Education solutions separate District 63 candidates

Education is a priority for both District 63 state representative candidates, but they differ in solutions.

"There's too much emphasis on social promotion," said Republican candidate and Curry County dairyman Steve Hanson. "Children should be able to read by the third grade."

Democratic incumbent George Dodge Jr. believes the key to a successful education goes beyond what the standardized test measures.

"Teacher training and providing more support and resources to our classroom teachers is paramount to a successful all-around academic program," said the Santa Rosa native. "As a longtime educator I realize the importance of reading, writing, math and science."

George Dodge Jr.

The two candidates are to face off in the Nov. 6 election in a district that encompasses Roosevelt and Curry counties. Both candidates say it's clear that New Mexico education needs to be strengthened.

Hanson believes the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 caused educators to dumb down tests so that more students could pass. He thinks schools don't hold students back anymore and suggests students be worked with individually.

"They just make the tests so easy that everybody passes, which again falls back on social promotion," Hanson said. "How are they going to learn? When kids are graduating high school and can't read and write, to me that tells me we're doing something wrong."

Dodge stresses education is an important investment because it will make the state and children more competitive. He says reading, writing, math and science are the fundamentals of early education and thinks an increase in teacher training can help them assess the classroom.

"They are the basic building blocks of a great education and are our core subjects," Dodge said. "They should be the focus in the earlier grades. Building a solid base for students should be a priority for our schools."

Both candidates agree that education should be controlled at the local level.

"We need to address the teaching side of it and not try to create a one-size-fits-all school system," Hanson said. "The only shot people have is a good education."

"No one knows the business of the local schools better than the people who live in our communities," Dodge said.

The importance of green jobs is one of the other few issues the candidates do not see eye-to-eye on.

Steve Hanson

"We have a very large energy production base in our part of the state," Dodge said. "Strengthening the Green Jobs Bill will ensure we have the avenue to train and hire a local workforce while creating an entire new industry in eastern New Mexico that would be vital to the state through renewable energy production."

Dodge said wind energy in eastern New Mexico will become an important component in the New Mexico economy. He added that developing these types of resources can provide local jobs.

Hanson says he isn't opposed to the idea of green jobs but he thinks funding for them should come from the private sector first.

"I like pursuing alternative forms of energy, I think that's a must," Hanson said. "The problem is I'm seeing so much taxpayer dollars that are being wasted promoting stuff that isn't fully developed. I think these things need to be developed on private dollars, than once it's developed, be brought to the government for support."

Hanson says there needs to be tighter control on state money and believes those industries need to stand on their own.

Dodge's other priorities if elected:

• Job creation and economic development — Dodge vows to provide tax credits to New Mexican businesses that create new jobs. He also wants to require out-of-state companies to pay the same tax rates as local firms.
• zPublic ethics — Dodge says he's tired of the political scandals and will support the creation of an Independent Ethics Commission and will work to enact tough new laws on campaign contributions and public contacts.

Hanson's other priorities if elected:

• Limiting government spending — Hanson says government should be limited to spend only what it has. He's for a tax reform that would help make New Mexico more competitive and create more jobs.
• Water availability — Hanson supports the current law that allows private water companies to lease water from existing water right owners and would like to see the law expanded to allow public water companies to do the same.