Journal endorses Lujan Grisham in Democratic governor primary
Below is the Journal’s recommendation in the contested Democratic primary for governor. Three Democrats are competing in the race. The winner will face Republican Steve Pearce, who is giving up his congressional seat to run for governor.
New Mexico Democrats are fortunate to have three solid candidates for governor who have spent time laying out what they would do if elected to the state’s top elected office. Sen. Joseph Cervantes has been stalwart in the Legislature, fighting for open government and standing up to members of his own party on some issues, even when it’s not politically expedient. Jeff Apodaca has enjoyed a varied career in the private sector and demonstrated the ability to offer solutions outside the box.
But Michelle Lujan Grisham’s broad résumé and boundless energy give her an edge in the Democratic primary for governor.
She’s served as a Cabinet secretary for 16 years under three governors — two Democrats and a Republican — and is finishing up her third term as a congresswoman. In Congress,
Lujan Grisham has cultivated a good track record of constituent services and of representing her district, and she has shown the ability to take moderate positions.
Lujan Grisham knows the ins and outs of state government, having served as health secretary under Gov. Bill Richardson, and overseeing the state Agency on Aging under Govs. Bruce King, Gary Johnson and Richardson. And thanks to the six years she’s served in Congress, she also has intimate knowledge of the federal government’s inner workings.
She also served as a Bernalillo County commissioner, further bolstering her publicservice résumé.
On the economy, Lujan Grisham realizes the potential of clean power energy — wind and solar — to create jobs in New Mexico. But she is also realistic and knows investments in electric transmission infrastructure will be required in order to unlock those economic possibilities.
She says New Mexico’s tax system needs to be overhauled to create a fair system that maximizes revenues while lessening burdens on families. She is in favor of legislation that would impose a gross receipts tax on internet sales for large sellers to put them on equal footing with New Mexico businesses.
And she takes a cautionary position on legalizing recreational cannabis, saying such legislation must include sensible regulations and protections for kids, DWI and medical cannabis
patients.
Lujan Grisham also favors changing New Mexico’s primary system, saying “opening primary elections to independent voters will create an opportunity for more people to participate and incentivize campaigns … to reach out to a broader electorate even before the primary election.”
With all that said, voters should be troubled by Lujan Grisham’s reluctance to talk to reporters about the recent criticisms her campaign has faced.
Her opponents have raised questions about the circumstances of her 2007 resignation as Department of Health secretary and they’ve pushed for her to release her state personnel files. Instead of agreeing to release the file, Lujan Grisham’s spokesperson uttered some nonsense about it being unclear whether those files could even be released. Given the circumstances, Lujan Grisham can, and should, give the OK to release her personnel file.
And rather than taking questions from a Journal reporter about the health care consulting company she co-founded, Lujan Grisham is allowing her campaign treasurer to handle the controversy. Between her service as a Cabinet secretary and her time as a congresswoman, Lujan Grisham co-founded Delta Consulting Group, which provides management and consulting services for nonprofit organizations in health, disability and longterm care reform issues. She divested herself from the company last year after announcing her run for governor. The company currently has a $600,000 contract with the state.
Hopefully, the less-than-forthright and direct approach that we’ve seen this week isn’t a sign of what a Lujan Grisham gubernatorial administration would be like.
That said, nothing learned so far on either issue would disqualify her.
A 12th-generation New Mexican who earned both her bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of New Mexico, she is a hardworking public servant who will fight hard for our state. She has demonstrated her ability to listen to both sides of an argument. And her record of serving under both Democratic and Republican governors underscores the fact she is willing to cross party lines to get things done.
The Journal endorses Michelle Lujan Grisham in the Democratic primary for governor.