State Rep. David Gallegos: Gov. Martinez’s leadership  
Carlsbad Current-Argus
By State Rep. David Gallegos
Posted: 04/10/2014

http://www.currentargus.com/carlsbad-news/ci_25537583/commentary 

When I read Sherry Robinson’s recent op-ed, my reaction was utter disbelief. Her piece falsely accused Governor Susana Martinez of ineffective governance, and lavished praise on Democrat gubernatorial candidate Lawrence Rael — a lobbyist — for his empty rhetoric. I’ve done some research, and it has only reinforced my initial reaction.

Apparently, this isn’t the first time Robinson has leveled misleading and absurd attacks against the governor. In a piece that ran in the Carlsbad Current-Argus late last year, she accused the Governor of taking a “my way or the highway approach,” and being unwilling to work with Democrats. Nonsense.

This last session Democrat Senator Bill O’Neill and I worked with Governor Martinez on House Bill 92. This was done with bipartisan cooperation and we are now able to protect our children by teaching them about child abuse and inappropriate touching. We did this while strengthening the connection with an everyday hero, their teacher. The bill is called Erin’s Law. It passed the House 63-0 and the Senate 34-0. This is protecting our children in a bipartisan manor.

Don’t take it from me — consider what Democratic State Senator Pete Campos has to say: “Our governor over the last four years has continued to work diligently to ensure that we are going to have a bright future.” Furthermore, she worked across the aisle to pass historic tax reform in 2013, which the Democratic Senate Finance Committee Chairman called “the closest thing we’ve had since I’ve been here to true, total tax reform.”
The praise wasn’t for naught. It’s precisely Governor Martinez’s willingness to reach across the aisle to get things done that has won her the support of so many Democrats.

But it’s campaign season, so we can expect Robinson to lob even more absurd claims. This time around, her new line of attack is that the governor has not done enough to combat child abuse. That’s a pretty ridiculous claim. Consider the facts: Governor Martinez spent 25 years as a prosecutor focusing on child abuse and child homicide cases. Her extraordinary work had her named “Woman of the Year,” and twice named “Prosecutor of the Year.”
Since she took office as governor, she has continued to focus on this issue. She’s launched the #SAFE reporting hotline so that any New Mexican can easily report child abuse, signed legislation enacting some of the toughest sex offender registration requirements in the country and signed legislation expanding the Amber Alert to allow an alert to be issued for ANY child who is abducted or in danger. Most recently, she has embarked on the most wide-ranging restructuring the Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) in many years, an initiative that seeks to improve coordination between that department and police. Those are just a few of the steps she has taken.

As a direct result of Governor Martinez’s policies, we have seen a higher percentage of abuse cases reported and a greater awareness of child abuse. This constitutes a major first step in the fight to eliminate child abuse in our state. But Governor Martinez is not satisfied, and she is working every day to do more.

If Robinson wants to credibly attack someone over child abuse issues, she should consider state Senator Howie Morales, who is also a Democratic gubernatorial candidate. Recently, he campaigned with Scott Chandler, a controversial youth ranch owner whose facility is accused of being involved in child abuse and torture. The story made national news, and Chandler has since praised Morales for helping the ranch avoid state oversight.
But Robinson is not interested in facts and fairness. Why else would she praise lobbyist Lawrence Rael for his approach to dealing with child abuse when he has no record whatsoever on the issue?

The issue of protecting children is a serious one, yet Robinson takes a most uninformed approach. I have worked with Governor Martinez and I know how much she cares about our children and our state! The readers of the Carlsbad Current-Argus and the Great State of New Mexico need to know, and deserve the truth.

David Gallegos, a resident of Eunice, serves in the New Mexico House of Representatives for District 61.