Senate District 24 candidate questionnaires
May 3—Anna Hansen
Age: 75
Party affiliation: Democrat
Educational background: Master's in art from the University of New Mexico.
Occupation: County commissioner
Political experience: 7+ years as a county commissioner.
Relevant life experience: Small business owner, resident of Santa Fe for 51 years, community development director of Oshara Village, art director at Green Fire Times and Emerge graduate.
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 should voters elect you over your opponents?
In a competitive primary when candidates broadly agree, what matters is results. I'm the only candidate in the race who can say they are a lifelong environmental activist and passed numerous measures to make us the leader in New Mexico in conservation efforts. I'm the only candidate who has successfully delivered tens of millions [of dollars] in infrastructure projects to Senate District 24 and can do more as your senator. I'm the only person in the race who knows what it takes to run a small business and am committed to making sure our government works with, not against, our local businesses like it has with New Mexico's small, independent cannabis businesses. I'm ready to hold our state accountable for its education shortcomings and demand we go beyond the Yazzie-Martinez agreement. I'll be a driving force in the Senate that guarantees our state starts addressing climate change and a just transition.
What is your position on paying members of the Legislature an annual salary?
If we pay legislators, we can address two major issues plaguing New Mexico. First, it would incentivize diverse, younger, working professionals to consider running for public office and to move away from either needing to be rich and/or retired to hold office. Secondly, it would end a level of government corruption that currently exists by allowing members to vote on bills that directly financially benefits themselves or their clients/employer. I think it goes without saying that last session's move to double the retirement pension legislators receive has already brought back the wrong candidates seeking to make more money in their retirement. As a county commissioner, I have had a liaison to help with constituent services, [and] I believe all elected officials deserve to have support staff to provide better service to their constituents and help with the work that is needed to be an effective official.
What role should the government have in establishing workplace policies such as paid family and medical leave?
I am proud of the paid family medical leave we offer Santa Fe County employees and believe everyone, regardless of their job, deserves the right to take leave in extreme situations without fear of having to make tough decisions about paying for their home or bills to survive. The policy of PFML is an important one and something that needs to go beyond the government sector, but it must be clear what employees and employers will pay into the fund. We need to have real debates about the program so we can create a written policy, so that the [Department of Workforce Solutions] secretary will know how to proceed with the rule making. If we can continue to subsidize out-of-state businesses in industries like energy, I believe the state can do more to help our small businesses navigate, plan and provide financial assistance to aid them in this important service.
New Mexico continues to rank last in child well-being. What can the Legislature do to improve the state's ranking?
We must prioritize our Native, low-income and rural students and go beyond the promises made in the Yazzie-Martinez lawsuit. While I support proven methods to increase our educational standards — nearly 50% of school districts, including SFPS, were not consulted with an unfunded mandate in a one-size-fits-all approach to instructional days. That's not fair to our communities already struggling after years of underfunding and the pandemic. We must do more to fund safe, cost-effective day care and pre-K programs throughout New Mexico. Food insecurity remains a huge issue, even in Santa Fe. We must continue funding programs like The Food Depot and provide food after school/weekend to at-risk students, especially during economic downturns. We must raise the wages to a living wage and expand the Child Tax Credit, so families have the resources they need.
Much has been made of the state's gun violence problems. What legislation needs to be passed and signed to address the issue?
I support all commonsense gun legislation as well as a longer waiting period for gun sales and limiting sales on military-grade assault-style weapons. There are many types of guns that people can use, but they do not need ones as damaging as assault weapons. As county commissioner, I have dealt with the unmanaged and wildcat shooting ranges throughout our district. I led the charge, working with the Bureau of Land Management and New Mexico Game and Fish Department, to find and provide a safe shooting range and keep the safety risk out of outdoor recreation areas on our public lands so that all can enjoy. We are in the final stages of the National Environmental Policy Act process for a BLM shooting range out on the Caja del Rio and hopefully Game and Fish will apply for the funds and it can be completed this year.
Do you consider yourself a progressive or moderate, and why?
Decades of activism work in Santa Fe, as well as passing Santa Fe's most progressive resolutions and policies, including joining the Paris Agreement, fighting for Black Lives Matter and calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, are examples of my progressive ideology. I am proud to have the support of organizations like Planned Parenthood and Conservation Voters New Mexico. My lifetime commitment to our environment and water is unwavering and what is needed in the Senate. With that said, my record in office is very clear: I will always put the needs of my constituents over my personal ideology. When it comes to fighting for Senate District 24, I will be relentless like I have been for County Commission District 2 in their fight to stop annexation and to build out much-needed infrastructure previous commissioners had ignored.
Veronica Krupnick
Age: 28
Party affiliation: Democrat
Educational background: Bachelor of Arts in public health, Fort Lewis College.
Occupation: Leadership analyst and Senate liaison, office of House Majority Leader Rep. Gail Chasey.
Political experience: Served as campaign assistant to now-elected House Majority Whip Rep. Reena Szczepanski and have worked in the House Majority Leadership Office for the last 30- and 60-day legislative sessions as a leadership analyst.
Relevant life experience: I have served as a career advocate in child welfare policy locally, statewide and nationally. I am also an alumni of the New Mexico foster care system.
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 should voters elect you over your opponents?
I am running for District 24 because I know our state Senate has never had a voice like mine in office, and it is time for bold change. I am a 28-year-old Native leader who has been unrelenting in my advocacy to protect our most vulnerable: children, youth and families. As a system-impacted individual, I am in this to protect the lives behind the numbers. I know policy is personal and am steadfast in my belief that those closest to harm should be centered in the solutions for true transformation to occur. No matter what, District 24 will have a Democratic woman in office. I am asking community to be courageous with me and open a door that has never been opened before in our city, and across our state. I have the lived experience, professional background and determination to bring a new voice to New Mexico politics.
What is your position on paying members of the Legislature an annual salary?
I 100% believe that paying our Legislature an annual salary is the right and fair thing to do. Having worked the past 30- and 60-day legislative sessions, I have seen the mental, physical and emotional strength that is needed by our lawmakers, as well as the many sacrifices being made to serve New Mexico. We cannot expect to [reach] our potential as a state without giving our lawmakers the resources they need to do the best quality job they can.
I also know this is a huge barrier for potential leaders to be able to serve. Young people, women and our communities of color, including tribal individuals, are vastly underrepresented in our current state Legislature. Providing a salary for these positions will open doors for these historically excluded communities and allow for leaders from diverse racial, age and economic backgrounds to be able to step up to serve.
What role should the government have in establishing workplace policies such as paid family and medical leave?
I have dedicated my career to strengthening families and advocating for the holistic resources needed for families to live holistically well and safe lives. I believe that workplace policies such as paid family medical leave is a crucial support we need to establish to support our New Mexican families. There are too many citizens and families who are living paycheck to paycheck, without the security of a safety net. I believe our government role should be looking to build and strengthen these safety nets, especially in the workplace. This will have a positive impact on our low-income, multigenerational, tribal and marginalized communities.
New Mexico continues to rank last in child well-being. What can the Legislature do to improve the state's ranking?
As a child welfare advocate, I understand to make progress in child well-being and safety we must be intentional about addressing the root causes: poverty, trauma, and structural racism and bias. Nearly 75% of the cases interacting with the Children, Youth and Families Department are due to neglect. Neglect is a symptom of other challenges, including housing, education, food access, transportation, health care and employment. If we address neglect cases, through bolstering prevention services in other sectors, we will be able to give the 25% of our cases who truly need the intervention due to abuse the full attention and resources needed. There are four primary areas I believe we can make tangible changes in to increase our child well-being: 1) children living in poverty; 2) pre-K to 12th grade attendance and retention; 3) children living in stable housing; and 4) children having access to physical, behavioral and mental health services.
Much has been made of the state's gun violence problems. What legislation needs to be passed and signed to address the issue?
I believe the state of New Mexico has made progress in the most recent legislative sessions with addressing gun violence. I think a few key pieces of legislation that can be worked toward are raising the age of firearm purchase to 21 and older, mandating gun owners to report when their guns are lost or stolen, establishing an Office of Gun Violence Prevention, and bolstering prevention efforts and programs directed at youth and young adults.
We have seen in data that the number of young people between the ages of 18 to 20 years old is much smaller compared to percentages of homicide offenses within this age group. I believe that a big step toward reducing gun violence will be made through prevention programming, especially with our young generations, as well as reestablishing our mental and behavioral health care systems.
Do you consider yourself a progressive or moderate, and why?
I consider myself very progressive, as I am someone who believes that our governments and policies should be built on the "bottom-up" model, placing community first. I want to see big and bold progress made for economic, social and racial equity, centered in uplifting communities. I believe that we must elect leaders who are invested in placing people over corporations and are committed to policies that will strengthen public education, access to health care and public services, increase minimum wage, address the gender pay gap, protect our workforce, and address wealth inequalities. I believe these policies need to be directly tied to strengthen the LGBTQIA2s+ community, women, and communities of color.
Linda Trujillo
Age: 64
Party affiliation: Democrat
Educational background: Associate degree in early childhood education, Green River Community College; bachelor's in public administration, Evergreen State College; Juris Doctorate, Seattle University School of Law.
Occupation: I am a former Head Start teacher and a licensed attorney with a background in education and public administration. I most recently served as superintendent of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department.
Political experience: Two terms as New Mexico state representative; vice chairwoman of the House Education Committee; member of the Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee; two terms on the Santa Fe school board; and president of the New Mexico School Board Association.
Relevant life experience: Former Head Start teacher, first person in my family to graduate from college. Attorney with a background in public administration. I have been dedicated to public education, advocating for health care professionals and protecting access to reproductive healthcare.
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 should voters elect you over your opponents?
I am driven by a commitment to improving opportunities for all New Mexicans. As a former Head Start teacher, I am guided by a passion for education, knowing that it can change lives. As an attorney with a background in education and public administration, I've been able to shape policy that centers on people. I am the only candidate who has served in the Roundhouse, which will help fill the shoes of retiring Sen. Nancy Rodriguez. In addition to establishing the Early Childhood Education and Care Department, I was able to deliver funding for the teen center and Plaza improvements. To help ensure reproductive health care, I voted to eliminate New Mexico's abortion ban and implemented the executive order signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to protect New Mexico's health care providers from anti-abortion laws in other states. I have the experience to ensure we are investing in what matters to families in SD24.
What is your position on paying members of the Legislature an annual salary?
I am a proponent of professionalizing the Legislature. Paying members of the Legislature an annual salary can allow individuals from diverse backgrounds, not just those who can afford to serve without compensation, to participate in government. This diversity can lead to more representative decision-making.
What role should the government have in establishing workplace policies such as paid family and medical leave?
The government should and does play a crucial role in establishing workplace policies like paid family and medical leave to ensure fairness, equity and support for workers. PFML allows workers time to care for a new child, recover from a serious illness or care for an ill family member without the threat of losing their job. I believe strongly that the Legislature should pass this legislation.
New Mexico continues to rank last in child well-being. What can the Legislature do to improve the state's ranking?
We need to strengthen our investment in education. Education stops the cycle of poverty and opens doors to fresh paths forward. When we invest in education, we're investing in families so they can achieve more. That's why I sponsored the creation of our Early Childhood Education and Care Department — the first of its kind in the nation.
We also need to ensure that health care and mental health care are accessible to every family. This means expanding Medicaid usage, investing in community health centers and supporting more initiatives to address health care disparities in our communities.
In order to create more stable home environments, we need to create more pathways for good-paying jobs, and we need to truly address affordable housing costs and supply.
Much has been made of the state's gun violence problems. What legislation needs to be passed and signed to address the issue?
In 2019, I voted for the "red flag law" that empowers law enforcement and family members to identify high-risk individuals who are at risk of harming themselves or others. I think we need to expand and educate more people about this policy so it works. I also voted for legislation that requires a background check for all gun sales.
I commend the efforts of lawmakers who have passed very good commonsense gun laws in recent years, but we still have work to do. I think we need to ban assault weapons and regulate ghost guns. New Mexico does not need weapons of war on the streets.
Do you consider yourself a progressive or moderate, and why?
I consider myself a pragmatic progressive. I strongly support reproductive justice, clean air and water, public education funding and pro-family policies like PFML. Throughout my career, including at the Regulation and Licensing Department, I worked closely with small business owners and consumers to ensure everyone's rights and responsibilities were respected.
Follow Daniel J. Chacón on Twitter @danieljchacon.
