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Antonio E. Sandoval, Democrat

Antonio E. Sandoval

The Job of State House of Representatives: Districts 29

Write state budget and craft laws affecting schools, prison and government agencies. Two-year term. Legislators are given $144 per diem for each day in session, along with mileage reimbursement. (i) denotes incumbent.

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Candidate for District 29 state representative

Name: Antonio E. Sandoval, Democrat

Age: 24

Campaign Web address: www.antoniosandoval.com

Occupation: Director of business development, Keystone International, Inc.

Family: Not married; mother, Lorrie Sandoval; father, Al Sandoval, sister, Venessa Sandoval; grandfather, Henry Jaramillo and many aunts, uncles, and cousins living in the Duke City.

Education: St. Pius X High School; bachelor's from Colorado College

Please list the experience you think would make you a good state representative.

Living on the West Side for most of my life, I have seen where this community was, where it is today, and where it is going. I made a conscious choice to come back to the Land of Enchantment and give back to the community that has given so much to me. My experience in serving this community began when I was a child growing up in Paradise Hills. I began as an altar boy at St. Jude Parish and continued giving back to my community as a student at St. Pius X High School.

While attending St. Pius, I served as student body president and organized projects with Habitat for Humanity, March of Dimes and Albuquerque Store House.

While in college I participated in many public service and political organizations. These experiences allowed me the opportunity to intern for the U.S. Senate Majority Leader in 2002 and return home and work as a New Mexico Fellow in the Workers' Compensation Administration in 2003.

I also volunteered my time with Bernalillo County Parks and Recreation as a youth basketball coach.

Since college, I have continued to give back to my community on the grassroots level. I am president of the homeowner's association for Arroyo del Sol; a member of the Albuquerque Public School's Citizens' Advisory Council; a Junior Achievement volunteer as a fourth grade teacher; an active participant in the Westside Coalition; and involved in the Bubble Gum Brigade, which goes door to door to educate people about APS bond elections.

Professionally, I have worked with Democracia U.S.A. (formerly Mi Familia Vota), which is a non-profit organization that focuses on registering Hispanic Americans to vote and participate in the election process. I am currently the director of business development for Keystone International, Inc.

Recently, through the work of Keystone, I was involved in keeping Cannon Air Force Base open and finding a new mission for the base. Through these and other experiences, I feel that I have the energy, knowledge, and skills necessary to be a public servant for the people of District 29.

Have you ever been arrested or charged with a felony or misdemeanor? If yes, explain.

No.

What is the best meal you can cook from scratch?

Green chile chicken enchiladas.

Last book you read:

"Theodore Roosevelt on Leadership" by James Strock and "Guns, Germs, and Steel" by Jared Diamond

What was your biggest mistake in life and what lesson did you learn?

Great question; I have made a lot of mistakes in my life and I know I will continue to do so - that is life! I think the biggest mistake I have made and sometimes still make is not telling my family and friends how much I love and appreciate them. I have since learned to value the moments I have with my family and friends and not take those moments for granted. Continually learning and growing from this is an essential part of who I am and who I want to be.

A recent report by the Fiscal Policy Institute found that states with a minimum wage above $5.15 have had faster job growth in the small business and retail trade sector than states with the federal minimum wage. Given that, would you support a statewide minimum wage of $7.50. Why or why not?

Yes. I would support a livable wage for hard-working New Mexicans. However, I believe this increase will be best implemented by gradually phasing in the higher wages. One reason to support a livable wage is the fact that the purchasing power of the current $5.15 wage is below what it was in the 1960's and 1970's. From its peak in 1968, the purchasing power of the minimum wage has decreased by over 36 percent. We need to do a better job of making sure our workforce and wages are keeping up with the changing economy.

The Legislature in 2007 will consider some ethics reforms. What one change would you make to improve ethics in our state government?

Enforcement and strengthening current laws will be an added step in that direction. I believe that legislative sessions should be aired or Web casted that way New Mexicans have an opportunity to see first hand how our government is working for us. Yet, I also feel that the people should hold elected officials accountable by electing open and honest public servants and in the same vein public servants need to be available and responsive to their constituency.

I, for one, will continue to knock on doors of my constituency and hold meetings to make sure I am held accountable to do the job they elected me to do.

Would you vote to repeal the death penalty in New Mexico?

Yes. I believe in a consistent ethic of life.

Would you support and fund a way for the Legislature to keep better tabs on public building projects?

Yes. I believe in transparency in government, meaning that people should have a right to know how and where the government is spending our money.

Would you support a measure that would allow chronically ill patients to use marijuana?

No. There are other alternatives to marijuana that have comparable results in treating chronically ill patients. At the moment there is a prescription drug, Marinol, that contains THC, the active ingredient found in its illegal counterpart. The Food and Drug Administration approved Marinol to help relieve the nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy patients

What more should New Mexico do in response to drought?

Education on this issue is important, but it is the responsibility of the elected officials to make the decisions necessary for the best interest of the people. I will support and vote for legislation that is responsive to the scarcity of water in our State. Unlike the current representation in District 29, I support the Creation of Strategic Water Reserve (House Bill 195, 2005 Session). I will also work with the city and county to work on water restrictions and sustainable designs for commercial and residential developments. As New Mexico continues to grow, it is our responsibility to make sure we have the resources to prosper.

What can be done to improve the state's public schools?

There is a lot of work to be done for our state's public education. One of which is a reformulation of the State Equalization Guarantee (SEG). The SEG provides each school district across the state with an operational budget that is calculated by a formula that represents each student in a district. The last time that the SEG was reformulated was almost 10 years ago. The SEG reformulation will improve public schools, but we must also look to improve our quality of education for poor and high growth areas across the state. We need to work on incentive packages to recruit and draw talented teachers to our state and increase their pay.

Is the current system for allocating the state's capital improvement money working? Why or why not? What specifically would you change?

We need to be effective and efficient when handling our constituents' money. I feel that progress is being made under the current system. Yet there are always improvements that can be made especially when it comes to the funding of "pet projects." That is why it is important to be open and honest as an elected public servant in informing the people how their money is spent.

Should the state build another prison to deal with the increasing inmate population?

We need to be building more schools rather than prisons. However, in looking at the increased inmate population, we need to look at the number of repeat offenders and also the work load of our prosecutors. We cannot keep building prisons to solve this problem. A new prison would be a temporary solution to a complicated problem. I believe there are alternatives and we can work with the community and educate ourselves in making progress toward this and other issues.

Would you support an increase in lawmaker per diem or a salaried Legislature?

I respect that New Mexico is one of the last citizen legislatures in the country, but I also feel that it is important to change lawmaker per diem with the changing economy and challenges we face as a state.

What is the greatest need in your district?

The greatest need is a responsive legislator who will serve the people and effectively address the issues of schools, roads, and our quality of life. Having been raised on the West Side, it is disappointing to see that the same issues 20 years ago are the same issues today! It is time for a change and it is time for new energy.

How long have you lived in your district?

I have lived my whole life on the West Side with the exception of my time in college and abroad.