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Sunday, May 4, 2008
2nd Congressional District Democratic Candidate Bios and Q&As
Journal Staff Writer
2nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT BIOS AND Q&As — DEMOCRATS: Bill McCamley, Harry Teague
Name: Bill McCamley
Political party: Democrat
Place of residence: Las Cruces
Age: 30
Education: B.A., government, New Mexico State University, 2001; M.A., public policy, Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, 2003.
Occupation: Adjunct professor, government, NMSU, 2003-2007; executive director, New Mexico Rural Development Council, 2005-2007; real estate broker, 2004, Grubb & Ellis.
Family: Single.
Political/government experience: Dona Ana County Commission, 2005-present; chairman, 2005; vice-chairman, 2008.
Major professional accomplishment: Resolved long-standing conflicts between Dona Ana County and Sunland Park; reformed county health care funding.
Major personal accomplishment: Returned to Las Cruces after graduate school to contribute to community through government, volunteerism, teaching.
Questions and answers
1. What would be at the top of your list of issues or problems to work on as a member of Congress?
Revive America's economy. Institute a timetable for withdrawing our troops from Iraq safely and with honor. Set up a health care system where no one is scared to see a doctor.
2. Would you vote to cut off funding for the war in Iraq if there is no specific timetable for withdrawal that meets your satisfaction?
As the son of a career Army veteran, I will always support our men and women in uniform. However, the best way to support them now is to bring them home to their families.
3. What specific steps should be taken to reform U.S. immigration policies?
Stop wall construction and use that funding for the Border Patrol and local sheriff's departments to increase security. Implement reasonable citizenship/worker programs allowing people to register. Enforce rules on illegal hiring.
4. What should Congress do to slow the growth in health care costs while improving all Americans' access to care?
We should develop an insurance program covering all Americans, decreasing costs through economies of scale. We also need to incentivize providers to locate in rural areas, for without doctors and nurses, insurance does not matter.
5. What should be done to reduce U.S. dependence on oil?
We need to implement a new energy program for the nation that increases funding for solar, wind, and geothermal research, requires increasing automobile fuel mileage, and incentivizes alternative energy and better efficiency in homes.
6. What should New Mexico's national laboratories, Los Alamos and Sandia, do in the face of declining federal funding?
The mission should be changed to reflect what is a growing national security issue: dependence on foreign oil. Funding should be provided through the program described above to move the labs toward this new mission.
7. In connection with the U.S. credit crunch, would you support or oppose federal bailouts of lenders and/or borrowers?
I would only support programs that help working Americans who have had trouble with their home payments. I do not support the federal government bail-out of multi-billion dollar corporations.
8. What role should nuclear power play in the nation's energy future?
Global warming is the most critical worldwide environmental concern. Nuclear power should be used as a stop-gap strategy, providing needed power without carbon emissions until a system entirely reliant on green energy can be developed.
9. Do you agree or disagree that human activities are causing global climate change? If you agree, what should be done?
Agree. A comprehensive system needs to be implemented that will allow for more funding to research and develop clean power, transport that power from places that produce it to urban areas, and decrease energy consumption.
10. Do you support or oppose the endangered Mexican gray wolf reintroduction program?
Support. However, we must make sure that the process by which ranchers receive reimbursement for cattle killed by wolves is more efficient and fair.
Have you or your business, if you are or have been a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens? No.
Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding? No.
Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony in New Mexico or any other state? No.
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Name: Harry Teague
Political party: Democrat
Place of residence: Hobbs
Age: 58
Education: Hobbs High School.
Occupation: Owner, Teaco Energy, 2000-present; owner, Diamond Rental, 1978-1997; president, E&H Well Service, 1974-1976; hand/crew leader, X-Pert Drilling, 1966-1974.
Family: Wife, Nancy; one son and one daughter.
Political/government experience: Lea County Commission, 1999-2006.
Major professional accomplishment: Building Teaco Energy, which today employs more than 250 people.
Major personal accomplishment: My family.
Questions and answers
1. What would be at the top of your list of issues or problems to work on as a member of Congress?
The war in Iraq and health care are the two most pressing issues facing Congress and the country. However, my personal priority will be rural job tax credits and subsidies for investment in alternative energy.
2. Would you vote to cut off funding for the war in Iraq if there is no specific timetable for withdrawal that meets your satisfaction?
I strongly support our troops. However, I believe our brave men and women have done all they can and that it is time to bring them home safely, responsibly and as soon as possible.
3. What specific steps should be taken to reform U.S. immigration policies?
Secure our border in order to stem the flow of illegal drugs and other dangers. Provide opportunities to work and a path to citizenship for those who come here only to support their families.
4. What should Congress do to slow the growth in health care costs while improving all Americans' access to care?
Allowing the government to negotiate with drug companies can reduce costs. The real answer is providing coverage for everyone: bringing everyone into the same insurance pool, reducing the need for emergent care.
5. What should be done to reduce U.S. dependence on oil?
The U.S. must become a leader in alternative energy, require utilities to draw some of their energy from such sources and we must become more efficient by raising CAFE standards and adopting green technologies.
6. What should New Mexico's national laboratories, Los Alamos and Sandia, do in the face of declining federal funding?
New Mexico's labs are critical to the economy of our state and the safety of our nation. I will work to maintain funding, but the labs might also expand their mission into research in renewable energy.
7. In connection with the U.S. credit crunch, would you support or oppose federal bailouts of lenders and/or borrowers?
I am generally opposed to bailing out predatory lenders and/or speculators. However, I believe the federal government should help those homebuyers at risk of losing their homes.
8. What role should nuclear power play in the nation's energy future?
Nuclear power has proven to be an efficient source of energy and is potentially another option for ending our dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil.
9. Do you agree or disagree that human activities are causing global climate change? If you agree, what should be done?
I believe they are. We must reduce our use of fossil fuels by being more efficient and find viable alternatives.
10. Do you support or oppose the endangered Mexican gray wolf reintroduction program?
This is a difficult issue for the people of my district. I would support further review of this program to understand the impact they are having on the ecosystem.
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Have you or your business, if you are or have been a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens? No.
Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding? No.
Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony in New Mexico or any other state? No.
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