Susana Martinez (left, courtesy photo) and Diane Denish (Photo by Heath Haussamen)

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Diane Denish wants a new constitutional convention to consider revising the N.M. Constitution. Her GOP opponent, Susana Martinez, agrees with the sentiment behind creating a commission to tackle government inefficiency but says there’s a better way to combat corruption.

Martinez said that’s by having “real consequences for violating the public trust,” and said “we will fix over-bloated bureaucracies by electing strong leaders that can put an end to them.”

Denish pointed out that the last constitutional convention was held in the late 1960s, and said as the state has grown, “certain deficiencies in the Constitution have become apparent.” She said the state’s centennial is a good time to review and update the Constitution.

State Rep. Joseph Cervantes has proposed the creation of a state Constitutional Revision Commission to consider and recommend changes to the New Mexico Constitution. The proposal is based on the goal of making government more efficient, effective and ethical.

With that in mind, I asked the gubernatorial candidates these questions:

• Do you support the creation of such a commission – or possibly even a new Constitutional convention – to consider changes to the state Constitution?
• What specific changes to the Constitution would you propose?

While Martinez focused in her response on leadership and said she would “institute the necessary changes, fight to put an end to the scandals, and guide our state government into a new era of governmental ethics and efficiency,” Denish talked about some specific issues a constitutional convention should consider.

Those include increasing transparency and oversight, including the establishing of a state ethics commission; rethinking the structure of government and examining the effectiveness of agencies such as the Public Regulation Commission; and modernizing government’s structure to adapt to technological changes.

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Here are their full responses:

Diane Denish

“I strongly support and propose a new constitutional convention for the state of New Mexico. The last state constitutional convention was in the late 1960s. As New Mexico has grown certain deficiencies in the Constitution have become apparent. New Mexico’s centennial is an appropriate time for a thorough review and updating of the document to make sure it’s working for New Mexico’s taxpayers.

“Such a convention must begin with policymakers taking a look at specific areas that need to be addressed and then making sure that the call for the convention is focused on improving parts of the Constitution that are deficient, not a wholesale rewrite of the document.

“One area we must address is the lack of transparency and oversight in the offices of appointed and elected officials. We need to build in better controls including creating a strong and truly independent ethics commission, establishing qualification requirements for certain offices, and constitutionally requiring transparency in department operations.

“A constitutional convention also provides us with an opportunity to think outside the box and build a more efficient and responsive structure for government. We need to examine the effectiveness of certain departments and agencies, such as the PRC or the Transportation Commission, to determine if they are meeting their purpose or should be restructured.

“The technological revolution of the last two decades has also created changes we should address. By holding a convention we can open up state government and modernize its structure and give it the flexibility to adapt to technological changes.

“One area where we need to be careful, though, is special interests. A constitutional convention is an opportunity to reshape the structure of state government. Such an opportunity will attract powerful special interests and vocal groups who will be pushing their specific agendas. We must make sure that the convention is structured to allow all citizens and communities to have their voices heard and ensure that any recommended changes represent the overwhelming will of all New Mexicans.

“A constitutional convention gives us an opportunity to prepare our state for a rapidly changing world, but it must be structured to represent the interests of the people and not a vehicle for special interests. New Mexicans deserve a state government that is efficient and responsive. As governor I will work for nothing less.”

Susana Martinez

“New Mexico state government is plagued by ‘pay-to-play’ scandals and an over-bloated bureaucracy. I understand and agree with the sentiment to create a commission that can tackle those inefficiencies, but the best way to end corruption is to have real consequences for violating the public trust.

“We will fix over-bloated bureaucracies by electing strong leaders that can put an end to them. As governor, I will institute the necessary changes, fight to put an end to the scandals, and guide our state government into a new era of governmental ethics and efficiency.”