Guv candidates talk about Spaceport America

Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez says the state has already spent lots of money on Spaceport America and can no longer be its “major financer,” while Democratic opponent Diane Denish says she is a supporter of the spaceport but didn’t directly answer a question about the project’s funding.

Martinez said the spaceport has “has an impressive potential to bring development opportunities to southern New Mexico,” but given the current economic realities, “additional large investments” by state government “would be a misguided use of our taxpayer funds.” She said it’s time to “attract more industry and private business to the spaceport facility to assist with future development costs.”

Denish didn’t talk specifically about the funding, but said space commercialization “can and will be an important part of Southern New Mexico’s economic future.” She said as governor she will have a “strong focus” on rural and southern economic development and called the spaceport “a visionary idea that has strong local support.”

The $200 million, state-owned spaceport is under construction in Sierra County. It’s being funded by a combination of state and local government funding.

The questions I asked the gubernatorial candidates:

• Do you support the continuation of the state’s project to build Spaceport America, or would you seek to shut down the project, and why?
• If you would seek to continue the project, do you believe funding is adequate and the business plan is sound, or would you seek changes such as additional or reduced public funding?
• If you support continuing the spaceport project, what potential do you think it holds for New Mexico?
• In general, what do you think about such public-private partnerships on projects designed to create jobs?

While Denish didn’t answer the question about the project’s funding, neither candidate answered the general question about public-private partnerships.

Here are the responses they provided:

Susana Martinez

“The spaceport has an impressive potential to bring development opportunities to southern New Mexico, with high-tech, good-paying jobs leading the way. We might also anticipate benefits to our educational system as the workforce required to support this industry will be highly educated and highly trained.

“The state has already contributed a substantial initial investment to the project – more than half of the project construction costs to date. Given our budget realities, additional large investments would be a misguided use of our taxpayer funds. In addition, higher local taxes have been implemented on surrounding counties to help fund the construction of the project. Along with our tax increases levied by the state government, we are placing an undue burden on local residents during these very difficult economic times.

“State government can continue to be a partner in the spaceport project, although no longer its major financier. We must attract more industry and private business to the spaceport facility to assist with future development costs. We need to look at further expanding the scope of the spaceport beyond personal space flights at a cost of $200,000 per flight and attract other private industries willing to venture as a partner in this endeavor.

“As with all major state investments, as governor, I would order a review of spaceport financing and operations to make sure we are seeing the most equitable return on taxpayer dollars and look to continue to be a partner in the project by drawing more private industry and economic development opportunities to the area to support ongoing efforts.”

Diane Denish

“Space commercialization can and will be an important part of Southern New Mexico’s economic future. I recognize that the people of Southern New Mexico often feel left out of the state’s larger economic development picture. As governor I will have a strong focus on rural and southern economic development.

“Spaceport America is a visionary idea that has strong local support. Though the worldwide economic slowdown has impacted the timelines of the project, I support Spaceport America for a number of reasons. First, we have an ideal location for commercial space flight. This isn’t just wealthy space tourists – this is also a venue for future satellite launches to meet increased global communication and imaging demands. Second, once operational, Spaceport America would become a major regional tourist attraction benefitting the entire state. Third, having a commercial spaceport in southern New Mexico will lead to increased private investment from a wide range of businesses that would support the spaceport’s mission – boosting our state’s economy and creating high-wage jobs.

“And finally, Spaceport America can be an educational venue to not only get New Mexico students interested in science, it can also serve to boost science and engineering programs at our state’s community colleges and universities.”