Candidate Q&A: New Mexico House District 64

Longtime Clovis Mayor David Lansford and longtime Clovis-Portales District Attorney Andrea Reeb are seeking the New Mexico House District 64 seat open with Randal Crowder’s retirement.

Lansford is running as an Independent, Reeb as a Republican.

This is the third in a series of Q&As with both. Candidates were asked to limit answers to 150 words.

Absentee and early in-person voting for the general election is set to begin Oct. 11. Election Day is Nov. 8.

David Lansford

Q: Who is your all-time favorite U.S. president and why?

George Washington is my favorite president of the United States of America. His fearless commitment to national independence and a government of and by “The People,” his courage, toughness and faith as a military leader are some of the exceptional characteristics that make George Washington my favorite president.

Q: If Donald Trump is on the ballot in 2024, will you vote for him? Why or why not?

I will likely vote for President Donald Trump in 2024. President Trump has relentlessly displayed the courage and the intelligence to expose the corruption in our government and the bias coverage of the mainstream media. President Trump is for law and order and for securing our borders. Most importantly, President Trump defends The Constitution and supports a strong military.

Q: Who inspires you and why?

The people who inspire me the most are people who have ambitious dreams and who set beneficial and purposeful goals for their lives. People who are willing to make personal sacrifices, have a strong work ethic and never quit until they’ve accomplished their goals also inspire me and encourage me take action.

Q: Tell us about the best book you’ve ever read:

With the exception of The Bible, the best book I ever read is “Animal Farm” by George Orwell. The message of the book is even more clear today than when it was written. Orwell’s intent was to demonstrate that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The message of the book also tells of the cruel and abusive power of a totalitarian government by revealing what those in power are capable of imposing on others when they become desperate to keep control and power.

Q: What scares you?

Wasps and hornets.

Q: Tell us what you do for fun:

Playing golf, spending time with family and friends and radio broadcasting for high school sports.

Q: What do you remember most about 9/11 in 2001?

What I remember the most about 9/11/2001 is seeing the horror on the faces of the people at Ground 0. As I watched the news that day, it became more difficult to believe that this act of destruction and death was really happening in America and that anyone could be that evil.

Andrea Reeb

Q: Who is your all-time favorite U.S. president and why?

The “Great Communicator,” Ronald Reagan.

Q: If Donald Trump is on the ballot in 2024, will you vote for him? Why or why not?

I will be voting for the Republican nominee in 2024.

Q: Who inspires you and why?

The people who inspire me most are the victims of violent crimes that I have been privileged to work with over my years as a prosecutor.  The people who survive the most awful things that can happen in life, and not only survive, but take incredibly difficult steps to make sure that justice is served.

Q: Tell us about the best book you’ve ever read:

I don’t have as much time for reading as I would like, but a book that stands out to me after many years is “To Kill A Mockingbird.”  Obviously, reading that book as a young person was one of the things that inspired me to pursue a career in the legal profession.

Q: What scares you?

What scares me is the path that New Mexico has gone down under Democrat rule.  Take the issue of crime alone: we have one of the highest violent crime rates in the country, and climbing.  I have seen first-hand the consequences of these soft-on-criminals policies.  They start in the Legislature with horrible laws passed by left-wing fanatics who don’t care about victims or justice.  I fear the future that people like that are creating.  That’s why I want to go to Santa Fe and fight to reverse these terrible laws.

Q: Tell us what you do for fun:

I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling.

Q: What do you remember most about 9/11 in 2001?

I remember the sense of unity that permeated the country on that day and the days after.  It is sad that it took a tragedy like that to make us feel our identity as Americans so profoundly.  But that widespread sense of community and unity and patriotism is something sorely missing in American life today.