New Mexico’s 2022 general election is underway. Early voting at the county clerk’s office began Tuesday, Oct. 11, and other early voting locations will open Saturday, Oct. 22. Early voting continues until Saturday, Nov. 5, and Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Several seats are up for grabs, including the state representative position for New Mexico House District 27. District 27 is in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights and is bordered by Paseo del Norte to the north, Interstate 25 to the west, San Antonio up to Wyoming and then over to Academy and Montgomery to the south, and Eubank and Juan Tabo to the east.
Neighborhoods in District 27 include Jade Park, Academy Hills, North Wyoming, Keystone, Countrywood, Academy North, Cherry Hills, Heritage Hills, Heritage East, Quintessence, Mountain Run, Oso Grande, and portions of Eisenhower Area and Hahn Park/Bear Canyon.
Democrat Marian Matthews is the current representative for House District 27. She is running against Republican Robert S. Godshall, a retired federal law enforcement officer.
Robert S. Godshall (R)
Email: rob1god@aol.com
Phone: 505-823-9128
Website: www.godshallfordistrict27.com
Social Media: www.facebook.com/BobGodshall4D27
Occupation: Retired federal law enforcement (Homeland Security)
Godshall did not respond to emails or phone calls from the Neighborhood Journal. A questionnaire sent out in mid-September was also left unanswered. Godshall did respond to a questionnaire sent out by the Albuquerque Journal, which was published Sept. 18. The responses to those questions can be found here.
According to the website godshalfordistrict27.com, the three most important issues Godshall is concerned about are crime, education and jobs. To reduce crime in New Mexico Godshall says state and local law enforcement should cooperate with federal authorities to identify and remove foreign nationals that commit crimes and that more police officers should be hired throughout the state.
In regard to education, Godshall’s website says, “We have a system that is clogged with high-paid administrators,” and in response to the Albuquerque Journal’s question about education, he says, “We can create a more competitive education environment by having the money follow the student, rather than the system, to be spent where the parents choose.” On the economy, Godshall’s website suggests government gets in the way and that the state should eliminate the gross receipts tax.
Marian Matthews (D)
Email: marianmatthewsforhd27@outlook.com, marian.matthews@nmlegis.gov, MarianMatthewsForHD27@gmail.com
Phone: 505-227-9405
Website: www.marianmatthewsforhd27.com
Social Media: www.facebook.com/MarianMatthewsHD27
Occupation: Retired lawyer, District 27 Rep. since 2020
Mathews did not respond to emails from the Neighborhood Journal but did answer one phone call in which she said she was no longer answering questions regarding the upcoming election and that the questionnaire sent to her Sept. 13 was not received early enough for her to provide any answers to. Matthews did respond to a questionnaire sent out by the Albuquerque Journal, which was published Sept. 18. The responses to those questions can be found here.
Matthews won the 2022 William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Award for “calling out CYFD for their failure to be forthcoming and transparent with the public.” She started her career as a journalist and newspaper reporter in Springfield, Missouri, before moving to Alamogordo, New Mexico.
On the website marianmatthewsforhd27.com, it states Matthews’ values include keeping the community safe, protecting children and families and improving the economy. She co-sponsored the 2022 Comprehensive Crime Bill, voted to increase teacher pay, voted to protect health care coverage for those with pre-existing conditions and co-sponsored the Small Business Recovery Loan Act. She also voted to eliminate the tax on Social Security income and to reduce the tax on veteran retirement pay, as well as voting to cut the gross receipts tax and to make college and vocational school tuition free.