- NAME: Rebecca “Becky” King Spindle
- POLITICAL PARTY: Democrat
- OCCUPATION: Rancher
- CITY OF RESIDENCE: Stanley, NM
- RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Mother, Moriarty Edgewood School Board Member, and Rancher
- EDUCATION: Attended NMSU
- CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: beckyfornm.com
What steps should the Legislature take to ensure New Mexico has a balanced budget amid falling oil prices and an economic downturn prompted by the coronavirus outbreak?
Years ago we began the movement of bringing large technology jobs to New Mexico by partnering with companies like Intel. We need to consider moving towards the manufacturing of more technology products like we did with Intel, while expanding JTIP to assist with training new a new workforce for New Mexico.
What more, if anything, should the Legislature do to address a court ruling that found New Mexico is failing to provide a sufficient education to all students?
As a school board member who supported the lawsuit, I want to ensure that the Legislature is hearing the voices of school boards across our state. We need the Public Education Department to fully realize how diverse our state is and the needs facing our children.
What changes, if any, should New Mexico make to its gross receipts tax code?
The Legislature needs to begin by understanding that GRT needs to be overhauled in conjunction with our local municipalities. We must ensure that local government has it within their means to provide infrastructure at a local level.
Do you support or oppose legalizing recreational marijuana use in New Mexico and taxing its sales?
I haven’t seen a legislative package that would move me to support the legalization, while I do support the further decriminalization of recreational marijuana and saving money from those incarcerated for those crimes.
In recent years, New Mexico has steadily increased spending on early childhood programs, such as home visiting, prekindergarten and child care assistance, and created a new early childhood trust fund. Do you support or oppose a constitutional amendment that would withdraw more money from the Land Grant Permanent Fund to increase funding for early childhood services?
In our current economic climate, I would offer caution for additional funding from the Land Grant Permanent Fund. I do support the current legislation that created an early childhood education permanent fund and would further support supplementing those revenues.
Do you support or oppose opening the state’s primary elections to voters who aren’t affiliated with either major political party?
Support. It is important to include every New Mexican in every election in our state. I join our Secretary of State in support of this concept.
Do you support or oppose repealing a long-dormant 1969 state law that outlaws abortion, except in limited circumstances?
I would support legislation that mirrors any of the federal court rulings in regards to this matter.
Would you support a merit-based evaluation system to determine how the state spends its capital outlay funding? Should each legislator be required to disclose which projects he or she funded?
I would support a merit-based system that includes evaluation of local governments own ability to fund projects and the bonding capacity of each local government. The process must not be punitive towards smaller towns, villages, land grants, and sovereign nations. I will disclose my capital outlay voluntarily.
Do you support or oppose requiring lobbyists to disclose which bills they advocate for or against?
I support legislation that requires lobbyists and advocates to disclose which bills they advocate for and further that all lobbyists disclose any subcontractors that they initiate to do so.
New Mexico is highly reliant on the oil and natural gas industries to generate revenue to fund state programs, as evidenced by recent oil boom and bust cycles. What are the things you would do to diversify the state’s economy and revenue base?
We need to invest in the things we are already great at. We need to invest more in our tourism department, agriculture technology, and create broader incentive programs for innovation in conjunction with our state universities like NMSU Arrowhead Center.
Do you support or oppose updating the current prohibition in the law on assisted suicide in order to allow aid-in-dying under certain medical circumstances?
I haven’t thought about this matter too much and would have to see the proposed legislation and arguments to make a decision.
Would you support or oppose a moratorium on fracking? And should the state impose additional renewable energy mandates as a way to address climate change concerns?
No, it is my understanding that fracking is a small portion of the NM industries method of extraction. I believe we should enforce current laws and provide the New Mexico Environment Department an additional $14 million dollars in revenue to ensure that our industries are being monitored properly.
What steps should the Legislature take to address crime and improve public safety?
Too many NM families are living in poverty. I would propose that with any boom in New Mexico’s economy that NM families are first in line to receive a portion of that boom. Additionally, we need to improve access to early childhood education and technology infrastructure across our state.
Do you support or oppose the practice of legislative budget-writing committees holding closed-door meetings during the crafting of state spending bills?
I oppose and furthermore I would include that all cabinet meetings of the Executive and their boards and commissions be streamed and archived as well.
Personal background
Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens? Not that I am aware of.
Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding? Not that I am aware of.
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? If so, explain. None that I can find via nmcourts.gov.
