District Attorney candidate questionnaires
May 4—Marco Serna
City or area of primary residence: Santa Fe
Age: 41
Party affiliation: Democratic
Educational background: Bachelor of Arts, University of Arizona; St. Mary's University School of Law, Juris Doctorate
Occupation: Attorney
Political experience: District Attorney 2017-2020; congressional candidate 2020
Relevant life experience: Career public servant; 14 years experience. Assistant/Deputy/Chief Deputy District Attorney. Assistant/Deputy Attorney General. Elected District Attorney
Have you ever been charged or convicted of a crime, including drunken driving?: No
Have you ever filed for bankruptcy or been involved in a bankruptcy proceeding, either personally or in business?: No
Have you ever been the subject of liens for unpaid taxes?: No
Why are you the best candidate for the job?
I was born and raised in Northern New Mexico and have dedicated my life to public service in my home state. In addition to my 14 years of prosecutorial experience, I bring a deep understanding of the values, challenges and opportunities of the entire First Judicial District. I am passionate about creating a safer community for all by comprehensively addressing issues such as homelessness, domestic violence, mental health and DWIs by combatting them head on to reduce crime rates and recidivism in a just and equitable manner. I also believe that transparency is key so the public has an understanding of the actions of my office and can trust that justice will be served and that their tax dollars are being used responsibly.
You and your opponent have both served a term in the office. Assess your opponent's performance and outline what you'd do differently if elected or reelected.
I disagree with numerous policies and decisions made by the current administration. First and foremost, I would immediately reverse the current DWI policy, which I believe has created a public safety crisis. While the current administration touts a high conviction rate, the numbers do not take into account all cases which have been dismissed and not refiled, creating a scenario where offenders face no accountability for their dangerous actions. In addition, the current administration has been irresponsible with taxpayer dollars. I pledge to not farm out any cases that should be handled in house. Lastly, the lack of transparency and violation of First Amendment rights is unacceptable for any DA's Office. I will have an open-door policy and will have regular town halls to provide the public with an opportunity to bring their questions and concerns to me directly.
How would you describe your management style?
I will always take into consideration that attorneys and staff have their own approaches that enable them to work to the best of their ability; however, I will also encourage and help facilitate professional growth through training opportunities. I also encourage the development of emotional intelligence so that all are respected both inside the office and courtroom, as well as the general public. It is crucial that we work as a team and we recognize we are only as strong as our weakest link. I will ensure that all divisions are well equipped with experienced attorneys and staff. I will regularly meet with chief deputy/deputies, and support staff supervisors to ensure efficient and effective case management. At the end of the day, the buck stops with me, so it is crucial I build a workplace where individuals can thrive but are also held accountable.
Is the District Attorney's Office understaffed, overstaffed or right where it needs to be? Explain you answer.
The current District Attorney's Office has lost several attorneys in the past year, which creates an overwhelming volume of cases per individual attorney, risking burnout and important details failing through the cracks. When I was serving as DA, I was able to recruit and retain talented attorneys.
The current district attorney has instituted a policy that calls for dismissing misdemeanor DWI cases at initial filing to allow prosecutors more time to gather evidence. Why is/isn't this a good decision, and why are/aren't motorists in the district safer because of it?
As someone who grew up in Northern New Mexico, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact of DWI in our community. The selective prosecution of DWI cases under the current administration undermines public safety and erodes trust in our legal system. By not prosecuting DWI offenses, we send a dangerous message that minor or first-time offenses are tolerable. This leniency can lead to repeat offenses, increased accidents, and, tragically, loss of life. Our community deserves a DA that will treat all DWI cases with the seriousness they warrant, regardless of their perceived severity. Selective prosecution creates a perception of inequality before the law, where some offenders might escape justice due to arbitrary decision-making. The role of the DA is not just to prosecute crimes but to safeguard the community, uphold justice, and prevent future offenses. The current administration's approach to DWIs falls short of these responsibilities. Furthermore, the misrepresentation and fabrication of an 86% conviction rate gives the community a false sense of security and justice. I believe in the power of prevention, education, and rehabilitation to address the root causes of DWI, but I also recognize the necessity of strict legal consequences to deter this dangerous behavior.
Mary Carmack-Altwies
City or area of primary residence: Santa Fe
Age: 46
Party affiliation: Democrat
Educational background: Bachelor of Arts in political science, Mount Holyoke College; Juris Doctorate, University of New Mexico
Occupation: District attorney, First Judicial District
Political experience: Prior to becoming district attorney, I had never run for public office. I am not a politician, I am a public servant.
Relevant life experience: I worked in the trenches as a public defender and in my own practice before working in both the First and 2nd Judicial DA's offices.
Have you ever been charged or convicted of a crime, including drunken driving?: No
Have you ever filed for bankruptcy or been involved in a bankruptcy proceeding, either personally or in business?: No
Have you ever been the subject of liens for unpaid taxes?: No
Why are you the best candidate for the job?:
I have overhauled an office that had a years-long backlog of homicide and officer involved shooting cases, modernized systems, and recruited top-notch attorneys. We have won 95% of our homicide and violent crime prosecutions, and we've increased our DWI conviction rate to 87%. We've reestablished the reputation and credibility of the First Judicial District by professionalizing the office, winning critical cases, strengthening relationships with law enforcement, and growing diversion programs to treat nonviolent offenders struggling with substance use and mental illness. Further, I am present in the courtroom, prosecute cases, and provide boots on the ground training and leadership.
You and your opponent have both served a term in the office. Assess your opponent's performance and outline what you'd do differently if elected or reelected:
My opponent left the office in shambles, with years-long backlogs of officer involved shootings and homicide cases, attorney morale at an all-time low, and conviction rates in the dumps. There were attorneys who worked in the DA's Office for over a year under my opponent and never met him because he was so rarely in the office. When I began, I updated systems that were woefully out of date and inefficient, improved pay and benefits, and completely changed the culture to retain talent and ensure justice for the community. I carry a caseload of cases that I prosecute myself, I am present in the office and the courtroom, and work closely with my staff — from support staff to deputy district attorneys. I couldn't be prouder of the work we've done to strengthen relationships with law enforcement and community partners. It's a 180 from 3 1/2 years ago.
How would you describe your management style?
Efficient, effective, available and hands-on. I work directly with my attorneys and all staff, communicating effectively and consistently to ensure we serve justice to the best of our ability. I am clear in my expectations, and work to impress upon my staff that we are a team, working collaboratively to keep the public safe. My staff knows that they can always come to me to seek advice, to problem solve and to feel supported in their work. I carry a caseload both to keep my finger on the pulse in the system, but also to serve as an example for the office and ensure that I am down in the trenches with my staff.
Is the DA's Office understaffed, overstaffed or right where it needs to be? Explain you answer.
Right where it needs to be.
While we currently have enough staff to operate effectively, we could be growing our ability to effect change and increase public safety with a greater number of attorneys, data analysts and diversion specialists. I will always advocate with the Legislature for greater personnel funding so that we can ensure that we are not just recruiting more staff, but the best staff in the country.
Your office has instituted a policy that calls for dismissing misdemeanor DWI cases at initial filing to allow prosecutors more time to gather evidence. Why is/isn't this a good decision, and why are/aren't motorists in the district safer because of it?
Our DWI policy is effective and is holding drunk drivers accountable and keeping roads safer. The year before I took office, the DWI conviction rate was only 36%. We were wasting resources and not keeping our streets safe. We currently have an 87% conviction rate on DWIs. Nine times out of 10, if you are caught drunk driving, you will be held accountable. Here's what we do: when a case comes to our office, we press pause, which allows us to investigate, collect all the evidence from law enforcement and then refile the case in a timely manner. This ensures we have all the information we need to take the case to trial. Convicting more drunk and impaired drivers keeps our streets safe, and that's exactly what our policy has been able to do.
