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Jim Owen, Republican

Jim Owen

The Job of State House of Representatives: District 60

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 60 state representative

Name: Jim Owen, Republican

Age: 63

Campaign Web site: None

Occupation: Printing

Family: Wife, Rosemary; six children; six grandchildren

Education: Bachelor's, Arizona State University

Please list the experience that would make you a good state representative:

Former mayor of Rio Rancho, 2002-2006. During the last four years, we clarified our vision and pushed for centralizing the community around our new city center and event arena, with an adjacent full-service UNM campus.

Prior to being mayor, I served as chairman elect for both the Rio Rancho Chamber of Commerce and the Rio Rancho Education Foundation. I also was the Intel site service manager until 1994, with responsibility for over 800 employees and several thousand contract employees.

In all of those roles, I had to develop working relationships with groups that were often adversarial; but those conflicts were resolved and problems were solved. I successfully lobbied in Washington, D.C., and Santa Fe for the funds needed for our innovative water projects and the beginnings of the Paseo del Volcan roadway.

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? Breakfast.

Last book you read: "Dropping Your Guard" by Charles R. Swindoll.

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

The issue isn't in the mistakes - to err is human - but rather what you learn from them. The most important thing I've learned is to listen and to ask questions until I have enough correct information to make an informed decision.

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?

I believe we need to revisit this issue. It's been decades since the last federal revision. But I also believe that whatever the minimum wage, it is truly only an entry-level wage, and that an individual can and should gain the skills necessary to raise his or her individual value within the organization.

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

Strengthen the penalties, and have significant nonpartisan community involvement on review boards.

Would you vote to repeal the death penalty in New Mexico? No.

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

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

If a rotating panel of doctors believes that marijuana is the only satisfactory treatment for an illness and prescribe it like any other controlled substance from a licensed pharmacy, I could support such legislation.

What more should New Mexico do in response to drought?

Drought is a recurring problem in this area. Conservation is always needed, but we'd also need to revisit the compacts that require us to send a fixed amount of water to our neighboring states, regardless of the drought conditions. The decades-old requirement was never evaluated scientifically, and as a result we are not taking advantage of the existing technology to treat and reuse our well water, because the state engineer is using well water to dump into the river to meet compact requirements.

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

We need to ensure that operational funds are used to improve classroom performance and that the state provide the construction funds needed in growing districts before classroom overcrowding impacts the learning environment.

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

No. Capital improvement money needs to have a tracking system. Projects are often underfunded and the project never sees completion because of inadequate follow up by the legislator who provided the funding.

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

The state either has to come up with improved community probation for lesser offenders, pay for other states to house our felons, or provide the facilities needed to protect our citizens. Even with effective intervention programs, the crime problem is not going to go away any time soon.

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

This is one of the last states to have an unpaid Legislature. But all of us who run for this office know how things work in this state. We run because we think we can make a difference and add value to the process. If this issue comes up during the session, I will have to look at the merits and the impact on the budget of the bill being proposed.

What is the greatest need in your district?

The district needs economic development. We need to increase the opportunities for employers to bring high-paying jobs into the area. This will also help reduce commuting to remote job locations across the river and improve our quality of life.

How long have you lived in your district?

I've lived in District 60 since 1992.