Guv candidates cover little new ground in Cruces

The gubernatorial candidates covered little new ground in separate speeches at the Domenici Public Policy Conference in Las Cruces today, and their only interaction was a brief handshake.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez spoke first, highlighting familiar themes like making the state more business friendly and ending corruption. Democrat Diane Denish, who didn’t attend Martinez’s speech, also sounded familiar themes such as restructuring government and creating green jobs.

Martinez did stick around for Denish’s speech, and afterward she approached Denish. The two briefly shook hands while Martinez said something I didn’t catch and Denish smiled. And just like that, their interaction was over.

Martinez’s speech

Martinez was characteristically critical of the “Richardson/Denish” administration, saying the state is “at a crossroads, and we have a very important decision to make in the next two months.”

She made familiar claims, such as her assertion that government has grown more than 50 percent during Bill Richardson’s tenure (as I’ve already reported, the overall growth during the Richardson years is less than that). She talked about cutting government spending and taxes and getting rid of regulations that discourage businesses from locating in New Mexico.

Martinez also talked about her plan to shift 4 percent of dollars spent on K-12 education from other expenses to the classroom and to offer tax credits for donations to nonprofits that offer private school scholarships to poor children.

“It is morally reprehensible to trap a child in a failing school simply because they cannot afford to go elsewhere,” Martinez said.

And, speaking about higher education, Martinez said she favors freezing tuition rates – so that the rates students pay during their freshman year is the rate they’ll pay for four years. Martinez said that would allow students to plan for college. And she pledged to keep politics out of the university regents selection process, saying she would pick highly qualified candidates.

On corruption, Martinez talked about increasing penalties for corruption-related crimes and promoted several transparency measures, but she said there’s a more important factor.

“Battling corruption starts at the top, and as governor, I would set a tone that is very different,” Martinez said.

Denish’s speech

Denish was a little on the defensive during her speech, and took a couple of shots at Martinez, but for the most part remained positive. She said the intent of the policy conference was to talk about ideas for the future. And Denish had a bit of a lighthearted tone in her defensiveness.

“Despite what some people would like you to believe, I’m not responsible for the global economic downturn,” Denish said.

She talked in depth about her plans to reform government, create jobs, and improve education and also spoke about taking advantage of the federal health care law and ending predatory lending.

On the economy, she said she would have a “robust center for rural development,” talked about investing in broadband Internet, giving tax credits to small businesses that create jobs, expanding microlending and giving New Mexico businesses more of an advantage in bidding on state contracts.

Speaking in Southern New Mexico, Denish was quick to mention Spaceport America.

“This is an investment in the future that was supported by Southern New Mexico,” Denish said, adding that she believes the spaceport will improve education and encourage innovation and tourism, in addition to building the commercial space industry.

Denish talked about starting a number of new programs and initiatives she said would move New Mexico forward. Then, in a perhaps not-so-subtle shot at Martinez, Denish seized on the Republican’s constant statement that New Mexico needs “bold change.”

“What is bold?” Denish asked. “… Is it just saying you’re going to get rid of a few things? Or is it saying you’re going to start things?”

What’s next?

The brief interaction between Martinez and Denish came immediately following Denish’s speech. Then they went their separate ways, each stopping to talk to people attending the Domenici conference and a handful of news reporters before they left.

The candidates have appeared at only one debate – in Albuquerque on the topic of education – and have yet to schedule any others. And though neither campaign is saying it on the record, the chances of an actual debate in Las Cruces, Martinez’s hometown, appear to be unlikely.

You can watch both candidates’ speeches from the Domenici conference by clicking here.

Update, 10:20 p.m.

Denish Campaign Manager Oren Shur had this to say:

“The Denish campaign accepted an invitation by the League of Women Voters to debate in Las Cruces – and included it in the schedule of eight debates we proposed last month. The Martinez campaign has not shown an interest in having a debate in Las Cruces. When a candidate is unwilling to debate in front of the voters who know her best, it always makes you wonder. Maybe she knows the sound bites, empty promises and platitudes don’t cut it in Cruces.

“See that debate release here: http://www.dianedenish.com/news/press_releases?id=0052.”

Update, Sept. 3, 10:15 a.m.

Martinez Campaign Manager Ryan Cangiolosi said it’s Denish who is the obstacle to scheduling debates.

“We have participated in numerous forums that Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish has skipped, for example the IPANM in early August and last week’s NAIOP forum. We have not shied away from opportunities to discuss the failures of this administration and the need for bold change. If anyone has been shunning debates it is Diane Denish, who is forced to confront the failures of her administration, just as she did at the recent education forum.

“We are engaging in a process of negotiations with the Denish Campaign to schedule debates. It is an ongoing process. Unfortunately, the Denish campaign simply takes the approach that the Martinez campaign must do what they propose. It is this culture of arrogance that has permeated throughout the Richardson/Denish Administration and contributed to the rampant abuse and corruption, which we have seen unfold with great clarity in the past few days alone.”