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Candidate for lieutenant governor

Name: Sue Wilson Beffort, Republican

Age: 60

Campaign Web site address: www.dendahlforgovernor.com

Occupation: New Mexico state senator

Family: Husband, Steve; sons, Eric and Sean

Education: Bachelor's, Southern Methodist University

Please list the experience you have that would make you a great lieutenant governor.

As a state senator for the past 10 years and having served on the Finance, Health and Human Services, Water and Natural Resources, Welfare Reform and Oversight, and Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy committees, I have extensive knowledge of the pertinent issues. I also served on key task forces such as Redistricting, Healthcare Coverage and Access, Insure New Mexico, Treasurer's Reform, and Welfare Reform as well as conference committees for the final budgets.

I am currently a delegate of the Workforce Development State Board and was a member of the Job Training Partnership State Board prior to that.

I was a legislative liaison to the UNM NCAA Certification Self-Study Organization and a legislative member of the KNME Commission.

As a former small business owner (Sue Wilson Personnel Services), I have a great respect for business, its financial challenges, tax burdens, employee morale issues, governmental regulations, and healthcare costs. This gives me a keen insight into ways government can hold businesses accountable yet be a friendly partner to business, and conversely, how it can inhibit prosperity and economic development. Good jobs and auxiliary training are New Mexico's vehicles out of poverty.

In the capacity of a business owner. I served on many community boards, such as the UNM Cancer Center (former chairman), Lovelace Foundation, Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau, Rotary, Goodwill, and Great Southwest Boy Scout Board, as well as chairman to numerous charity events, including the Cystic Fibrosis Celebrity Waiters, and ARCA "People's Choice Award."

In terms of education, as a former teacher, I understand the importance of concentration of dollars directly out to the field and for preparing quality teachers. My legislative record demonstrates my ability to work in a bi-partisan way for the good of New Mexico, as apparent in sponsorship of notable legislation such as the Renewable Energy Bill, co-sponsorship of the Full Day Kindergarten Bill, Drip Farming/conservation bill, other key water bills such as water banking, and the recent Extra Curricular Activities Bill, allowing access of those programs for charter school children.

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?

Louisiana shrimp gumbo

Last book you read: "Fit for LIFE" by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond.

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

As a young person, not thoroughly thinking out important life decisions. The lesson learned is that I became very mature in my thinking and worked twice as hard to become a successful adult.

Will you take campaign contributions from people who have contracts with the state?

Yes. Almost every type of industry can have business with the state (or the state "buy," which includes school districts, municipalities, etc.) My ethics and independence have been demonstrated over my tenure in the Legislature, as well as my voting record.

What are your top goals if elected? Name only two.

Education reform and health care reform.

What can the state do to attract and support more small businesses?

Concentrate on positive business issues. One very anti-business program that was put into place by the current administration is the "Save Smart" contract, which denied 99 percent of the small business from the state contracts and instead sent the money to an out-of-state company that directed the buys to only a handful of mainly out-of-state businesses. I would discourage legislation that has plagued the average business, such premium taxes, user fees, surcharges, bed taxes, etc.

Studies show some New Mexicans are unfairly targeted by payday lenders. What steps should the state take to crack down on those who take advantage of residents in need of a loan?

Conventional banks generally do not offer short-term moneys to individuals, and certainly not to the poor. There is clearly a need for an industry of this nature, yet I would support reasonable reform. Information such as default levels must be put into the analysis of the best reform approach.

While this has garnered the limelight, there has been little attention to the high interest credit cards or out-of-state student loans whose interest rates can be raised to the point that it makes it almost impossible for a recent graduate to ever pay these back and not injure their credit rating.

Gov. Bill Richardson has a $77 million plan to reduce the number of New Mexicans without health insurance. But given the increases in care costs, can the state afford that in the long run? How could the state better control those costs?

As our economic indicators continue to improve (which is everybody's goal), our federal match shrinks proportionately. (In 2004, New Mexico lost $100 million of federal money for that reason and we had to cut $32 million out of services to current recipients, many with disabilities and the elderly.)

With the baby boom approaching, it is going to demand even more of the federal budget. The "feds" have been warning us for years to be cautious of our reliance on Medicaid, especially waiver programs, many of which the states must end up assuming the major portion in later years. And Medicaid is an entitlement program, which forces the budget to cover its cost FIRST, then divide up the remaining moneys with all of the other important needs, such as education, public safety, and the operation of all of government.

With all of the positive reforms that our Legislature has enacted in the last couple of years, we need to put our full attention into promoting these programs.

They offer very affordable access to insurance, such as the SCI program which costs the employers only $75 and employees $25 per month! With some simple expansions to the statewide infrastructure already in place such as the Primary Healthcare Facilities (133 in rural and underserved areas), telemedicine that allows specialty care oversight to the rural areas, college health clinics, school based health clinics and public health facilities. Along with increased funding to our trauma centers, this would adequately meet the needs of the uninsured and unemployed. With a few additional concepts, such as affordable catastrophic care policies, tax credits, or items such as health savings accounts, this would significantly reduce the crisis of uncompensated care that our providers have been experiencing. The cost shifting to private pay insurance policies could then be alleviated and premiums would go down.

Would you support a measure to allow chronically ill patients to use marijuana for medical purposes?

Not at this time. Earlier measures put forth to the Legislature did not have safeguards that would assure tight controls over access to other people. My sister recently passed away from a rare blood disease and my son is recovering from leukemia; I have a painful understanding of serious illness and suffering. Modern medicine is exceptional!

Do you have a concealed carry permit? Why or why not?

No. I voted in support of the bill and consider it a very important protection devise, especially for women. I haven't yet gotten one, partially because of time constraints and I also fear weapons.

What should the state be doing to prepare for drought?

I was terribly dismayed that the $4 million to eradicate the salt cedars was vetoed, which prohibited us from our continuous progress of removing these non-native trees that extract our precious water from our streams and rivers. There was also the veto of $75 million for Native American Adjudication, which would have resolved decade-long cases in the San Juan River Basin, Rio Pueblo de Taos Stream and Aamodt Case Settlement. Because we are a seniority water rights state, we must determine the legal awards to the Native Americans first, so that the engineers can proceed with everyone else. This is a very expensive, cumbersome process that must be done in order to protect our water in New Mexico and not loose it to Texas. Our Tri State Compact doesn't consider drought conditions, and we stand to loose our water if we don't get our ownership legally defined.

Finally, the bill allocating $230 for statewide water projects was not allowed to pass the Legislature.

Our 30-member Water Committee unanimously agreed this would be the most important use of our one time surplus monies, that we have heretofore been unable to afford.

I also would support finally funding the State Water Trust Fund with our current surplus revenue, so that we will have the means to pay for water infrastructure needs in out years.

What part of your personality would make you a good lieutenant governor?

I have thoroughly enjoyed my tenure in the Legislature, having established very good relationships on both sides of the aisle, as well as all of the various groups that come to the legislature for funding and specialized agendas. I am known as person who cares about people and the concerns they bring forth; not partisan politics. They know that I would be the person to come to who would welcome them and champion their issues.

If elected, would you keep the Children's Cabinet?

Yes. Children are at the very core of my love and interest. In terms of the direction and programs this cabinet has pursued, I certainly would study its progress and make recommendations as to future priorities.