Candidates stump in Gallup

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Kevin Killough
Staff writer

GALLUP — Candidates for New Mexico and McKinley County came out to the UNM-Gallup campus to let their positions be known to voters. In attendance were Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Pearce, Republican U.S. House candidate Dan East, state Senate District 4 candidates George Munoz and Beatrice Woodward, and state House District 5 candidate Michael E. Lunnon.

Pearce said that there were profound differences between his positions and his opponents. He pledged to repair the economy by cutting taxes and giving individuals more power in how their money is spent.

“The nation is empowered when we empower individuals,” Pearce said.

Pearce also said he would cut wasteful spending in Congress. He gave several examples of what he called “pork barrel” spending that he would oppose. He also criticized the recent bailouts, saying that taxpayers should not foot the bill for bad business practices.

He said he would also put more money in research and development of renewable energy sources, while eliminating redundancy in the permitting processes for nuclear power plants. He would also vote for more oil drilling.

Tom Udall was unable to attend the forum and had a statement read apologizing for his absence and urging people to vote. In the statement, Udall said he would fight for investment in renewable energy, which would bring money to New Mexico and create jobs. And he said he would continue his fight for stronger DWI and domestic abuse laws.

State Sen. Lidio Rainaldi read a statement for Ben Ray Lujan, who was also unable to attend. Lujan pledged to work for families and the middle class, improve health care, and bring renewable energy to New Mexico. He would also bring troops in Iraq home and see that they received good veteran benefits.

Dan East, a small-business owner, said that, as one without a career in politics, voters would not be sending another politician to office. He said he was prolife and would support Second Amendment rights. He would also help improve the area’s infrastructure, which he said was vital to a healthy economy. He was also very critical of the recent loan bailout.

“I would not have voted for that bailout,” East said.
George Munoz pledged said that, if elected, he would improve the quality of life by building roads and infrastructure in District 4. He would also bring jobs and secure more funding for education to ensure long-term economic growth for New Mexico.

“I will not stop until the community is the best that it can be,” he said.

His opponent, Beatrice Woodward, assured the audience that, as the Republican candidate, she was not running to represent the party. She was running to represent the people of District 4, she said. She said that she would oppose uranium mining if that’s what her constituents wanted. She would also see that infrastructure for drinking water was improved, and she would oppose higher taxes.

“I would honor what the people want,” she said.

Micheal Lunnon said that traditional morals should be taught in schools, and he would help to restore such curriculums. He said that there is a disconnect between people and government that he would seek to resolve. He would also help to ensure that juries are informed of their rights to nullify a law, which is where juries decisions are based on the belief that a law should not be applied in a case. He too was opposed to the bailout that Congress recently passed.

“Congress just gave $700 billion to a bunch of crooks,” he said.