NAME: Jane E. Powdrell-Culbert
POLITICAL PARTY: Republican
OCCUPATION: Trainer
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Corrales
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Served as New Mexico state representative 10 terms
EDUCATION: B.A. plus, University of New Mexico
CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: Janefor44.com
1. 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 steps should the Legislature take to diversify the state’s economy and revenue base?
Continue to work on changing the tax system to be more attractive to corporations’ relocation opportunities.
2. During the last regular legislative session, there was an unsuccessful push to make it easier to keep certain defendants behind bars until trial. Should New Mexico law be changed to make it easier to hold individuals charged with violent offenses such as murder and first-degree child abuse behind bars until trial?
Yes. I will continue to support laws to keep violent offenders behind bars until their trial.
3. What steps should the Legislature take to address crime and public safety amid a rise in violent crime rates?
Put more funding into the law enforcement community. The Legislature over the years has passed laws to ensure a safer environment. However, until there is something done from the federal level with immigration, crime will continue to escalate.
4. What changes, if any, should New Mexico make to its gross receipts tax code?
Eliminate the gross receipt tax.
5. New Mexico is currently the only state that does not pay its legislators a salary, though lawmakers do get per diem payments and can qualify for a legislative pension. Do you support or oppose a salaried Legislature and, if so, how much should lawmakers be paid?
I would support a salary for legislators. Per diem does not always cover the expenses to attend committee meetings in different parts of the state. Yearly salary of $50,000 for elected legislators with per diem and pension with a contribution requirement.
6. 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, especially Native Americans and those who don’t speak English as a first language?
New Mexico is going to have to request parents to be more involved in their child’s education; school choice; consider education labs with tutors in various communities
7. What should be the priority as New Mexico seeks to strengthen its health care system? How should the state address a shortage of nurses and other health care workers?
Medical malpractice insurance cost is too expensive to do business in New Mexico. Reduce costs associated with malpractice insurance. This will enhance the recruitment of nurses and other health care providers.
8. 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 the proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would withdraw more money from the state’s permanent school fund to increase funding for early childhood services and K-12 education?
No. The Legislature established an Early Childhood Trust Fund to address this issue.
9. In order to address climate change and air quality issues, do you support or oppose legislation limiting greenhouse gas emissions and requiring the state achieve net-zero emissions by 2050?
Oppose.
10. New Mexico recently became the 17th state to regulate and tax recreational cannabis sales? What, if any, changes do you believe should be made to the existing law?
The new law just went into effect two weeks ago. It is too early to know how well it works.
11. Do you believe changes should be made to the emergency powers held by a governor during a pandemic or other time of crisis? If so, do you believe such powers should be expanded or reduced and in what specific ways?
Totally reduce these emergency powers. Legislative body should be involved in determining when it should be enacted.
12. What changes, if any, should New Mexico make to its election laws and primary system? Do you support or oppose opening the state’s primary elections to voters who aren’t affiliated with either major political party?
All registered voters should be allowed to participate in the election process.
13. Would you support a merit-based evaluation system to determine how the state spends its capital outlay funding?
Yes. It is imperative that the rural communities be able to participate and be not left out of the process.
14. Do you support or oppose authorizing an independent redistricting commission to perform the once-per-decade task of redrawing New Mexico’s political boundary lines?
Support. Yes, enact a commission that is totally independent of both major political parties.
Personal background
1. Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens?
No.
2. Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding?
No.
3. 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.
No.
