My Stuff: ABQ Journal Questionnaire for Legislature Candidates [1]

Political Party — Libertarian Party / Boston Tea Party

Place of Residence — West Side of Albuquerque

Age — 39

Education — Currently a student at CNM, going for a degree in photonics

Occupation — see here

Political / Government Experience — see here for the full list

Highlights —

Boston Tea Party NM State Chair — 1998 — present, National Vice Chair 2009 — present
Libertarian Party, Vice Chair — 1997-2001, Secretary, 2005-2009, Editor, New Mexico Liberty, 2003 — present
US / NM Army National Guard, Alpha Battery, 7/200 Air Defense Artillery — 1994-1998
US Army Reserve, 157th Separate Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) — 1991-1994
US Army ROTC at Penn State University, Abington Campaus — 1989-1992

Major Professional Accomplishment — Ten years as camera technician for New Mexico's Consumer Advocate and on-screen talent for The Weekly Sedition on Comcast Channel 27.

Major Personal Accomplishment — I'll wait til much later in life before selecting any one event in my life as "pivotal."

In dealing with state government revenue downturns, would you generally favor additional spending cuts and government efficiency or tax and fee increases?

I would favor additional spending cuts and greater efficiency, as well as holding the line on creating new spending programs.

Would you support or oppose a New Mexico law recognizing domestic partnerships that would grant same-sex couples most of the same rights afforded to heterosexual couples?

Inasmuch as the State requires any consenting adult to get a permission slip ("marriage license") from the State to enter into any sort of formal relationship with any other consenting adult, I support full equality across the board for everyone in this matter, regardless of sexual orientation. I don't see any reason that LGBTQ people should have to put up with different standards in the legal sense than the heterosexual crowd.

That being said, I don't see any reason why anyone (LGBTQ, hetero or whatever) should have to go to a government official for permission to enter a relationship with another person. Those who want government out of their wallets, businesses and gun cabinets shouldn't have any problem kicking the State out of the bedroom. Nor does it make any sense to support government involvement in other people's relationships. Thus, I would work to get the State out of the marriage-license and -definition business entirely, by repealing the law(s) requiring people to get a "marriage license" before declaring themselves "married."

What should the Legislature do to ensure that New Mexico's pension plans remain solvent?

I don't know that the public pension plans are actually solvent at this time — see this study sponsored by the Rio Grande Foundation that says those plans are currently somewhere between Ø8,300,000,000 and Ø22,900,000,000 IN THE RED — The Government “Gravy Train”: An Analysis of New Mexico’s Private versus Public Sector Employment and Compensation.

Part of the problem is the defined-benefit system currently used by the State, where public employees are promised a specific amount of cash to be disbursed when the pension is cashed out. Replacing this with a defined-contribution system such as 401(k)s or mutual funds will partially fix the problem.

But the best solution to the State pension insolvency is to STOP expanding the State — QUIT creating new agencies for every problem, real and imagined. Check first to see if there's an existing agency that can do the job. Ask if the problem is one that should be properly addressed by the State, and not by the private sector.

What should be done to improve New Mexico public school perfomance and student achievement?

I would first make parents fully responsible for the full cost of each child's public education, by sending them a bill for that cost at the end of the school year. This would cause them to develop an interest in what the kid(s) are learning, if for no other reason than to see where their money is going, and what result they're getting for the expenditure.

Next, I would support ending the compulsory attendance and enrollment laws, along with ending the restrictions upon homeschoolers.

Do you support or oppose the "pit rule" on oil and gas drilling in its current form?

At the very least, I would seek to amend the pit rule make New Mexico's version closer to that of Texas. Think about it — every drop of oil spilled on the ground is a drop that can't be converted to gasoline, motor oil or other usable, salable products. Every drop spilled is a loss off the bottom end for the drilling company.

Would you support or oppose the State Environment Department's establishment of a "cap and trade" regulation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

Considering Climategate and related scares (see global cooling), I think that those currently ensconsed on the NM Environmental Improvement Board should recuse themselves from further interference in the private-sector economy. I will vote against further restrictions on the private sector, and will sponsor a "precautionary" rule requiring a regulatory impact statement detailing how any new laws will affect the private sector.

Would you support or oppose a new state law requiring mandatory jail time for first-time DWI offenders?

How about liberalizing the liquor license laws so that we can have a bar on every street corner, like Texas has? That way people who drink too much wouldn't have to drive, as they could just walk home.

Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens?

No — I'm guessing this disqualifies me for the spot of U.S. Treasury Secretary.

Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding?

No.

Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or felony in New Mexico or any other state?

My crimes against humanity