Miera’s background ideal for Lt. Gov.

OUR STATE needs to address a vital issue: One in five Americans will lose time at work or school due to behavioral health issues including mental illness, substance or alcohol use.

I worked with Rick Miera at the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center for six years, as a fellow state representative and as the mayor of Rio Rancho. Miera is a licensed drug and alcohol abuse counselor, the former chairman of the state House Education Committee ... and was elected by his peers to serve as the majority floor leader in 2012. Yet it is his background in behavioral health that makes him the most qualified and empathetic candidate ...

... As the coordinator and a therapist at the BCJDC (he) developed and implemented a mental health treatment program for our youth population. His innovative agenda lowered the inmate count from 130 to 50 residents. The efficiency of this endeavor worked because our youth were able to receive and continue treatment outside of the center . ... This model is nationally recognized, and youth correction services from around the nation look to model its success . ... ... (Miera) believes we need to let go of the stigma about mental health, because healthy communities revolve around quality behavioral health care. He knows acquiring health care early is critical, and that the state needs to prioritize state funding and Medicaid for maximal impact and enrollment. Services need to become more available, visible and communitybased . ...

Miera’s direct work with families and policy makes him the ideal candidate for the Lieutenant Governor Office .... Not only can he make positive changes for our state, he can lead us toward becoming the model of behavioral health reform that all other states will want to replicate. I’ve seen him do it before, he can do it for New Mexico now. TOM SWISSTACK Rio Rancho