DEMING— Democratic State Senator John Arthur Smith has formally announced that he will seek re-election to continue serving the people of the 35th District. Here is a statement from the Smith campaign:
Smith, the Democratic budget writer in the State Senate, is a longtime champion of early learning, quality K-12 and higher education, as well as water and energy efficiency, and investments that protect the environment and quality of life.
“It is an honor to serve as State Senator, and as we navigate through this difficult economy, I believe my deep experience crafting equitable budgets that maximize every dollar will be more important than ever,” said Smith. “We must preserve our social safety net, lift displaced workers back into stability and preserve gains we have made in early education, K-12 funding, and addressing climate change.”
Smith, one of the senior members in New Mexico government, points to recent legislation he has championed to implement all-day kindergarten, establish the early childhood trust fund, expand early learning, improve transportation safety and mobility, and provide capital funds for solar power and other clean energy investments throughout the region as among the priorities to protect and expand in his next term.
“Every day I go to work thinking about how to meet the needs of hard-working families in southern New Mexico,” said Smith. “We need to make sure we are positioned for a strong economic recovery by continuing to prioritize the needs of our communities—education, transportation, and clean air and water are a foundation of our quality of life and allow our families, farms, and businesses to stay connected and strong.”
The coronavirus pandemic has changed both the political landscape of the 2020 election and the way candidates are reaching voters, both officially and in their campaigns.
“First and foremost, my job right now is to provide honest, straightforward information and leadership to the people I serve, and with your vote, I’ll bring an immediate and focused response to protect families and businesses in wake of the COVID pandemic,” said Smith. “I wish I could get out and visit with voters face to face as I have always done, learning and listening to concerns that I can help translate into legislative action. I’ll be reaching out through social media and on the phone, but I want everyone to know that they can contact me anytime. I’ve always taken pride in being a responsive legislator. Now that is more important than ever.”