Over the next three weeks voters in Central New Mexico, Congressional District One, will have the opportunity to select a new congressional representative. The new representative will take the place of Deb Haaland who almost immediately after being elected to a second term in November, was appointed the first Native American to serve as Secretary of the Interior.
Congressional District One includes all of Torrance County, a good portion of Bernalillo County, as well as a portion of Sandoval County and a sliver of Valencia and Santa Fe counties.
Aubrey Dunn has been a Republican, a Democrat, a Libertarian and is now running as an Independent. Dunn is a long-time rancher with a degree in Animal Science from Colorado State University. He also served as a banker for 25 years. When he was the State Land Commissioner, he ran head to head with Republicans because of his resistance to expanded use of ground water oil and gas drilling. He supports eliminating qualified immunity for law enforcement, is anti-abortion and opposes federal restrictions on semi-automatic weapons. His website boasts: “I’m not a Trump Teddy Bear or a Biden Puppet.”
Mark Moores is a three-term Republican State Senator with roots in New Mexico. His great-grandfather Augustine Maestas was elected to several offices in Rio Arriba County in the 19th century. After graduating from the University of New Mexico with a BA and an MBA, he went to work for former U.S. Representative Steve Schiff, R - N.M. from 1989 until Schiff’s death in 1998. Now, with his wife, he has a healthcare business.
One of his primary issues is a repeal of the state tax on Social Security benefits, according to his website. He is a strong law and order candidate and he opposes the Biden Administration’s ban on all new drilling permits on Federal Land, arguing that he wants to protect New Mexico jobs.
Melanie Stansbury was born in Farmington and raised in Albuquerque. She worked through school and earned a full scholarship to St. Mary’s College where she got a degree in Human Ecology and Natural Science. She then received a master’s degree in Development Sociology and American Indian Studies from Cornell University. Upon her return to New Mexico, she worked at the Museum of Natural History and later as a researcher and advisor on land and water issues. She then took a position in the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Senate on the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in Washington D.C. Afterward she returned to New Mexico where she was elected a State Representative in 2018.
Her foremost issues include expanding economic opportunity, improving education, addressing childhood hunger and public safety, as well as increasing access to healthcare and supporting the stewardship of our land, water, and energy resources, according to her website.
Chris Manning lives in Farmington, outside of District One. He grew up in San Juan County. He has a degree in Secondary Education from Arizona State University and served six years in the National Guard including a deployment to Afghanistan.
He has told newspapers and website visitors that his main concerns center on universal healthcare, promoting the free and peaceful movement of people between countries, ending foreign wars and giving small business owners a voice in Washington, D.C. He would vote to end federal no-knock warrants, civil asset forfeiture, qualified immunity and the drug war.
By Mike Daly
For the Sun
