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Daily Lobo 10/21/2024

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Daily Lobo ballot breakdown

@d a i l y l o b o dailylobo.com

Monday, O c tober 21, 2024 | Vo l u m e 1 2 9 | I s s u e 1 1

The Independent Student Voice of UNM since 1895

United States Senate

Martin Heinrich

By Lily Alexander & Nate Bernard

@llilyalexander & @natebernard14 Incumbent Sen. Martin Heinrich (D) is running for reelection against Nella Domenici (R) to represent New Mexico in the United States Senate. Born in Fallon, Nevada, Heinrich has a background in engineering and has been in the Senate since 2013. Here’s where he stands on key issues. Education Heinrich led the federal effort to secure the congressional authorization of New Mexico’s Land Grant Permanent Fund in 2023, according to his website. The fund annually provides more than $1 billion to New Mexico public schools, universities and speciality schools, according to the New Mexico State Investment Council. “I’m going to continue to use my position on the Appropriations Committee to partner directly with institutions like the University of New Mexico and our other universities around the state,” Heinrich told the Daily Lobo. “I’ve done that successfully over the years, supporting everything from individual buildings and construction projects to programs for teachers in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.” Crime As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Heinrich worked with the

sheriff’s department, local police departments and the attorney general to provide forensic tools for solving crimes more effectively, according to Heinrich. These tools are especially important because New Mexico experiences many crimes that go unsolved, Heinrich said. “By providing specific forensic equipment — whether that’s DNA equipment, whether that’s ballistics equipment or drug testing equipment — we make those local law enforcement departments more effective,” Heinrich said. Gun policy Heinrich is a gun owner and was part of a team of senators who wrote the bipartisan Safer Communities Act, he said. “Specifically, I got to write the provisions on things called straw purchases, and then on gun trafficking. And straw purchases (are) a huge problem in New Mexico,” Heinrich said. A straw purchase occurs when a person legally buys a gun and then gives the gun to somebody else, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Many of the guns used in violent crimes are the result of people buying them on behalf of those with a history of felonies or domestic violence, Heinrich said. Heinrich introduced the Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion Act to Congress, which would regulate the sale, transfer and manufacture of semi-automatic weapons.

see Martin Heinrich page 8

Nella Domenici

By Lily Alexander & Nate Bernard

@llilyalexander & @natebernard14 Nella Domenici (R) is running against incumbent Sen. Martin Heinrich to represent New Mexico in the United States Senate. Born in Albuquerque, Domenici is the daughter of former New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici. She served as chief financial officer for Bridgewater Associates — the world’s largest hedge fund, according to Forbes. Here’s where she stands on key issues. Education On her campaign website, Domenici describes education as “the social justice issue of our time, and the biggest issue facing our state.” Domenici and others founded Excellent Schools New Mexico — a nonprofit that provides grants to New Mexico’s best schools and educators, according to the organization’s website. If elected, Domenici wants to have student advisors from the University of New Mexico to provide input on campus issues that may require federal legislation, she wrote in an email to the Daily Lobo. Domenici also wants to make vocational classes available in high schools, according to her website. Crime To tackle crime, particularly on the

UNM campus, Domenici wrote that she wants to secure the border, address the mental health crisis, slow the influx of fentanyl and monitor compliance with the Clery Act — a federal university crime transparency law. “Until the border is secure and crime is under control, parents will fear for their children’s safety at UNM,” Domenici wrote. If elected, Domenici wrote that she would also work with University leaders to address crime on campus. “I will use my problem-solving skills to ensure the safety of all Lobos,” Domenici wrote. Domenici would support law enforcement and measures to promote rehabilitation and reduce recidivism rates, according to her website. Gun policy Domenici opposes gun bans and will oppose “unconstitutional” federal legislation that violates the Second Amendment, she wrote. “Our efforts to stop violence should be focused on gangs and cartels in cities where most homicides occur,” Domenici wrote. “In addition to enforcement, we can mitigate the underlying causes of violence by reducing drug addiction and improving our education system and job opportunities.” Domenici wrote that she supports intervention for at-risk youth before violence occurs, and evidence-based strategies that

see Nella Domenici page 8

New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District

Melanie Stansbury

By Lily Alexander & Nate Bernard

@llilyalexander & @natebernard14 Incumbent Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D) is running for reelection against Steve Jones (R) to represent New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District — which encapsulates central New Mexico, including parts of Bernalillo County. Born in Farmington, Stansbury was a New Mexico state representative from 2019-21 until she ran for her current position. Here’s where she stands on key issues. Education If reelected, Stansbury would push for more educational opportunities for children; increased pay for teachers; and investments in education, community support and wraparound services, according to her campaign website. During her time in the New Mexico legislature — because much of the University of New Mexico’s funding goes through the state — Stansbury worked with UNM leadership and students to address security issues, she told the Daily Lobo. “UNM is like a little city unto itself,” Stansbury said. In March, Stansbury and others introduced the Postsecondary Student Success Act, which would provide grants for evidencebased programs to support postsecondary

Inside this Lobo CHAPA: Gabe Vasquez (pg. 2) CHAPA: Yvette Herrell (pg. 2)

participation, retention and completion. Crime The crime epidemic in New Mexico is largely driven by drug trafficking and drug addiction, according to Stansbury. She worked to bring millions of dollars to New Mexico to invest in local, state and federal law enforcement, she said. Stansbury also said she has used her community-based funding in Congress to invest in new clinics to help people struggling with addiction and address behavioral health issues associated with drug use. “I helped build a new veterans housing and homeless and addiction recovery center over by the airport,” Stansbury said. “I’m expanding the behavioral health programs through Health Care for the Homeless. They’re building a new behavioral health clinic, and I’m helping support building a new behavioral health clinic in the International District with First Nations.” Gun policy Stansbury supports “common-sense gun legislation” and is a co-sponsor of legislation that includes an assault weapons ban, a gun buyback program, universal background checks and regulations on untraceable “ghost guns,” she said. She said this legislation has yet to be held to a vote in Congress. “Part of what’s really important right now is that we have leaders who are not go-

see Melanie Stansbury page 9

CHAPA & CHAPA: Bond question one: Senior Citizens Facilities (pg. 2) FULTON & RITCH: Bond question two: Public Libraries (pg. 3) FERNANDEZ: Bond question three: Public Education (pg. 3)

By Lily Alexander & Nate Bernard

Steve Jones

@llilyalexander & @natebernard14 Steve Jones (R) is running for election against incumbent Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D) to represent New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District — which encapsulates central New Mexico, including parts of Bernalillo County. Born in Cisco, Texas, Jones is an army veteran with experience as a certified public accountant and a chief financial officer in the energy industry. In 2020, he ran as an Independent for New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District and lost. Here’s where he stands on key issues. Education Jones believes high school graduates should have more opportunities to gain skills through a partnership between industry and government, he told the Daily Lobo. Besides the military, Jones said there is “no such thing” for people who want to develop a specific skill. “The people who choose to go on to more academic training — they can go and come to (the University of New Mexico). It’s built in,” Jones said. Crime Jones said the issue of crime in New Mexico should be addressed by leadership in the state government rather than

the federal government. He has considered the concept of a “safety net” that would allow the Department of Justice to step in if states are not following the United States Constitution when addressing crime, he said. Gun policy Jones believes the Second Amendment is a “cornerstone of American freedom,” according to his campaign website. He said he does not want any leader to have the opportunity to interpret its meaning. “The Second Amendment, to me right now, has all the support from the symptom side of saying, ‘Wow, this is atrocious. Kids getting shot with these weapons; that’s horrible,’” Jones said. “And it is, but the consequence of letting that be a factor in the challenge outright to an interpretation of the Second Amendment is worse to me.” Jones said solving the issue of gun violence does not begin with guns. If elected, he would hire a sociologist to his staff to address the “sociological crisis” that he said gun violence is a symptom of. He said he supports red flag laws — which allow courts to order the seizure of firearms from people who are at risk of harming themselves or others, according to The Guardian. Economy and jobs If elected, Jones will advocate for bal-

see Steve Jones page 10

HLAING: Bond question four: Public FULTON & RITCH: I’m OpenAI and I ap-

Safety Radio Communications Sys- prove this message (pg. 4) tems (pg. 4) CHAPA: PHOTO STORY: Inside the UNM BERNARD: Lobo Louie wants YOU to voting center (pg. 5) vote! (pg. 4)


Daily Lobo 10/21/2024 by UNM Student Publications - Issuu