ENERGY
Keeping New Mexico in the lead
New Mexico is 2nd in the nation in natural gas production and 6th in oil production in the lower 48 states (source: NMOGA). Therefore, keeping New Mexico’s energy sector competitive is of vital importance as the revenues from oil and gas production fund 95% of the revenue of the land office. This means ensuring that we strike the right balance in our regulatory approach to thus ensure that we do not encourage the industry to leave New Mexico to do business in neighboring states.
At the same time, we must also begin to diversify the money the New Mexico makes off leasing trust lands beyond oil and gas and agriculture. With the right approach, our state can be a leader in renewable energy, specifically in wind, solar and biofuels. In addition, our rich uranium resources in northwest New Mexico and potash in southeast New Mexico hold the potential to make more money for the state. Under my leadership, we will aggressively pursue these opportunities to benefit all New Mexicans.
RESTORE ETHICS TO THE STATE INVESTMENT COUNCIL
Protecting New Mexicans against corruption
In the last eight years of the Richardson/Denish Administration, hundreds of millions of dollars have been lost or stolen from the State Investment Council (SIC), the investment agency responsible for earning positive returns for the revenues produced by state land leases. The Commissioner of Public Lands is one of three statewide elected officials responsible for ensuring the council properly invests this money and is not landing into the hands of political cronies. As a member of the SIC, I will stand up against deals that are not in the best interests of New Mexico’s taxpayers.
PROVIDE SOUND FISCAL MANAGEMENT
Build upon our results and plan for our future
For the past eight years, Commissioner Lyons operated the land office on a flat budget and reverted money back to the general fund. He will also end his tenure with nine fewer employees than when he took office. If every state agency ended with a flat budget, imagine the great position our state would be in right now. If elected your commissioner, I will continue the fiscally responsible policies currently in place.
However, the state land office is also in dire need of modernization, and I have the youth and passion required to deliver results for New Mexico. For instance, there are still areas of the land office that are doing things manually. Investing in technology can make a difference in both increasing office productivity – and thus saving taxpayers money in the end – as well as in improving transparency so the public can access state land records and scrutinize the land office’s dealings.
Below you can see a copy of the contract my opponent signed to give a sweetheart deal to Mesa del Sol. This is the same contract highlighted in our new ad "Facts" which you can watch under media, or the home page.