Jeff Apodaca in 2018 NM Governor's race
On Jobs:
Turn New Mexico around: equal pay for women
Together We Can Turn New Mexico Around. By creating.- 225,000 New Jobs for New Mexico
- $1.8 billion in new tax revenue annually
- Equal pay for women
- Reinstate the Commission on the Status of Women
-
Higher wages for all New Mexicans
- 3% annual raise for state employees
- Medicare for all New Mexicans
- Pay increase for teachers and education support staff
- 41,000 new trade skill jobs
- Year-round preschool
- Early family intervention
- Job training for telecommuting jobs
- 300 new doctors
-
3,200 new nurses
- 1,600 new physician's assistants
- Earned family and medical leave
- Grow and expand our middle-class
Source: 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial campaign website apo18.com
Mar 21, 2018
On Tax Reform:
Invest $1.4B from NM Permanent Fund in jobs plan
Jeff Apodaca also supports investing in small businesses. He said his jobs plan will create 225,000 new jobs for the state. That plan includes investing in industries like agriculture, technology and renewable energy. He also said he wants to increase
training in trade skills.Apodaca said he wants to use $1.4 billion of New Mexico's permanent funds to help accomplish that. "All we're asking as governor, I'm going to take 5% of your money, it's New Mexico's money and we're going to invest it back
into New Mexico. We're not going to spend it, we're not going to dip it and take it out, we're just going to invest it, they're investment funds," Apodaca said. "So all we're saying is let's invest it into our cities, our states, our small businesses.
95% of our economy is small business. In fact we do nothing in our state to help small business. We penalize small business. We overtax them, we overburden them, and then there's no private capital."
Source: KRWG TV on 2018 New Mexico governor debate
Feb 9, 2018
On Energy & Oil:
Fracking ok for now; move away from oil & gas over time
If there was heat, it came on energy issues and campaign financing. Apodaca faced boos on the issue of fracking, shorthand for the natural gas extraction process more formally known as hydraulic fracturing,
after he didn't immediately decry the practice, which produces massive amounts of wastewater, and instead suggested working with oil and gas companies, investing together, in renewable energies.
"I agree with you we have to move away from oil and gas," he said, "but we can't do it overnight.
We have to start investing back into ourselves to expand our economy so we're not dependent on oil and gas."
Source: Santa Fe New Mexican on 2018 New Mexico governor debate
Jan 23, 2018
On Free Trade:
Supports possibility of trade with southern neighbor
Both Cervantes and Apodaca spoke of the possibility of trade with New Mexico's southern neighbor,
Cervantes calling the border with Mexico one of the state's greatest assets.
Source: Santa Fe New Mexican on 2018 New Mexico governor debate
Jan 23, 2018
On Immigration:
We're not deporting DACA kids or any other kids
Asked about immigration policy and the border wall being pursued by the Trump administration, Lujan Grisham cited her recent advocacy in Washington, both fighting against funding of the wall and advocating for Dreamers--young immigrants
who entered the country illegally as children and gained temporary protection from deportation under an Obama administration policy known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.
Both Cervantes and Apodaca spoke of the possibility of trade with New Mexico's southern neighbor, Cervantes calling the border with Mexico one of the state's greatest assets.
"There's no way we're going to deport or get rid of DACA kids or any other kids," Apodaca said.
Source: Santa Fe New Mexican on 2018 New Mexico governor debate
Jan 23, 2018
On Tax Reform:
Failed to pay property taxes for eight consecutive years
Jeff Apodaca failed to pay his property taxes for eight consecutive years--accumulating nearly $15,300 in back taxes that didn't get paid until he sold the vacant lot in Las Campanas last year.Apodaca, who acquired the 2.68-acre parcel in 2004, also
racked up a number of liens for delinquent subdivision assessments and fees and unpaid utilities. His communications director acknowledged Apodaca didn't pay his property taxes for years but said that it happened amid a dispute over the value of the
land. "When the market crashed, the county of Santa Fe continued to raise property taxes on those properties," he said. "Many people disputed with the County to assign a property tax that reflected what the property was worth after the market crashed."
Apodaca paid everything in full "once the county reflected the proper appraised value of the property."
Records show Apodaca paid the property taxes in full from 2005-07. But starting in 2008, Apodaca failed to pay the taxes on the property.
Source: Las Cruces Sun-News on 2018 New Mexico governor race
Nov 29, 2017
On Budget & Economy:
Build international film school in Santa Fe
Michelle Lujan Grisham said that she would push to increase New Mexico's minimum wage to $10 an hour--and even higher in the future--and either eliminate or bump up an annual limit on spending on film tax credits.Jeff Apodaca accused Lujan Grisham of
copying some parts of his jobs plan. Apodaca has also called for the annual cap to be scrapped and said that, if elected, he'd push for an international film school to be built in Santa Fe with a mix of state and industry dollars.
Source: Albuquerque Journal on 2018 New Mexico governor race
Oct 18, 2017
On Budget & Economy:
State reserves can prime pump for new jobs
Apodaca is campaigning on a promise to create 225,000 new jobs. His plan to spur job creation involves investing 5 percent of the state's $21.6 billion investment fund into small businesses, education, health care, technology and other sectors
each year. According to the New Mexico State Investment Council, which manages the fund, the state has the third-largest fund in the United States.
Source: Farmington Daily Times on 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race
Aug 3, 2017
On Energy & Oil:
Old and new energy industries must adapt
Apodaca noted that oil and gas exploration make up 35 percent of the state's economy and cannot be replaced. Apodaca said he would work with those industries to invest in technology that would recapture fugitive methane.
He also highlighted opportunities for developing renewable energy, such as solar power.
Source: Farmington Daily Times on 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race
Aug 3, 2017
On Drugs:
Legal pot, in-state tourism can boost economy
He talked about Colorado legalizing marijuana, putting millions back into the economy. "It's an opportunity for us to get ahead of the curve. Colorado's tourism is up 32 percent," Apodaca said. "We talked to the folks up north. They drive up, buy
and come back. More importantly, 32,000 jobs, $200 million in tax revenue." "If we just promoted ourselves to ourselves, and we get half those families half the time in New Mexico, it would be a $400 to $500 million launch to our economy."
Source: Los Alamos Monitor on 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race
Aug 2, 2017
On Health Care:
Import foreign generic drugs to lower costs
Apodaca spoke about his plan to import generic drugs from India and Israel into New Mexico,
a move that he said would create manufacturing jobs and lower the cost of the drugs by half. "That's an opportunity to drive the cost of drugs down," he said.
Source: Los Alamos Monitor on 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race
Aug 2, 2017
On Jobs:
Raise minimum wage, starting at $10
According to the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, the minimum wage in New Mexico is $7.50, .25 cents higher than the federal minimum wage. He would also like to see the minimum raised by at least
$10. "We can literally create a plan at $10, and every six months, $10.50, $11, $11.50... I'm not saying that we're stuck at $10, but that's like a good starting point for a conversation," Apodaca said.
Source: Los Alamos Monitor on 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race
Aug 2, 2017
On Education:
Make state's Pre-K a year-round program
Apodaca said he wants to expand the state's pre-kindergarten program to make it available all year instead of while school is in session.
He pledged to help small businesses and local economies by tapping money from the state's permanent land fund to invest it in early childhood education and economic growth.
Source: USA Today on 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race
Jul 17, 2017
On Energy & Oil:
Solar power will bring money & jobs
New Mexico is the 2nd sunniest state, yet 48th when it comes to renewable energy production. That's crazy.
If we invest into a strength, our beautiful sunshine, we have the capability to generate enough clean energy to power other states while fueling job creation at home. We will turn New Mexico around by investing in ourselves.
Source: NMPolitics.net OpEd for 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race
Jul 17, 2017
On Families & Children:
New jobs must come with sick leave & child care
When we invest in New Mexico we know we can create 225,000 new jobs--a job for every New Mexican who needs one. But we cannot leave anyone behind. That's why we're going to support drivers of our economy--women, the middle-class and
millennials--with equal pay, a living wage, earned sick leave, child care, and investments in the sharing economy that allow thousands of New Mexicans to earn extra income.
Source: NMPolitics.net OpEd for 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race
Jul 17, 2017
On Budget & Economy:
Use state reserves to boost economy
[Asked about the economy, Apodaca said], "A governor needs to bring people together, to grow jobs, to grow the economy--that's what a governor should be doing. We're sitting on over $20 billion in reserves, yet our political leaders are
nitpicking over pennies," he said, referring to state endowments. Some Democrats have argued more of the endowment income should be used to stimulate the state's economy. "It's time we invest in New Mexico," Apodaca said.
Source: Santa Fe New Mexican on 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race
May 2, 2017
On Technology:
More investment in infrastructure & aerospace
The state's Investment Council should dedicate 5% of its endowment to infrastructure and economic development, including the satellite and aerospace industries, renewable energy production and transmission, and agricultural infrastructure.
He envisions a mix of state investment and low-interest loans for agricultural businesses. To address doctor shortages, he suggested subsidizing medical school for doctors and nurses who remain here for 7 years.
Source: Deming Headlight on 2018 New Mexico Gubernatorial race
May 2, 2017
Page last updated: Mar 08, 2019