Attacks can’t tarnish Hochman-Vigil’s record

North Valley rep listens to concerns, finds solutions

Our country is in a bad place. This year’s political races have been terribly bitter and divisive, with candidates trading insults and Americans increasingly viewing one another with suspicion and disparagement. My neighbors and I are pretty much exhausted by it all.

But as residents of House District 15 in Albuquerque’s North Valley we’re living in a place of relative sanity, because we have the good fortune to have Dayan Hochman-Vigil as our state representative.

Day is a uniter, not a divider. She knows it is her job to serve all of her constituents, not just the people who voted for her. She takes her responsibilities very seriously, showing up for every community meeting, listening patiently to what folks have to say and doing everything in her power to help get answers and find solutions to their concerns.

As a lifelong New Mexican, Day really understands the importance of family and has made supporting our state’s families her highest priority. She helped pass legislation that lowered taxes for working families and has worked to help diversify our economic base and support small businesses. Those were popular measures in our district.

Day has also joined her fellow legislators in stepping up to help New Mexicans who have been hard hit by the COVID-19 outbreak. This worldwide pandemic has reminded us all of the importance of prudent, evidencebased decision-making. We’re certainly better off here than in many states because of their leadership.

It’s all too easy for critics to sit on the sidelines, making false accusations and trying to scare people while taking shots at those who have been elected by the voters to do a job. It’s quite another thing to do the hard work of coming up with real solutions to real problems.

I’ve decided that the lies and hysteria being spewed online and in the news media show a real lack of character. We’ve even seen some of these baseless accusations in the District 15 race, and I’m fed up with it. This tiresome “attack” mentality isn’t constructive, and it certainly doesn’t represent the interests or outlook of our community.

The fact is New Mexicans have pressing needs that demand fresh ideas and the energy to make them a reality — we need a positive, can-do outlook. Day’s outstanding track record shows she’s up to the job, and I know she is devoted to providing the smart, responsible leadership we will need to meet the challenges facing our state.

She has earned my vote, and I hope yours.