A Few Tidbits from the Gubernatorial Candidates Videos

The Roadrunner Coalition to End Hunger, on behalf of allies and supporters (including the Interfaith Hunger Coalition), asked gubernatorial candidates to discuss their positions on hunger and food insecurity in New Mexico. All six candidates agreed to record videos in which the host (Jason Riggs) asked questions in a "firechat" format. 

The candidates seeking to succeed Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham are Democrats Sam Bregman and Deb Haaland; Republicans Gregg Hull, Duke Rodriguez and Doug Turner, and Independent Ken Miyagishima.

The six videos are contained in a post in the IHC blog, but you can also find them on the Roadrunner Youtube Channel. Roadrunner also created shorter versions to post on Instagram and Facebook

The fireside chat format was chosen to give the candidates the same opportunity to answer important questions, ahead of the June 2 primary election in New Mexico.

These photographs are screenshots from the videos

I (Carlos Navarro) watched all six of the videos and came away with my personal observations. I encourage you to watch the videos and draw your own conclusions (and to learn what New Mexican dishes each of the candidates favors).

• Hunger Action: Sam Bregman would issue an executive order to make addressing hunger a priority in our state. Gregg Hull spoke of increasing the state investment in food insecurity. 
• On Public Assistance:Three of the candidates (Deb Haaland, Doug Turner, Duke Rodriguez) spoke about receiving SNAP/public assistance in their childhood years or as a parent with a young child. 
• About SNAP Duke Rodriguez emphasized the program is "supplemental" to other efforts the state government must make to feed people in New Mexico. Ken Miyagashima said we need to ensure that SNAP is fully funded. "If it's not, we need to take it over. And make sure that the existence of funding is there," he said.
• Municipal Experience: Two the candidates addressed the questions from the perspective of their previous roles as mayors. Gregg Hull served as mayor of Rio Rancho (2014-2026)  and Ken Miyagashima led the city of Las Cruces (2007-2023). Both mayors spoke of the importance of partnering with a local agency or agencies to address hunger in their communities. Sam Bregman said food insecurity was an important issue that came up often when he served on the Albuquerque City Council (1995-1999) 
• Economics and Taxes: Deb Haaland advocated for enhancing the child tax credit and the working families tax credit...Ken Miyagashima spoke about reducing the income tax for businesses and have them donate the difference to feeding efforts in New Mexico...Doug Turner said the gross receipts tax is regressive and hurts the very people who end up needing food assistance. He advocated creating more well-paying jobs to support familes.
•  Food Banks: Doug Turner advocated using money from the State Permanent Fund to support food banks. Ken Miyagashima supported using more of the governor's discretionary spending to support Roadrunner and other food banks. His former business partner was a founder of Casa de los Peregrinos in Las Cruces, which is now part of the Roadrunner Food Bank network. 
• Government Operations: Duke Rodriguez used the word "optimize" to bring government and food advocates together to ensure that food gets to the people that need it most. Gregg Hull spoke of creating more efficiencies and coordination among government agencies to get away from the "silo" effect of operations. 
• Child Hunger Deb Haaland advocated for the continuation of the  free lunch and free breakfast programs. She also proposed an increase in summer programs for kids in vulnerable communites  Gregg Hull cited children as a priority when assisting the most needy individuals in the state. "Hungry children don't do well in school," he said...Ken Miyagashima advocated for school districts use school kitchens to create breakfast and lunch on non-school days. Sam Bregman spoke of the priority for school kids to have access to all the food they need. 
• Partnering with Farmers Doug Turner spoke of supporting more local agriculture and water management as a way to increase our state's food supply. Deb Haaland said our farmers should be producing food that we can move to public schools.