E-mail Story
Print Friendly
Send E-mail
Reprint story
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Arnold-Jones a Veteran Advocate
By Sean Olson
Journal Staff Writer
Janice Arnold-Jones was an advocate long before she entered the political arena.
Arnold-Jones became part of the movement, starting in New Mexico, to modernize rape laws, protect victims of sexual assault and set up counseling centers in the mid-1970s. It was a time, she said, when women were dismissed or blamed after sexual crimes.
In the late 1980s, while she was living in Virginia, Arnold-Jones' issue changed to education after she decided school districts there were unaccountable for their teachers.
But it was the easygoing, accessible nature of the New Mexico legislative sessions — in which she once worked as an intern for Republican lawmakers — that finally drew her into public service.
Arnold-Jones was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2002 and is now serving her fourth term as a representative from Albuquerque's Northeast Heights, a career that took her by surprise.
"It was certainly not in my game plan; I had plenty to do as an advocate," Arnold-Jones said.
A self-described "military brat," Arnold-Jones saw quite a bit of the world throughout her life, but she has always considered New Mexico home.
Between her Air Force father, who was killed in action in 1963, and her retired Navy commander husband, John Jones, Arnold-Jones has visited Bangkok, the Philippines and Germany while living in places including San Diego, Georgia, Florida, Virginia and Hawaii.
But when she had the chance, she made a beeline back to New Mexico. She said the people, the culture and, of course, the food brought her back. Ultimately, it was her love for the state and desire for it to overachieve that brought her into the governor's race, vying for the Republican nomination.
"This state is remarkable, but we have lived in a state of potential as long as I can remember," Arnold-Jones said. "I'm ready to move on."
Arnold-Jones, a 57-year-old mother of two, graduated from Albuquerque High School and the University of New Mexico. She runs the local office for Parallax Inc., a nuclear energy consulting company.
Arnold-Jones has built a broad repertoire of technical knowledge, especially in information systems, telecommunications and energy policy.
Arnold-Jones has sponsored bills over the years that reflect her interest in victims' services, technology and education — including a bill that brought live webcasting into the House; bills to support education, mentor programs and rural libraries; and appropriations to update technology at schools and state buildings.
She said the legislative experience would give her a leg up on her opponents when trying to get things done as governor.
"I have collegial relationships within the Legislature. We are able to work together," she said.
She said that she has learned a mantra about legislation over the years, first taught to her by the late Democratic Gov. Bruce King, that has acted as her guide:
When a bill leaves the Legislature, then "all that's left is the words, and they better be good," she said. "Because if they are not, they hurt people."
You also can send comments via our comment form
|
|
