By Margaret Hopper

Six Democratic candidates for state and county offices answered questions at WNMU on the Third Thursday (May 19) program in the Miller Library. Becky Brandenberg-Herrera, WNMU social worker, moderated the event, which began about 6:15 and lasted until almost 7:30.

The two women who are running for House District 38, the state representative position, are Mary Hotvedt and Karen Whitlock; Rudy Martinez, unopposed in the primary, is running for District 39. Incumbent Howie Morales is unopposed, running to retain his state senate position in Senate District 28. In the District Attorney's race, Francesca Estevez, incumbent, will face Michael Renteria in the primary.

The first question was, GǣWhat ideas do you have and how would you address the needs of child welfare in the state of New Mexico, and how would you help New Mexico be a great place for all kids?Gǥ

Morales asked why raise children in the state if the state doesn't provide for opportunity? The state is 49th in poverty, and the jobs just aren't here. The money is not spent where it is needed. He said a support system should be in place; there should be early childhood safety and education; resources should go right to the people who are most vulnerable, not only children, but senior citizens, veterans.

He said: GǣWe have the money; it's how you choose to invest this.Gǥ

Estevez said her office had a lot of contact with juveniles. What was needed was better programs. Over the years, some of the programs have been lost. They try to learn about the family and why some children are into criminal activity. Wraparound services are needed, from birth through the education years. With that, there might be less juvenile-delinquent crime.

Renteria said he has always wanted to help people. He can remember caseloads of 150 to 200 kids at a time. Kids were crying for structure, discipline and order. He told of some experiences as a juvenile protection and probation officer, a truant officer, and other duties. The relationship with kids was critical for success; all these experiences would help him as a District Attorney.

Hotvedt said child and family welfare had a lot to do with why she was running for office. Her area was marriage and family, and social anthropology. It was important to invest in children and families. Early childhood and early intervention were important. The legislature played an important part in deciding how funds were used for children and families in the state. She said she wanted to see the improvements that 20 years could bring with investment in the families.

Whitlock said this was a huge issue, and why she was running. Education, the child welfare system, and health care; none of them could be separated. As a social worker, she knew kids wanted to be with their parents, even though it might not be the best thing for them. They needed the structure, the feeling of being safe. The whole family needs to be considered; the whole wraparound system was needed to take care of the child. It was the whole family.

Martinez said children were his priority. Thousands were lacking proper nutrition, in substandard conditions, and they needed health care. Children should be protected and given opportunities. Their educations should be funded so they could learn and excel, and become better citizens. And children can educate their parents, as well, he said.

The next question was on what would make New Mexico a healthier state. Hotvedt said it was important to keep rural hospital systems in place. There was also a need for funding for video conferencing for consultations. Thirdly, they needed to look at the overall costs of health care and reduce overhead and duplication of services to more efficiently provide the health care. That took more planning and inter-agency cooperation.

Whitlock said the rural hospitals were lacking. Initially, President Obama's health-care had ten million dollars earmarked for this. There could be a visit to a doctor, say, in Santa Fe, then a consultation with the family doctor; that could be Medicaid reimbursed. Local access still involves a huge wait. Also, Governor Martinez had said she supported a Medicaid program, but then vetoed it. That one would have given $500,000 and would have had a 70 percent federal support. This year, 10 percent was cut out of behavioral health care programs; people will not get what they need; that was unacceptable.

Insurance at low cost, or no cost at all, would help, said Martinez. At the state level, 86 million dollars had been cut from corporate taxes. It all ties together; health care is needed for children, seniors and others. People are affected by that. He would introduce a bill for help to rural communities, he said. More doctors were needed in southwest New Mexico; these were things that need to happen.

Morales said there was a crisis; an agency turned people away for proper nutrition and food stamps. There were major threats. There was an $84,000,000 shortfall in Medicaid services. There was talk about losing services, providers, professionals. He would continue to sponsor bills. They should get rid of red tape that kept people from benefits. HMS could grow the area's own medics; but money to train them, the funding was vetoed, he said.

The moderator changed the question for the district attorneys, asking what was a major challenge the 6th Judicial District faces. Estevez said GǣPrograms! 75 percent of the criminal cases had a substance abuse component.Gǥ After they come out of incarceration, they need mental health programs, education, and jobs. Drug Corps partners with employers by using contracts. There are some successes, but society has to invest in programs that keep kids in school, away from substances, away from criminal behaviors.

Renteria said unity was needed over all. There were cracks in the system; law enforcement, criminal justice, judges, attorneys, staff people. Programs were needed, but they cost money, too. But accountability was needed; people who don't obey the law, who disrupt in the community, need to be held accountable. Teamwork, unity and accountability are needed.

New Mexico ranked low in education; how can the standing be reversed? Martinez said more funding; testing has its place, but our system is broken, he said. Half the budget, $3 billion dollars, is still not enough. Teachers have hardships; they are so frustrated, and children, too. It's time to get back to the basics and let teachers teach the way they should. Make it user friendly for students, teachers and the families. Things like this "will change our educational standard, where we are right now," he said.

Morales said Hannah Skandera and the Governor have created a crisis. When they came in, New Mexico was 29th and 30th. Today it is 49th. Leadership is the issue, not resources or teachers, and it's all over the country. They focus on whether to retain non-reading 3rd graders rather than on early intervention. Putting more dollars in the hands of test companies seems more important than the well-being of students. There should be a balance. The flawed school rating system, and the evaluation system, need change. His legislation had been vetoed. He'd not stop until "our education system is second to none. Notice I took a stand Tuesday at our school board meeting," he said, "for our students."

Hotvedt suggested: Gǣ...maybe she was aiming for 49th, and they achieved their goal... it is a big mess.Gǥ

Teachers and mental health providers had been vilified, prosecuted, - persecuted, not supported. The morale of many had been gutted, and schools put at great risk. Legislation that frees teachers to be creative again is needed. Limit test time; give teachers resources they don't have to buy for their rooms...

Whitlock said the Martinez administration has done nothing to support education. Any raises teachers receive are canceled out by the costs of benefits. Pay raises are based on a popularity contest, not seniority and performance evaluations. One senate bill would have taken 15 percent of the reserves for early childhood education; it wouldn't have cost the taxpayers a penny. It didn't come out of committee.

"We have the third highest reserves of any state, per capita; why not help kids?" she said. "They are the future."

Switching to a D.A. question, the moderator asked how they would handle police misconduct; "investigate and prosecute?" Renteria said standards should be higher. He said that was part of being in any public office. The official has to stand up front. All should work together. All should be held to a higher standard.

Estevez said a prosecutor couldn't investigate; police investigate. But a prosecutor can evaluate what the investigation gives. When there is malfeasance, they have to look to another district to take that case because it becomes a conflict of interest and gives the appearance of impropriety. But, yes, officers have been prosecuted for crimes. The problem is that the Department of Public Safety and the Law Enforcement Academy board reinstates those officers. There are officers in this state who have remained officers under these conditions, she explained.

In their closing statements, Hotvedt said it was important to return these incumbents to Santa Fe; she would like to be included to help shape education, health care, recoup the mental health system, get greener jobs. Big picture planning was needed to move New Mexico forward. "In 50 years we shouldn't be 50th in anything."

Whitlock said she was a social worker with environmental experience, currently a WNMU professor.

Her priorities were education, health care and jobs. The Governor has done nothing for these. New Mexico has been rated the worst-run state in the country, she said. Big businesses get tax cuts, small ones go under. Democrats need to retake the House and have a super majority to prevent vetoes. It is time to get out the vote.

Martinez said his priorities were for training, equipping and regaining respect for law enforcement. "We were first in unemployment." He listed thousands of job losses. Teachers were professionals, not numbers. Without them, how would children learn? The cost of turning the behavioral health services to out-of-state providers was high. "Predatory vendors take advantage of our veterans." Regulations and laws must be put in place to support these important issues.

Morales said he would continue to advocate and work hard. As long as the state gives away nearly a billion dollars on tax breaks, on a six billion dollar budget, he would advocate for giving that to those who have to depend on government assistance to get by. New Mexico has the money; it is where it chooses to put it. Child well being, poverty and hunger are big issues. He hoped to make people proud with his work.

Estevez said she had decided to go to law school when she led a group of tenants who had no heat or hot water; a judge had refused to allow her to translate for them. She became a legal services attorney in New York, New Jersey and New Mexico. The community connection was important. She remains interested in Healing House, El Refugio and the local Health Council. Community is still her priority.

Renteria said it was not easy to talk about himself; it was easier to advocate, to fight for others. He considered the service to be a calling, with a servant's heart; not about pride. He would communicate; it was a strength. He said he felt prepared and qualified for the call.

Brandenberg-Herrera ended the forum with an announcement that there would be another forum on the third Thursday of June with the topic of men's health. Fellowship and food followed out in the lobby.