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Being governor also means addressing public safety
Susana Martinez
As a district attorney, my job is to focus on crime and the illegal acts perpetrated against Doña Ana County’s citizens, particularly those who are most vulnerable among us – our children, seniors and disabled citizens.
I have made public safety my life’s calling. Every day in office I work toward holding to account those who break our laws, striving to make sure they don’t have the opportunity to do it again.
Certainly, as governor, my role would change significantly, but in my eyes, our state’s chief executive has a responsibility to take a lead and set a tone that illegal acts and disorder will never be tolerated.
A true and deep commitment to the rule of law and seeing it implemented fairly and consistently does not change based on the position you have in state government. But for too long, politicians in Santa Fe have been soft on crime and seemingly less focused on the rights of victims than they have been on the rights of criminals.
As governor, I will look to change the culture in the Roundhouse that seems to think law enforcement can function effectively without a strong partner in elected government. New Mexicans will know they have a strong advocate in Santa Fe ensuring our police officers and sheriffs have the resources to keep all of us safe by deterring crime, but also bringing those responsible for heinous and criminal acts to swift and strict justice.
Those who are involved in criminal activity need to understand that, as governor, I will lead an administration that will not tolerate criminals preying on New Mexico’s citizens.
Reinstating the death penalty, expanding Katie’s Law
As governor, I will undertake a broad review of our state’s laws and report back on what I find. To start, I will fight to reinstate the death penalty for the most horrendous crimes. Those who murder law enforcement officials, witnesses and children in the course of a sexual assault should face the ultimate punishment.
I specialize in prosecuting crimes against children. As governor, I will look to change and toughen laws against sex offenders and child abusers. There are pragmatic steps we can take together like supporting and expanding measures such as Katie’s Law, which ensures we are obtaining DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) evidence for most violent, felony arrests and including the samples in a database to help bring criminals to justice.
Border security
My focus will also include what we are doing to ensure our border is safe and under control. I am the only candidate with first-hand experience prosecuting crimes related to border security. My office prosecutes over 600 of these cases every year, including cases against criminals connected to the violent drug cartels in Mexico.
As governor, I will continue to make border security a priority through commonsense reforms. One such reform will be to repeal the law that allows illegal immigrants to obtain driver licenses. This policy makes it more difficult for police officers to identify those here illegally, which allows them to remain in our country.
With Mexico experiencing an unprecedented level of violence, it is absolutely critical that our state government make securing our border a priority.
The first line of defense along the border is our state and local law enforcement, and ensuring those agencies have the necessary manpower and technology is the long-term solution as is currently being provided through Operation Stonegarden. However, in times of crisis, we must, as has been done in the past and as I have supported, use the National Guard to assist law enforcement, particularly when violence from the drug cartels is spilling over.
Doing more with less
One of the central challenges facing our next governor will be how to manage the state’s budget so that we are doing more with less. No shell games with hidden resources and wasteful priorities. As district attorney, I’ve been able to crack down on crime, implement new truancy programs and make sure criminals are held to account, all while balancing my agency’s budget.
Public safety is a critical element in New Mexico’s future. Making sure citizens and businesses feel comfortable and safe as they engage in day-to-day activities is not only beneficial to our society, but it is conducive to growing the economy and educating our students, which we can all agree are central challenges we will need to confront together once a new administration is elected next fall.
Martinez is the district attorney for the 3rd Judicial District in Doña Ana County and a Republican candidate for governor.
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It sounds like she is going to ratchet up the insane Drug War and build more prisons. Do we really want these kind of guys to have so much power? The prison industrial complex gravy train has become too expensive and our Judicial system is already way over-taxed.
Susanna should just capitulate to her biggest–only–qualification in this race: “I am THE LAW.” She needs to go all Sheriff Arpaio on us in her ads–you know, strap on some six-shooters and a cowboy hat, then strut around a dusty small town street declaring how she’s gonna clean this state up. And that she’s “startin’ with YOU, you murderin’ punks!! Unless, of course, you’re police officers who blow away mentally ill people.”
I think it would go over very well with the civil liberties crowd.
of course – the governor is the chiel law enforcement officer for the state of New Mexico … Bruce King did it – he was a rancher … Toney Anaya did it – he was a lawyer and prosecutor and commuted the eeath sentence of three convicted murders … Gary Johnson did it – it was like romper room for a while, and he was a businessman … Gary Caruthers did it – an educator (now) … Jerry Apodoca did it – a lawyer. The background of the governor doesn’t matter – he or she is the chief law enforcement officer. That said, DA Martinez plays to her strenghs – she has no real experience in the business world, she has no real experience in government, she has not real experience in anything but bustin’ bad guys – and God bless her for that. So … what is the record exactly? How well does she do that job – of the complaints filed, how many to go court and how many get convicted? Of those convicted – how many have been overturned? Where does Martinez stand in relationship to the other DAs in the State or to those who preceeded her in Dona Ana County – what is her turn over record from the court of appeals or the supremes? What IS the record? Curious …
I hate to disagree with you ‘politicalguy’. The governor is a prime moving factor in going after graft in the government. He/she can call for an investigation anytime necessary or when a problem arises, just as can the Lt Governor or anyone else in government. The state Auditor or the attorney General is more likely to listen to the Governor than anyone else.
jivaro99, once again, the governor’s office does not “go after criminals” in the sense Martinez does as a DA. She would have made an okay Attorney General, but chose not to seek that path for some reason. Her ad should end “Re-elect Martinez for DA.”
ksparks: Janice Arnold-Jones’s views on a LOT of issues are available on her Website. She’s not just all about one or two issues – like Susana, who seems to only talk about crime.
Well, I HAVE to weigh in on this discussion. The talking points are too good not to address. First, I am a total Susanna Martinez supporter without the pleasure of ever getting to meet her. That aside, let’s take on the talking points.
Death Penalty: How well was the death penalty working for us as a deterent? Not well, BECAUSE it wasn’t pushed…what the next governor should do is what Texas does…USE IT!! Pass legislation that would make both the state and federal appeals processes begin simultaneously. This virtually puts in an “Express Lane” to the “gurney of no return.”
“Aunt” Janice: I have no doubt of her caliber as a person, legislator, and conservative values but, that being said, she seems a bit ambivalent on issues when she is interviewed unless it focuses on her two soap boxes, education and transparency.
Doug Turner: A joke that won’t quit. Looks and sounds like he’s runing for Senior Class President. His radio ads sound like a talking points statement from the GOP. He might warm up to Republicans who were for the other four cnadidates but, he will not appeal to conservative Democrats and Independents.
Viability: Remember, we have to elect someone who can actually take on Diane Denish and the New Mexico liberal “machine” that turned out votes in 2008 for Barack Hussein Obama in droves after going Republican in the two Presidential Elections prior. Someone who can appeal to those conservative Democrats and Independents as well as Republicans who have become complacent and believe voting is a activity of futility. Doug Turner can’t do that with his boyish charm and inexperience. Allen Weh scares the Hell out of everyone, especially children. Pete Domenici has no real ideas and is a name only. “Aunt” Janice is bodes well for a state like Indiana that is 65% Republican. Susanna is the only candidate with the experience and ideas that can ‘crossover’ the threshold and appeal to all sides.
My two cents worth. Thanks Heath for allowing me to contribute to the discussion.
It is hard to get around the fact that Janice Arnold-Jones the best qualified to be governor.
The new Governor will take office right before a sixty day session begins. Janice Arnold-Jones knows the system and knows the players; she knows how things work. She has the character and the courage to be a great Governor. If people voted for the best candidate, instead of voting for someone else because they have a “better chance” to win, the best candidate would be the one with the greatest chance of winning.
There is no candidate more qualified than Janice Arnold-Jones. Again, the only problem financially, is that she isn’t one of the good ol’ boys and the political machine they run.
I thought we all wanted to get rid of the good ol’ boys.
With all due respect to the Janice people posting here – she has no chance of winning the primary or the general. It isn’t in the cards. I like Janice (although she could use some time with a speech coach so she doesn’t have to so obviously read every statement). She just isn’t the charismatic leader that we need right now. The only real charismatic candidate is Doug Turner. Weh is ok when he is on but Doug is good when he is off and great when he is on. He can beat Denish – not sure any of the others can. Wouldn’t it be better for the Republican chances in November to get on board with someone who can win?
As far as Susana – she makes a good case why she should be elected to District Attorney. She is not qualified for an executive job.
Running the state should be done by someone like Martinez because she is qualified and knows the law. She will be the greatest asset the people of this state could ever have.
I like and respect Janice Arnold-Jones, the same as Doug Turner, and all the other candidates that are conservatives, but what this state needs is a Governor that goes after the criminals that would steal from the people. That combined with a strong House of Representatives. This along with Errol Chavez as State Auditor, who is a man that has fulfilled this job at a much higher level with the DEA, and a strong Attorney General would be a boon for this state.
It is easy for a few to pass judgment on Susana, or on any other candidate, but it is another to pick a viable candidate to be Governor. Be careful what you wish for, but be wary of what a person says he/she can do.
The key is to run the state as a business, but not as a dictator, which we have had eight years of. Pick a candidate who is honest and is one of the people, just as Susana Martinez is. Elect strong people to help in the positions of State Auditor, Attorney General, and House of Representatives and the state will prosper.
One office we must not forget is the Office of Public Regulation Commission, which governs so much of our state. Jamie Estrada is my pick because he is young, knowledgeable and a fighter. He is also a man of conscience and honest to a fault and has the interests of the people in his heart. Need I say more?
If you want a prosperous and honest state, we have to have a core of strong, honest and transparent people to run our government that will downsize the bureaucracy, and go after anyone who tries to steal from the people. Remember that what a person says they will do if elected is only true if they have a proven track record or are honest in those promises. We have seen what the Progressives have done over the last eight years. Do you want to waste more money and bankrupt our state, or do you want smaller, transparent honest government?
I cannot wait to see Rep Janice Arnold-Jones and DA Susana Martinez head to head in a forum.
It will become immediately obvious which has the greater knowledge of government in Santa Fe, and is therefore the better qualified to be Governor.
People can say whatever they want about Rep Arnold-Jones candidacy, the bottom line is that she is by far, the most qualified to be Governor. It is ironic that one of her greatest assets is also her greatest liability when it comes to fund raising; she isn’t a political insider. She is one of us.
Gal missed the mark – the skills of Arnold-Jones translate DIRECTLY to what the Governor does – lead, inspire, be responsible and hold folks accountable to the people (it is what she has always done and what she’ll continue to do in the Round House).
When I listen to Martinez, I share the outrage and feel the full brunt of her emotional word picture. My sense of well being and safety is reinforced when I hear tough language about crime and holding criminals to account – in some cases with their very life – for the insults they deliver to civilized societies. That said … New Mexico does not have the political will to execute those that have been successfully prosecuted for capital crime to the full measure of the law … we’ve put one man to death for his heineous crimes in the last 50 years … and I’ve heard Arnold-Jones say that it costs up to $20 million to prosecute a death penalty case. Toward what end – so that the convicted a**%&@e can spend the rest of his or her life on death row – fed, clothed, full medical care, with a high priced lawyer paid for by the public to pursue his appeals and keep him alive? I admire Arnold-Jones, and seven or so other Republican house members that voted for what they believed to be best fo the State – so stem the hemorage of cash associated with death penalty cases – none of which go anywhere because of the court system, the precedent of law, and lack of political will to actually stick a needle in their arm to end the life of these a**%&@e’s. i say – put them in jail for life, without access to parole – and the prison population will kill most of them for us.
Having said all THAT – how well was the death penalty working for us as a deterent? Did it stop Michael Astorga from killing Deputy Jimmy McGrane in Tijeras four years ago … did it stop the offenders Martinez cites in her epistle? Did it stop three hoodlums from gunning down a state policeman in 1972, before the hijacked a plane to Cuba … or the perp who killed the women we’ve found buried on the west side of Albuquerque? No … where is the data? I’ve spoken with many police officers – some say it works, some say it doesn’t make a difference – at all. And I wonder how many innocent men and women we’ve executed? with DNA, that is less likely – but we still lack the ability and the will to actually kill these ‘people’.
I admire Arnold-Jones for helping to find a solution for all of the negatives associated with the death penalty – I also admire her for her willingness to be open to reinstating the death penalty .. .if the appropriate changes in process and ‘execution’ are changed. She has common sense, and real world experience in solving problems and isn’t limited by the narrow view and experience of a career prosecutor. And I have the common sense to follow her.
Arnold-Jones did not choose to file for her HD 24 seat. The only candidate running is Republican Conrad D. James (no D candidate). Now he COULD be a placeholder who will withdraw if she loses the R primary gubenatorial race so that she can be slated for the seat.
The same can be said of Janice Arnold-Jones. Having met her, she is a nice, smart lady. She is great at what she is doing, why take a chance on losing that? She should stay where she is at which, based on recent polls, Republican pre-primary conventions, etc., is what a lot of people think.
It’s good to hear Susana admit here that her skills as a prosecutor do not naturally translate to the governor’s office. Because, in truth, they do not.
Only a skilled legislator who knows how to root out the corruption, find what needs to be cut, and craft a working relationship with legislators – on both sides of the aisle – will be able to bring a new level of honest governance to Richardson’s tainted chair.
Susana doesn’t fit that bill. It’s too bad she doesn’t remain doing what she loves doing so muhch, rather than seeking what would be a very frustrating term as governor. Only Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones has what it takes. People should give her due consideration.