District 8 candidates weigh in on issues

Northern Quay County voters will have to an unfamiliar sight when they receive their ballots for the November election — an opponent for longtime District 8 Sen. Pete Campos.

Campos (D-Las Vegas), who has served in the New Mexico Legislature since 1991, drew his first foe in a general election in 30 years in Melissa Fryzel, a Republican from Taos.

Fryzel, a graduate in psychology from the University of Texas-Permian Basin, has seven children with her husband, Josh, a wireline engineer. She is a state secretary and data collector for the Republican Party of New Mexico and a founding member of the New Mexico Patriots. Her campaign website is MelissaforNM.com.

Campos, married to Lori Anne, has one adult son. He previously was president of Luna Community College, superintendent of Las Vegas City Schools and mayor of Santa Rosa. His campaign website is at petecampos.com.

Early voting began this week in Quay County, and absentee ballots also were mailed. Senate District 8 includes Colfax, Mora, Harding, San Miguel, Taos, Guadalupe counties and a part of Quay County that includes Logan and north Tucumcari.

The Quay County Sun connected Campos and Fryzel last month and sent them a questionnaire. Below are their answers; responses are edited for clarity.

The state is going through deep financial issues because of COVID-19 and the collapse of oil and gas prices. How would you do to address the budget? Is there any spending sector that you’d be reluctant to cut?

Campos: I earned a degree in economics, and as a senior member of the Legislative Finance and Senate Finance Committees, I carefully monitor, assess and anticipate — primarily through evidenced-based statistics, rig counts and the price of oil and gas — federal and state revenues, expenditures and economic conditions. I continue through trending research and visionary ideology to consider financial operational methods and accountability that address issues of the times, like the 2008 recession and our recovery. I will continue to carefully analyze our global to local economy daily and how we can effectively and efficiently maximize state revenues to address our growing priorities and needs under current COVID-19 circumstances and into the future.

All areas of our state budget are important. I will focus on fair and efficient distribution of resources for health, education, economic development, agriculture, recreation, tourism and community infrastructure to all parts of our state. We will build back better!

Fryzel: First, New Mexico needs to be open for business and our financial issues turned into opportunities. We need to look at multinational corporations that are locating to the United States and pursue them. I’m for moving our pharmaceuticals back home and stop our dependence on China. New Mexico should be providing economic incentives to bring manufacturing to our state while supporting our small businesses, ranchers and farmers. It’s time to bring our jobs and money home!

Programs and services to our children and elderly should be our top priority. These are two of our most vulnerable populations when it comes to depression caused by social-isolation and neglect. I was very disappointed to see the cuts to our elderly and youth and centers, as these programs bring much needed socialization for the young and old.

What other big issues are facing voters in your district?

Campos: I secured resources for a pothole machine to repair streets in the entire community of Tucumcari — it was vetoed — I will secure the resources to purchase this important piece of machinery. I aggressively continue to promote filmmaking in Quay County and the implementation of a film academy where film events can take place to create more related jobs and films in the area. I work closely with the New Mexico Department of Transportation to make road and I-40 improvements within Quay County, Tucumcari, Logan and our entire senate district. We must continue to secure resources to improve the water delivery system at Logan. I’ll continue to assist the Arch Hurley Conservancy District to improve its water delivery system to area farmers and do as much as possible to improve Mesalands Community College including supporting more classes at the Guadalupe County Correctional Facility in Santa Rosa. This and more will happen because of “our” seniority in the NM State Senate.

Fryzel: Clean and abundant water is a major issue in District 8 and throughout New Mexico. I have spoken to several citizens who have lost a questionably large number of family members to cancer. We need an independent water authority to examine our water quality and infrastructure to see what’s going on. We all deserve clean water.

Secondly, our small businesses have been hit hard due to the governor’s orders to shut New Mexico down. We need to be open up for business today and welcome our tourists back with open arms. We have to move forward immediately, get our kids back in school and get our economy up and running.

Why should voters cast a ballot for you?

Campos: I spent 25 years in the restaurant business in Santa Rosa, 27 1/2 years in education including serving as president of Luna Community College and superintendent of Las Vegas City Schools and 30 years in the New Mexico State Senate. I have been retired for the past five years and have devoted my full-time efforts and much of my personal income to faithfully serve the people of Senate District 8 — all or part of seven counties in northeastern New Mexico — as a non-paid citizen legislator. My experience as a small businessperson, educator, mayor, state senator, multi-decade volunteer hospital trustee and bank board director (including the former 1st National Bank of Tucumcari and Santa Rosa) and community civic organization leader have given me the heart, knowledge and foresight to effectively support our small communities. I love and enjoy serving people and will continue to do all that is possible so our families will remain healthy, become educated and can choose careers of interest to support their families.

Fryzel: I’m a pro-life Christian and believe in the sanctity of life. I fully support the U.S. Constitution and honoring our Second Amendments rights. I will work to overturn the red flag law that my opponent voted for and allows your firearms to be easily taken.

My opponent, Pete Campos, has been in this office more than 30 years, and I can’t see how he has improved the district. I will be available to the people of District 8 to hear their concerns and work on their behalf. I also believe we should cap all state and federal legislative positions at eight years.

What would you like to accomplish, if elected?

Campos: I will continue to seek ways to stimulate and diversity our area economy and provide opportunities so people in the clean-energy industry, operating small businesses, dedicated to agriculture, tourism and hospitality and related supportive industries like filmmaking and the arts can thrive. Our people, land and water are our greatest resource and, as second in seniority — if I’m fortunate to be re-elected — state Sen. Stuart Ingle is our most senior member, working together, will build Quay County better. By experience, I know we will move forward! Our elders did it, and we can do it together as well.

Fryzel: Here is a snapshot of my legislative “laundry list:”

• Repeal SB5, the red-flag gun law, immediately. Keep our right to bear arms in place without interference.

• Ensure our tax dollars are not funding abortions and/or late-term abortions.

• Make sure our law enforcement is fully funded and our police supported.

• Increase penalties on child sex crimes while ensuring New Mexico becomes a leading state in the fight against this evil and has adequate resources to aid survivors.

• Constitutional amendment to put the 2016 bail reform back to the voters. A cash bond is critical, and criminals need to be held accountable.