Site Map | Archives

Home › News › Local Politics

Jim Baca, Democrat

Jim Baca

The Job of State land Commissioner

Makes rules that govern the management of state lands; considers applications for leases or purchases of state land and timber. Four-year term. Pays $90,000. (i) denotes incumbent.

related stories RELATED STORIES
related linksMore Local Politics
related linksMOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

related linksTRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.
STORY TOOLS

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

Candidate for land commissioner

Name: Jim Baca, Democrat

Age: 60

Campaign Web site address: www.jimbaca.com

Occupation: Retired state Natural Resource trustee

Family: Wife, Bobbi; son, Justin; daughter, Noelle

Education: St. Pius X High School, Albuquerque; University of New Mexico, bachelor's in business administration; special broadcast journalism course, Columbia Graduate School of Journalism

Please list the experience you think would make you a good land commissioner.

New Mexico State Land commissioner, two terms, 1983-1986, 1991-1993;

Director, Bureau of Land Management, Department of Interior, for President Bill Clinton, 1993-1994;

Mayor, city of Albuquerque, 1997-2001;

New Mexico State Natural Resource trustee, 2003-2006;

New Mexico journalist;

Service on the boards of the National Wilderness Society, the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance and the Wyss Foundation.

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

No.

What's the best meal you can cook from scratch?

Gypsy stew.

Last book you read:

"Plan B 2.0" by Lester Brown.

What is the biggest mistake you made in life and what lesson did you learn?

I made the mistake of running for the U.S. Congress at a time when I should not have due to having small children. I should have realized that that kind of life would not have been good for my family. Fate took care of that problem when I lost the race to Tom Udall.

Is New Mexico getting as much as it could out of the leases it has on state land? If not, how would you generate more money for the state?

New Mexico's revenues from its leases with the oil and gas industry are fair, and are the result of my decision in 1985 to raise royalty rates on the industry. Until 1985, our state's royalty rates were the lowest in the nation. More should be done, however. For example, a review of other revenues, which amount to about 2 percent of the revenue for the Land Office, should be initiated. There should be continued vigorous audits of all revenues, especially oil and gas. I created the royalty audit department in 1985 which has brought in tens of millions of dollars that would have otherwise gone uncollected. If elected, I would look to new revenue sources that would come from the support my office would provide to develop alternative energy sources, including wind, solar, biomass and geothermal.

Name two key differences between you and your opponent.

I am more experienced in public land issues as they relate to natural systems and the people who live in them, while my opponent sees the lands only as a means of exploitation.

I also believe my independence and sense of ethics enables me to say no to those who would degrade the lands for primarily motives of profit.

What is the biggest challenge facing the state Land Office and how will you address it?

The state Land Office must work to effectively to protect our watersheds, rivers, streams and bio diverse areas from degradation. The state Land Office must not be cutting budgets, as it has under Pat Lyons, while state revenues are at an all-time high. We must strengthen the Land Office and its professional staff in the field to assure that prudent practices are in place on all leases. Destruction and degradation of state watersheds and river systems affects us all and, most important, that which we do now will affect our children's future..

This is the Land of Enchantment. But this beauty requires diligence. We must "Save the Enchantment." That is why I propose some fundamental changes to the way we manage our state trust lands.

There is significant potential for providing much needed revenues to our public schools from these state lands. But, we must now treat them as more than just moneymakers For example, a state Lands Conservation System would be beneficial on some portion of our 9 million acres of state land.

We must recognize that the best use of some of these lands might be no use at all; to keep them pristine for future generations.

Do you support or oppose drilling for coal bed methane in the Valle Vidal?

I oppose drilling in the Valle Vidal. I have been active in fighting the attempt to ruin this New Mexico treasure.

Do you support oil and gas drilling on Otero Mesa?

I oppose drilling on Otero Mesa. Unfortunately, the state Land Office has no way of permanently protecting areas like Otero Mesa. The ability to permanently protect state lands would require amending our state constitution to allow for permanent mineral withdrawals on state trust lands. I pledge to work towards getting that amendment passed by the legislature and then on to a vote of our citizens. I have worked hard to support groups that are fighting this drilling program, such as the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance.

What plans do you have to protect or enhance public access to state lands?

We must develop and use a system that will classify state lands for their best uses. This, too, will ultimately require constitutional amendments. Some areas must be classified in perpetuity for access by hunters, campers, and general outdoor recreation if we are to "Save the Enchantment" we treasure in this great state of New Mexico. I will work to pass legislation that would require a no net loss of hunting and fishing lands.