Jon Hill seeks District 53 House seat

Jon Hill, a retired human resource professional in Las Cruces, is challenging incumbent state Rep. Willie Madrid, D-Chaparral, in the Democratic primary June 4. The winner will face Republican challenger Elizabeth Winterrowd in November. 

Hill responded to a questionnaire generated by the Bulletin’s readers ahead of the deadline. When reached by phone, Madrid said he had not received the questionnaire, which was emailed to him, but that he would respond to it after the Bulletin’s deadline. 

Here are Hill’s responses. 

Oil and gas made up more than half of the state’s revenue for the first time in New Mexico's history. This is unsustainable. How should the state move past this?

I agree that it is not wise to rely so heavily on oil and gas. The obvious strategy is to diversify our economic base. In doing so, I believe we should look to standard economic drivers, including agriculture, transportation, hospitality/recreation, health care, etc. To do this, we need to encourage communities around the state to shape their dreams into a local economic plan and then expect the state of New Mexico to nurture those plans with supportive legislation and finances.

Oil and gas are also major sources of pollution. As New Mexico residents grapple with the effects of climate change—i.e., more wildfires, water shortages, heat waves, and crop failure—what role should the legislature take in mitigating these effects?

Rule one of environmental legislation is to understand that everything we do affects every other thing we do.

I support the adoption of the “green amendment” because it creates a north star that guides the legislature to align initiatives around a single vision. As a result, we are equipped to weave together the full array of environmental legislation to create a rugged fabric that will endure years into the future.

Environmental legislation must be very carefully crafted. Poorly crafted legislation risks creating setbacks that hamper our forward movement.

Environmental legislation must create a soft landing for people and for communities, so any negative impacts are anticipated and mitigated.

Our readers lamented the lack of access to doctors and healthcare. What will you do to increase access to healthcare?

Build a support network with incentives for newly graduated health care professionals to be located in New Mexico. This might include debt forgiveness, assistance with licensure and certifications, housing assistance, mentoring and similar.

Recruit healthcare professionals from states where radical legislation has made the practice of medicine difficult. Explore incentives for recent healthcare retirees to relocate to New Mexico to enjoy an encore career.

What steps, if any, would you take in the legislature to increase access to abortion?

The goal is for health care to be generally available across the state. All people have authority over their own bodies.

What steps would you take to protect democracy amid threats to public officials and attempts at undermining elections in the U.S.?

There seems to be considerable grit among Americans who are determined to maintain free and fair elections. While some people are withdrawing from public service, others are refusing to be intimidated and are stepping forward. Public officials and those who operate our elections should be recognized and celebrated. Bad actors should be reported to the appropriate authorities and face the consequences.

Various groups have pointed to different “flaws” in the legal system. Some have suggested that bail reform should be tweaked or removed. Others have pointed to challenges around competency. Others have said that more focus on poverty alleviation is needed to reduce crime. Where would the legislature’s time be best spent to address crime in New Mexico? And what changes are you in favor of seeing?

Democracy is a messy form of government. In New Mexico, the legislature meets for short periods of time to address these issues. Meanwhile, crime, by definition, exists to thwart the law and civilization generally. None of this is stable. There is constant change. The challenge for the legislature is to take time to listen to constituents to study options for managing the needs and then move forward with those ideas that will improve the legal system and reduce poverty. Because there are 112 legislators in New Mexico, it is feasible to prioritize several initiatives and act on them simultaneously.

How do you intend to maintain contact with constituents during your term?

During the campaign, I have been using Facebook as a way for people to follow campaign activities. And, of course, I attend campaign events and spend three to four hours walking door-to-door to meet people.

During the session I hope to return to Las Cruces as frequently as feasible to maximize communications. I hope to maintain Facebook even though the sessions are intense and fast moving.

Throughout the year I believe it is the responsibility of a state representative to show up at community events, attend public meetings, continue with social media, and to be generally available across the district.

Although District 53 is very large and diverse, I am building a network of contacts throughout each community. I expect to maintain those relationships throughout my term.