 Tuesday, July 24, 2018 New Mexico The state of New Mexico is located in the southwestern region of the United States. Its capital is Santa Fe. New Mexico is bordered by Oklahoma and Texas on the east. The south is bordered by Texas, Chihuahua, and Sonora. The west is surrounded by Arizona while the north is bordered by Colorado. New Mexico shares a 190 mile border with Mexican states Chihuahua and Sonora. New Mexico’s climate is mostly arid. The land is composed of mountains, high plains, and deserts which range from rose-colored, to broken mesas, to snow-capped peaks. The land is mostly dry and gets little water, yet, New Mexico is heavily forested in the north. New Mexico has an area of around 121,665 square miles and is the fifth biggest state in the United States; however, with a population of about 2 million persons, New Mexico is the sixth most sparsely inhabited U.S. state. The economy of New Mexico is focused on oil, gas production, and tourism. New Mexico shares three ports of entry with Mexican state Chihuahua including: Antelope Wells, New Mexico with El Berrendo, Chihuahua; Columbus, New Mexico with Puerto Palomas, Chihuahua; and Santa Teresa, New Mexico with San Jerónimo, Chihuahua.  
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 Algernon D'Ammassa, The Deming Headlight
Published 9:00 a.m. MT Feb. 28, 2018 | Updated 5:00 p.m. MT March 1, 2018 Oil and gas revenue provided breathing room, but challenges remain DEMING – “When you have money, the tone is better,” observed Sen. John Arthur Smith. At the 2018 legislative session, the tone was much better than last year. On the other hand, Smith – who has served in the state Senate since 1989 – suggested short memories or wishful thinking can overrule fiscal prudence. New Mexico's 30-day legislative session concluded on Feb. 15, and Deming’s delegation to the Roundhouse, Sen. Smith and Rep. Candie Sweetser (both D-Deming), both reflected on a month when lawmakers sent a $6.3 billion budget to Gov. Susana Martinez without the partisan rancor or threats of furloughs that defined last year’s session. Sweetser described the tone as bipartisan and genial throughout, in contrast to the "baptism of fire" she witnessed as a freshman legislator last year. With an upturn in oil and gas revenue beginning last fall, lawmakers were able to restore money that had been swept from state agencies and school district accounts, fund more projects, and boost pay for teachers, state police, and other state workers. More: Who won, who lost the 2018 legislative session "The process was much more positive than working on state budget solvency, freezing positions, and cutting funding," said Sweetser. Smith, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, said he was pleased to see cash reserves replenished to an extent. He also fended off an effort to raise distributions from New Mexico's Land Grant Permanent Fund to 6 percent from 5 percent as a way to fund early childhood programs. Smith has stated the proposed amendment to the state Constitution did not have enough votes to pass his committee anyway, but he also philosophically opposes raising distributions from the Permanent Fund past 5 percent. “Most people don’t realize what it does," said Smith. "They just see a pile of money there to be spent, but that’s an endowment fund.” The fund distributed $638 million, mostly for public education, in Fiscal Year 2017, according to the State Investment Council. MORE: Finance chair John Arthur Smith holds sway over child-related funding Smith was supportive of pay increases and said low compensation for corrections officers and judges has created a crisis. “New Mexico has the lowest judicial compensation in the country," he told the Headlight. "Whenever there’s a vacancy coming up in the judiciary, getting applicants that are seasoned attorneys that have been in practice or a while is virtually impossible.” Smith also called attrition by corrections officers "unsustainable." Two bills carried by Sweetser made it to the Governor's desk. House Bill 207 became law on March 1, creating a fund for broadband infrastructure for public, school, and tribal libraries in New Mexico, and giving libraries a boost in seeking federal grants. Representing a city that is home to two award-winning wineries, the Deming lawmakers worked together on a bill allowing New Mexico wineries and brewers to sell their beverages at private events away from their places of business. Another bill Sweetser sponsored, House Bill 200, would have created a tax incentive for employers filling high-wage jobs in the state, but did not pass the Senate. More: State Representative Candie Sweetser's two House bills move on Sweetser and Smith agreed that diversifying the state's economy so that it is cushioned from downturns in one industry requires study and consensus-building between legislative sessions. To this, Sweetser added that attrition from the state slows economic growth and concentrates the tax burden on a smaller population. A new Governor will be elected before the next regular session, and whoever that is, Smith said, "The next administration is going to have to talk about a reliable revenue stream. When you’re 32 or 33 percent either indirectly or directly related to oil and gas, you’re leaving yourself extremely vulnerable.” This story has been updated. A previous version of the story claimed that HB 200 had passed the Senate. It has also been updated regarding the status of HB 207. More: Sweetser honors Deming teacher in NM legislature Algernon D'Ammassa can be reached at 575-546-2611 (ext. 2608) or adammassa@demingheadlight.com.  DATE: Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Contact: Shaya Torres Phone: 505-604-6789 Santa Fe – A bill to expand internet access in schools and libraries across the state was signed into law by the Governor. HB 207, introduced by Representative Candie Sweetser (D-Deming), would appropriate money from the general fund for broadband infrastructure in public school, tribal, and community libraries. “Too many communities, particularly those in rural areas, understand the difficulty of accessing the internet from home. This bipartisan legislation invests in broadband infrastructure so that all New Mexicans can have access to the internet in their schools and libraries, which is critical for New Mexicans to be able to succeed,” said Rep. Candie Sweetser. “I am glad Governor Martinez shares this same vision for our state’s libraries and signed this legislation.” This legislation was a true grassroots effort, with the idea first suggested by Deming High School librarian, Teresa Ortiz, who chairs a statewide subcommittee aimed at helping school, public, and tribal libraries attain better broadband access for students and community members. In New Mexico, the digital divide has the potential to constrain economic development. HB 207 is a bipartisan effort to close the gap, sponsored by Reps. Candie Sweetser (D-Deming), Stephanie Garcia Richard (D-Los Alamos), and James E. Smith (R-Sandia Park) with help from Senator John Arthur Smith (D-Deming). *story also on: www.demingradio.com Headlight Staff Reports Published 4:04 p.m. MT Feb. 15, 2018 | Updated 4:09 p.m. MT Feb. 15, 2018Bill would improves internet access n schools, librariesSANTA FE, N.M. – A bill to expand internet access in schools and libraries across the state passed the Senate Floor and is headed to the Governor’s desk. HB 207, introduced by Candie G. Sweetser (D-Deming), would appropriate money from the general fund for broadband infrastructure in public school, tribal, and community libraries.
“Internet access connects our communities, from across the state to around the world. This bill will positively impact New Mexicans by providing them more opportunity for success. I’m so proud to have had bipartisan support on this important bill,” said Rep. Candie Sweetser. In New Mexico, the digital divide has a negative impact on economic development. HB 207 is a bipartisan effort sponsored by Reps. Candie Sweetser (D-Deming), Stephanie Garcia Richard (D-Los Alamos), and James E. Smith (R-Sandia Park) with help from Senator John Arthur Smith, that will help close that gap.  DATE: Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Contact: Shaya Torres Phone: 505-604-6789 Santa Fe, NM – The House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 200, introduced by Reps. Candie Sweetser (D-Deming) and Carl Trujillo (D-Santa Fe), that would encourage urban and rural businesses to create and fill new high-wage jobs in New Mexico. HB 200 will promote economic development across the state. “Job creation and investments in our communities are needed to promote economic success, but over the past few years our rural communities have struggled. This bill aims to give rural communities the tools to increase economic stability for our families,” said Rep. Candie Sweetser. “This bill benefits both rural and urban communities by promoting high-wage job creation and economic development. Improving our state’s workforce is key to a successful economy, and investing in our state so our children want to and can live here when they are grown is crucial,” said Rep. Carl Trujillo. HB 200 now moves to the Senate for consideration.  DATE: Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Contact: Shaya Torres Phone: 505-604-6789 Santa Fe – Today, a bill to expand internet access in schools and libraries across the state unanimously passed the House Appropriations and Finance Committee. HB 207, introduced by Candie G. Sweetser (D-Deming), would appropriate money from the general fund for broadband infrastructure in public school, tribal, and community libraries. “From applying for jobs to researching school projects, internet access opens up opportunities for New Mexicans,” said Rep. Candie Sweetser. “I’m pleased this bill has bipartisan support and look forward to ensuring our kids and communities have the internet infrastructure to be successful.” In New Mexico, the digital divide has a negative impact on economic development. HB 207 is a bipartisan effort sponsored by Reps. Candie Sweetser (D-Deming), Stephanie Garcia Richard (D-Los Alamos), and James E. Smith (R-Sandia Park) that will help close that gap. The bill now heads to the House Floor for consideration.
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January 25, 2018 Contact: Shaya Torres Email: shaya.torres@nmlegis.gov Cell: 505-604-6789 Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, Rep. Candie Sweetser (D-Deming) honored Deming educator Melanie Maynes-Alfaro for receiving the Milken Educator Award. “Today, I’m honored to congratulate a teacher from my district on receiving the Milken Educator Award. Melanie Maynes-Alfaro is a hometown hero and one of the state’s best teachers,” said Rep. Candie Sweetser (D-Deming). The Milken Educator Award was created by the Milken Family Foundation, and is in its 30th year. The awards provide public recognition and individual financial rewards of $25,000 to elementary and secondary school teachers, principals, and specialists from around the country who are furthering excellence in education. The Milken award is hailed by Teachermagazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” Students from Animas Public Schools Learn About the Legislature with Rep. Sweetser as Mentor1/28/2018  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: Monday, January 22, 2018 Contact: Shaya Torres Phone: 505-604-6789 House Speaker Invites Students to get hands-on experience at the New Mexico Legislature at Inaugural Speaker’s Table Santa Fe, N.M. - Today, the Speaker of the House Brian Egolf hosted the inaugural Speaker’s Table, a program for students from across the state to visit the Roundhouse and learn about the legislative process through hands-on participation. Rep. Candie Sweetser (D-Deming) mentored the students, guiding them through committee preparation. “It is always inspiring to work with young people who are engaged in their communities, but today’s Speaker’s Table showed that these young people are also involved and concerned about the future of our state and the many issues affecting it. They get it: the decisions we make now will impact them for years to come. I appreciate the perspective and fresh ideas brought forward by these students from across the state – and especially from Animas in my district – and look forward to working with these young people for years to come,” said Rep. Candie G. Sweetser (D-Deming). Students participated in mock committee hearings, floor proceedings, and worked with their mentor Representatives to present testimony in front of an actual legislative committee. Loren R. Cushman, Superintendent of Animas Public Schools, was glad students from Animas Public Schools could participate and stated, “Seeing the legislative process at work and having the opportunity to present at committee was a great experience! The students are already asking when they can come back.” Deming officials respond to recommendations
Algernon D'Ammassa, The Deming Headlight Published 3:55 p.m. MT Nov. 9, 2017 | Updated 4:24 p.m. MT Nov. 9, 2017 DEMING – Should school districts spend more budget dollars in the classroom instead of administration? Would spending more on instruction and less on administrative costs improve student success? An independent think tank based in Santa Fe says the answer is yes, as presented in a report issued last month along with a recommendation that the legislature step in. Think New Mexico, which has advocated for full-day Kindergarten and legislative reforms in other areas of state government issued its report, “Improving Our Schools by Reallocating Dollars from Administration to the Classroom,” in October. It argues that while the correlation between total spending per pupil and student outcomes is weak, the percentage of spending dedicated to classroom instruction makes a distinct difference. “Increasing the dollars available for education can improve student outcomes if they are targeted to the classroom,” the report finds. TNM is calling for the state, which provides 90 percent of public school funding in New Mexico, to “set enforceable minimum percentages for classroom spending” as a condition for district budget approval by the Public Education Department. Rep. Candie Sweetser (D-Deming) said she supports the goals of the proposed reforms but wondered about the means. "Do we really want Santa Fe dictating to that level what every school district has to do?” Local response to the report from administration, educators, and one legislator indicate support for the report’s goals but questions about implementation. As Rep. Candie Sweetser (D-Deming) put it, “Do we really want Santa Fe dictating to that level what every school district has to do?” A top-down solution? “There are many aspects of the report that I very much support,” said Deming Public Schools Superintendent Arsenio Romero, who added that the district “is currently completing audits now on how, where, and why we spend monies. We are continually evolving our internal controls so that we can better support students in the classroom.” According to district data provided by Think New Mexico, Deming Public Schools devotes 72 percent of its budget to instruction and 28 percent to administration. This puts it just short of a goal of 75 percent set by the Public Education Department, which would increase to 76 percent by 2020 according to its strategic plan. The district employs over 800 people in Luna County to serve approximately 5,200 students. One local educator pointed to some wooden blocks in her classroom as an example: 50 of them, sanded to a smooth surface. She does not know what they are for. DPS Superintendent Arsenio Romero, pictured at a school board meeting in July, said the district voluntarily audits its internal protocols "so that we can better support students in the classroom.” “I was told that the past principal had bought them for the Special Education classroom,” said Charity Cheung, a math special education teacher at Deming Intermediate School, and also Co-President of the Deming chapter of the National Education Association. “No one had a clue why, and they'd never been used.” For Cheung, the blocks represent “something admin thought was great, but the people in the classroom didn't.” She added, “Districts need to gain the input of their staff in directing how the funding will be utilized. If districts utilize the typical top down approach for deciding what to spend the funds on, it will not have as big an impact as TNM is hoping for.” Charles Goodmacher, a spokesman for NEA-New Mexico who contributed to Think New Mexico’s report (and disclosed himself as a donor to the organization), indicated concern that the recommended approach “would lead to educators having a smaller voice within the school communities. The proposal shifts too much power away from local school boards, placing it in a state-imposed formula.” Unintended Consequences? “Think New Mexico is correct that more money needs to flow into New Mexico classrooms,” said Goodmacher, who additionally welcomed “any effort that results in a reduction of paperwork districts are required to spend time and money on.” Deming School Board President Matt Robinson said, "I think any board member in any district would like more dollars going into the classroom," but is still studying the report's findings and recommendations. While reducing reporting burdens for districts is part of PED’s plan for implementing the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, Sweetser, reached by phone in Santa Fe, said, “Federal and state requirements are not going away.” While there is no proposal on the table yet, she was wary of unintended consequences from a legislative approach. “Across our entire state the districts are very wide ranging,” she said. “Are the issues that Lordsburg faces the same that Deming faces?” Sweetser worried that if districts must seek creative ways to meet requirements with reduced administration, some of that work could be transferred to teachers. “All I want to do is help our teachers teach,” said Sweetser. “Maybe we are helping them teach by taking some of that administrative paperwork off of them.” Two budgets for school districts “The issue of local control is very much something that we are considering as we develop our legislation,” said Fred Nathan, TNM’s Executive Director and co-author of the report. Think New Mexico Executive Director Fred Nathan, who co-authored the report with Kristina Fisher, hopes to have draft legislation ready for the 2018 regular session. Noting that teachers currently have “zero control” over central administrative spending, he said, “Our reform proposal would divide each school district’s operating budget into two: a budget for classroom expenses and a budget for administrative expenses. Within each of those categories, districts would maintain complete local control over their spending.” It would be up to communities and their representatives, however, to watchdog districts. “There will definitely need to be close monitoring of the implementation to make sure that the resources are actually being shifted to areas that impact students,” said Nathan. He said Think New Mexico plans to have draft legislation completed in time for the 2018 session. Algernon D'Ammassa can be reached at 575-546-2611 (ext. 2608) or adammassa@demingheadlight.com. |
Representative SweetserNM District 32 Archives
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