Las Cruces legislator cites budget, jobs crisis for why he’s running for governor.
We’ve had 27,000 people leave the state during this administration.
We passed corporate tax cuts [in 2013] which I opposed.
Too often we find if we attract with incentives one year, another state offers better ones the next year.
[The state Legislature] authorizes $50 million a year in [Local Economic Development Act] money.
How would you approach K-12 education differently from the current administration?
One of the first things I would do as governor is offer the same opportunity to every student in every school in the state.
An active governor would be on the phone and sitting down with the governor of Texas and the other states involved to try to find the best resolution to the lawsuit.
Historically, New Mexico has been a territory with scarce water and has learned to work with less.
I asked judges what we can do to better address crime and they overwhelmingly say they’re overburdened with cases on possessions of small amounts of marijuana Those cases bog down a court system.

Celebrating Earth Day this week.
LAS CRUCES – Every April, in cities and towns around the country, community businesses and groups celebrate Earth Day.
Nelson saw the public awareness surrounding air and water pollution throughout the country increase and knew the time was right to begin a nationwide movement.
This week, the Las Cruces Green Chamber is honored to be part of several activities that highlight protecting our vital resources and being kind to our planet.
The Las Cruces Chats will conclude on Thursday evening with myself talking about our Think Local First efforts and will conclude with Clair Campos and Spenser Lopez, from Mountain View Market Co-Op, discussing food waste.
All Las Cruces Chats begin at 6 p.m., are free and open to the public and take place at the county government building, 845 N. Motel Blvd.
Friday’s events feature the Earth Day Festival at the Doña Ana County Government Building.
The day begins with a tree planting at 8 a.m. and the festival, featuring various vendors, runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Saturday, April 22, the Las Cruces Green Chamber, in partnership with Keep Las Cruces Beautiful, will be hosting the Reuse and Recycle Fashion show at the plaza on Main Street.
It is also free and open to public and runs from 8:30 to 3 p.m. Attendees will see a number of locally-owned businesses that are doing their part to reduce their carbon footprint, conserve energy and protect the planet.
Carrie Hamblen is the CEO/President of the Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce.