state Legislature. For information including candidate Q&As, district maps and news stories as they are published, go to ABQJournal.com/ election2020.
NEW MEXICO HOUSE
District 20 — Democratic primary, Meredith Dixon
Dixon is well-prepared to serve in the House, with a background in politics and community organizations. She has worked for fellow Democrats U.S. Sen. Tom Udall and N.M. House Speaker Brian Egolf, telling the Journal Editorial Board she’s proud of taking Egolf’s job-listening tours outside the Rio Grande corridor to places like Roswell.
Describing herself as a pragmatic progressive, Dixon says she wants to put aside “hyper-partisanship” and bring people together on issues like crime fighting. She wants to tackle systemic issues that lead to crime and supports community policing councils and technology to pinpoint crime, including gunshot detection systems.
The Democratic primary winner will face Republican Michael Hendricks in the general election to represent the district that covers parts of southeastern Albuquerque, including the Four Hills area. One-term District 20 Democratic Rep. Abbas Akhil, the first Muslim member of the Legislature, is not seeking reelection. Akhil narrowly defeated Republican Rep. Jim Dines in 2018.
District 23 — Republican primary, Ellis McMath
McMath, a concealed-carry firearms instructor and hot springs enthusiast, says Arizona, which achieved statehood in 1912 along with New Mexico, has thrived because of its businessfriendly environment while New Mexico has lagged economically because of its tax environment. He has a point.
He says New Mexicans are a conservative people who face a “radical, progressive, liberal agenda.” The retired air traffic controller is focused on crime, the military and believes strongly in parental notification for abortions involving minors. He counsels at the Metropolitan Detention Center and told the Editorial Board “judges have their hands tied because of liberal laws” and he wants to work on criminal justice reform.
The winner of the Republican primary will face incumbent Democrat Damon Ely of Corrales in the general election to represent the district that encompasses Corrales and part of Albuquerque west of the Rio Grande.
District 27 — Democratic primary, William Orr
Orr, a retired geriatrician, says he’s running to add an independent physician’s perspective to the House.
He says the federal Affordable Care Act made great strides in expanding health care access but a simplified billing system is needed to attract more doctors to the state.
Orr supports a single-payer health system with exceptions for Medicare and the military. He wants to eliminate multiple billings from multiple insurance companies and move to a health insurance system not necessarily tied to employment. He said the pandemic has demonstrated troubling disparities in access to health care in many remote areas of the state that need to be addressed.
Orr says he became more politically active after President Donald Trump’s victory.
District 27 — Republican primary, Robert Godshall
Godshall, a retired federal immigration officer, ran for the District 27 seat two years ago, losing by 193 votes to Democrat Bill Pratt, who died in December. Prior to Pratt, the district was represented for nearly 24 years by Republican Larry Larrañaga, who died in October 2018.
Godshall worked as a Border Patrol agent for five years, then as an investigator with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement before retiring about 12 years ago. His professional insight into immigration and border security could be of great benefit.
Godshall told the Editorial Board he gives credit to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for holding down coronavirus infection rates, but that her policies inflicted too much economic pain on businesses. He wants to work to broaden the state’s tax base and eliminate loopholes for gross receipts taxes, with the goal of reducing GRT rates to 5%.
The winner of the Republican primary will face the winner of the Democratic primary to represent the district that covers part of the Northeast Heights, including neighborhoods along Academy NE.