NEW MEXICO ATTORNEY GENERAL
The state’s legal officer, legal counsel to state government, and guardian of the public interest. Represents the state before courts or agencies and provides legal opinions upon request of the Legislature, state officials or district attorneys. Must be an attorney licensed by the New Mexico Supreme Court, at least 30 years old, a citizen of the United States, and have resided continuously in New Mexico for the five years preceding his/her election. Fouryear term with no more than two terms in succession.
1. What qualifies you to be Attorney General?
I have been honored to practice widely as an attorney in New Mexico for 20+ years. I’ve represented individuals, families and small businesses against bad actors and giant corporations. As the State Auditor of New Mexico, I have worked with the Attorney General’s Office to hold corrupt public officials and the pharmaceutical sector accountable. I have had the opportunity to see the potential positive impact the office has on communities throughout New Mexico. My history of legal, public and community service show I am passionate about advocating for those on the margins without a voice.
2. What are your highest priorities for this office?
My top priorities will be: Violent Offenders harming children - I will seek to build a criminal prosecution division full of subject matter experts that will take on the more complicated criminal cases; Environmental Protection - I will ensure that large corporations do not take advantage of New Mexicans by harming our environment and sacred resources such as water; Consumer Protection - I plan on continuing the work of the Attorney General’s consumer protection division and making sure that when individuals contact the Office they receive the advocacy every New Mexican deserves.
3. How do you intend to accomplish them?
I intend to accomplish this by ensuring my office’s daily priorities include these items and will maintain a dashboard to better track resolution of cases and issues presented. I will dedicate staff and funding to prioritize these three issues. In addition to the internal focus, I will ensure that our external focus prioritizes these three issues. Finally, I will work diligently with our elected legislature, district attorneys, and civic groups to prioritize and advance progress on these issues. By working together, we can ensure that our children, environment and consumers are protected.
4. What will you do to make public officials more accountable to the general public?
When I was running for State Auditor, I made a promise, to ALL New Mexican’s, I would hold every elected official accountable. I travelled to all 33 counties with this message of openness and accountability. For nearly four years, I have worked diligently to fulfill this promise. When the Mayor of Las Vegas, who is a Democrat, was abusing her power, I held her accountable for her actions. When Commissioner Couy Griffin, who is a Republican, abused his powers as a County Commissioner when he tried to bill his expenses to take his horses to a Cowboys for Trump Rally, I held him accountable.