{"id":2634,"date":"2007-12-12T16:51:00","date_gmt":"2007-12-12T22:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/2007\/12\/forum-reveals-wide-open-race-for-gop-in-cd2\/"},"modified":"2007-12-12T16:51:00","modified_gmt":"2007-12-12T22:51:00","slug":"forum-reveals-wide-open-race-for-gop-in-cd2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2007\/12\/forum-reveals-wide-open-race-for-gop-in-cd2\/","title":{"rendered":"Forum reveals wide-open race for GOP in CD2"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>A Tuesday forum for actual and potential Republican candidates for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by Steve Pearce<\/a> revealed a wide-open race with at least nine people running or seriously considering running. <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Those who had publicly declared that they\u2019re running before the forum in Alamogordo<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> were former Bernalillo County GOP Executive Director Bob Cornelius<\/a>, rancher and retired banker Aubrey L. Dunn Jr. and restaurant-chain owner and rancher Ed Tinsley<\/a>. Joining the list at the forum was Greg Sowards, a Las Crucen who ran unsuccessfully against Joe Skeen<\/a> in 1996.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Sowards, who secured 30 percent of the vote at the preprimary nominating convention that year, said after Tuesday\u2019s forum that many high-profile Republicans tried to keep him off the ballot, and after losing to Skeen he switched his registration to independent. He switched back to Republican on Friday.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a Republican at heart. The Republican Party has kind of left me,\u201d he said. \u201cIndependent is what I really am.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

(Note, Dec. 13, 9:45 a.m.: Sowards contacted me after this article originally published to tell me that he meant to say, \u201cConservative is what I really am.\u201d Since that made more sense in the context of the first half of this quote than what he originally said, I find it perfectly plausible that he misspoke and agreed to add in this note.)<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The forum also revealed new details about several potential candidacies:<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u2022 Former state Rep. Terry Marquardt said during his opening statement that \u201cthe reason I\u2019m a candidate for the United States Congress is because I still have a capacity to serve.\u201d Despite that, Marquardt said afterward that he hasn\u2019t made a final decision on whether to run.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cAt this point, I\u2019m seriously considering it,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve put a lot of thought in the issues. \u2026 It\u2019s an important decision for both me and my family, as well as for America<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u2022 Sierra<\/st1:placename> County<\/st1:placetype><\/st1:place> GOP Chair C. Earl Greer<\/a> said he will announce his decision on whether he\u2019s running on Jan. 2.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u2022 Clint Chandler, a staffer in the Las Cruces<\/st1:city><\/st1:place> office of U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, attended the forum but did not participate. He said he is \u201ccarefully evaluating\u201d whether to run and \u201cstill leaning toward it.\u201d However, he said, he can\u2019t continue to work in Domenici\u2019s office if he officially becomes a candidate, and he said he didn\u2019t want to skirt any legal or ethical lines by participating in the forum while he\u2019s still a federal employee.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Chandler<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said he plans to make a final decision during the week of Christmas and make an announcement during the first week of January.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u2022 Mike Kakuska, the Second Congressional District Vice Chair for the state GOP, attended the forum to tell candidates that the state party appreciates those who are running and to urge them to keep the campaign clean. Though he didn\u2019t participate in the forum, he told those in attendance that he is considering running.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re thinking about it. We\u2019re not part of the candidate forum,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a little too early.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u2022 Hobbs Mayor Monty Newman<\/a> didn\u2019t attend the forum, but confirmed Tuesday during a phone interview that he is seriously considering running. Several GOP insiders say they expect him to run.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI am strongly considering it. My family and I have been discussing it at great length with close friends, and I am very strongly considering the race,\u201d Newman said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t attend the forum, he said, because he\u2019s not a declared candidate.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Immigration and border security<\/span><\/p>\n

Hot topics discussed at the forum included immigration and border security, health care, welfare, education and faith.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The four candidates who participated in the forum said they oppose amnesty for undocumented immigrations. Marquardt said amnesty would send a message \u201cthat we do not enforce our laws\u201d and lead to more illegal immigration.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greer agreed, and said he also does not think children born in the United States<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> to mothers who are here illegally should automatically become citizens. Greer said the most powerful law-enforcement officer in the United States<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> should be the county sheriff, and said he would advocate for increased funding for personnel and technology for sheriff\u2019s departments.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Cornelius said he would address the problem of illegal immigration by building a border fence, then enforcing laws related to employing illegal immigrants. He said the United States<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> may not be able to send millions of undocumented immigrants home, \u201cbut we can ensure they don\u2019t have a job.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Sowards suggested moving military training facilities to the border, saying their presence would help combat illegal immigration. He also said the United States<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> should help the Mexican government clean up corruption.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cAs good neighbors, we have an obligation and a benefit for helping them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Health care<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Cornelius, asked about health care, said he favors a single-payer plan.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI believe you should choose your insurance,\u201d he said. \u201cHealth care is important, but it\u2019s something that needs to be out of the hands of the insurance companies and into the hands of the individuals.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greer described the cost of health care as a complex problem stemming from issues with insurance companies, hospitals and doctors and lawsuits. He said health care must remain privatized, saying that\u2019s \u201cwhere the innovation will come from.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you think health care is expensive now, just wait until the government tells you it\u2019s free,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you think it\u2019s bad here, look at Canada<\/st1:country-region><\/st1:place>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Marquardt said he opposes government-run health insurance, but said he would support tax incentives and health-savings accounts, combined with \u201ccatastrophic-event\u201d insurance, to improve the system.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Marquardt said such a system would ensure that Americans have choices.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Sowards said he and his family have gone without insurance at times because of the expense, but said, in light of 21st Century technology that can \u201ckeep people alive forever,\u201d the government must practically consider the cost versus the benefit of various options to improve the system.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Welfare and other government assistance<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

In response to a question about welfare and other government assistance, Sowards said such programs should be community-based, not administered by the federal government.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI think neighbors can help solve those kinds of problems,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need to do it locally.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greer said he favors government assistance programs, saying there are some people who genuinely need temporary help.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cBut that\u2019s the point: We give it to them until they\u2019re giving back to society, not so they keep taking it,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not going to vote for a hand out, but I will vote for a hand up.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Marquardt said the best ways to help those in need are through economic development \u2013 accompanied with education and job-training programs \u2013 and giving assistance in exchange for temporary work for the government.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Marquardt said the second would motivate people to seek higher-paying jobs in the private sector.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Cornelius said he believes that \u201cevery able man should work,\u201d saying assistance should come with stipulations. He also said churches, not the government, should provide such assistance.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cAt one time in this country, the churches took care of the people,\u201d he said. Now, we\u2019ve relied on the government, and we\u2019ve got it backwards.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Education<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Asked about education, Greer said the idea behind the No Child Left Behind Act was \u201cprobably good,\u201d but education is an issue that should be addressed locally. He said one of the biggest problems with the nation\u2019s education system is unions.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cIt becomes a political issue instead of what the child needs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Cornelius agreed that education should be a local issue. He advocated for school choice, allowing parents to choose public, private or home schooling for their children.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Sowards said he supports abolishing the federal Department of Education and giving locals control over schools.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cIf we\u2019re not interested in the education of our children, then we\u2019re going to pay the price for that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Marquardt said parents \u201care the most important teachers in a child\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Faith<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Asked about his personal faith, Cornelius said he\u2019s a Baptist and said his faith \u201chelps guide my life.\u201d He said he grew up \u201cknowing that Jesus Christ was the answer and he was my way into heaven.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Greer called himself a \u201cvery active Christian,\u201d and said he is \u201cvery devout.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Sowards, also a member of the LDS church, said he does \u201caccept Jesus Christ as my savior,\u201d and said his children are all active members of the church, which he called \u201ca testament to my faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Marquardt called himself a Christian, and said he believes \u201cthat this country was founded on inalienable rights that we are all equal.\u201d Asked about Prayer in schools, Marquardt said the Constitution grants religious freedom, and \u201cwe should not abandon those principles that brought our forefathers here.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Sowards said it should be up to states to decide whether to allow prayer in schools, saying the decision is \u201creally none of Washington<\/st1:place><\/st1:state>\u2019s business.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greer said the founding fathers intended religious freedom, but not a separation between church and state. He said \u201cindividualized\u201d prayer should be allowed in public schools.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Cornelius agreed.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re one nation under God, as the pledge says, so there should be prayer in schools,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s video of their opening statements:<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Bob Cornelius<\/p>\n

<\/embed><\/object><\/o:p><\/p>\n

C. Earl Greer<\/p>\n

<\/embed><\/object><\/o:p><\/p>\n

Terry Marquardt<\/p>\n

<\/embed><\/object><\/o:p><\/p>\n

Greg Sowards<\/p>\n

<\/embed><\/object><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Tuesday forum for actual and potential Republican candidates for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by Steve Pearce revealed a wide-open race with at least nine people running or seriously considering running. Those who had publicly declared that they\u2019re running before the forum in Alamogordo were former Bernalillo County GOP Executive Director Bob […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2634","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2634"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2634\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}