My name is Linda Marie Lopez and I am running for re-election for the New Mexico State Senate. I am writing to ask you to join me in changing New Mexico into a state that we can all be proud of! I know that you care about the problems we are facing such as health care, education and the environment. I know that together, we can accomplish a lot in the next four

years.

     I am a native New Mexican, born and raised in Albuquerque, and the proud single parent of Lorenzo Procopio, an energetic nine-year old 3rd grader. Both my father and mother descended from old New Mexico families; my father from the land-grant families of both the Manzano Land Grant and Luis Lopez Land Grant, and my mother from the Gallegos and Ross

families of Socorro county; both giving me a strong connection to the agrarian life that so much of our state embraces. My mother grew up in Las Vegas, N.M., attended IC High School and moved to Albuquerque in 1940, where she met and married my father before he was deployed to the South Pacific during World War II.

     My early steps into public service began in the Valley High School student government, where I first felt the satisfaction that comes from helping solve the problems brought to me by those I was elected to represent. After graduating with honors from high school, I went on to receive a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the College of Santa Fe, followed in

1992 with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Four years later I took on a wellentrenched Bernalillo County South Valley political machine headed up by then state senator Tom Benavidez, defeating him handily in the primary as our district moved forward toward a better day. In doing so I became the first woman elected from this area to the New Mexico Senate, and beat the conventional wisdom that only those anointed by the South Valley democratic-party patrons would represent the people of this community.

     That was 13 years ago. Since then I have served on the Senate Judiciary Committee and for the past eight years have been Chairman of the powerful Senate Rules Committee. I also sat as Chair of the Bernalillo County Democratic Party from 2003 to 2005.

     As a mother, a woman, and a person not of privilege and wealth, I have dedicated much of my energy to those problems impacting a segment of our society that do not have a voice that is often heard.

     During my tenure as Chair of the Welfare Reform Oversight Committee, I fought to ensure that those receiving welfare (mainly single mothers) had access to childcare, training opportunities and quality health care for themselves and their children.

     One of the biggest gifts I hope I am giving to my son is an upbringing that will make him a good man, one who has the proper respect and love deserving of his own family if he should have a partner and children of his own someday. In my role as senator, I have worked long hours for those many women and children whose husband and father’s are the antithesis of this

person. Domestic violence and child abuse are often hidden behind heavy make-up and closed doors. Through my efforts I have tried to open those doors and ensure that there are places where the victims of this abuse can find comfort, counseling and care. 

     The last decade has seen more corruption in state government than I ever thought possible. These predators do not care about their sacred trusts or the people they are hurting. As chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, the committee responsible for confirmation hearings of the Governor’s top appointees, I have implemented, with the help of Attorney General King, criminal and financial background checks so we know the record of those we entrust with our state government. I have also sponsored and passed into law the legislation that at long last put a cap on political contributions, and am sponsoring SB 43, Enacting the State Ethics Commission Act, in the upcoming legislative session. 

   The economic downturn has hurt many people, and has decimated the state budget.  Addressing shortfalls in government programs is going to be difficult, and many on the far right of the Republican Party will use this as an opportunity to cut the very programs helping those in most need. I will not let this happen. We have spent too many years and worked too many hours to let the shrill cries of this group take us back in time. I will say no to cuts in Medicaid, no to cuts in childcare, no to cuts in child and senior citizen protective services, and no to cuts in rehab/substance abuse services.

     These same right-wing ideologues will also use this opportunity to weaken the environmental laws protecting the public’s health and our environment. This has begun, with the cry that a badly damaged economy is the result of overregulation, rather than the multi-million dollared Wall Street executives who foolishly gambled with the money entrusted to their care. I will work to establish an economic policy aimed at maximizing our opportunities for development and growth—emphasizing the renewable energy opportunities that exist through programs that encourage our youth to become entrepreneurs. I will encourage and assist existing businesses to expand and new start-up businesses to survive.

     As your Senator, I will always advocate for a greater commitment to our education system. Our schools have not achieved the level of success needed to afford every child an opportunity to succeed as an adult. In some of our school districts, more than 50% of our students drop out prior to graduation. These trends are unacceptable. We can and must do

better.

     This letter has gone long, but I know the commitment and time you have sacrificed on behalf of the party, and you are deserving of more than a thirty second sound bite. I also know we share the same hope, that we can have leaders that are honest, caring and above thinking of none other than themselves.

     I hope that you believe that I am that type of leader.

     If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at 505-831-4148 or contact me through my website at www.votelindalopez.com.