Battle for the Senate

State Senate candidates vying for the District 15 seat say they will fight to improve UNM students' futures.

District 15 is located between Carlisle and Wyoming boulevards and Constitution and Hallmark avenues.

H. Diane Snyder, a Republican, is up for re-election this year. Her opponent is Democrat Tim Eichenberg, former Bernalillo County treasurer.

Snyder said she can best represent the needs of students by improving education and working to stimulate the economy.

"Students need to have good-paying jobs when they graduate," Snyder said. "Making sure the state's economy is strong, ensuring that small business is vibrant and that our state's infrastructure is adequate to meet the demands of the future is critical."

Eichenberg said students can look to him to spearhead clean-energy initiatives in order to provide them with more opportunities in the work force.

"The issue I will have the biggest impact on is renewable energy," Eichenberg said. "Students are in a position to help create a green economy, which will benefit all of New Mexico's citizens with good jobs and a healthy environment."

He said developing New Mexico's renewable energy resources would have economic benefits such as increased savings, more revenues and the creation of "green-collar" jobs.

"Green-collar jobs can provide pathways out of poverty," Eichenberg said. "These are middle-skill jobs requiring more than high school but less than a four-year degree - well within reach for low-skilled and low-income workers with appropriate training programs."

Senior Douglas Standridge said he would choose a senator who would make the state focus on sustainability.

"I would like to see more clean energy," he said. "We definitely need to be more sustainable, which could include nuclear power if we can figure out a safe way of doing it."

Snyder said she has voted to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and advocates giving tax credits to businesses that use solar and wind power.

"I support the development of renewable energy jobs and have been a strong supporter of increased educational opportunities in science, math, technology and engineering - including bioengineering," she said.

Snyder said another issue in her platform is the rising cost of health care. She said she has a three-point plan to keep health care costs low. The plan involves offering tax credits to businesses that take the initiative to provide health insurance to their employees, putting a stop to frivolous lawsuits and providing health insurance tax credits for individuals at the state level, she said.

"I would also support a transitional program for college students to help cover the gap as they ease from their school's or parents' health care coverage to coverage in the workplace," Snyder said.

Ariana Thorne said New Mexico's Legislature needs to focus on issues like poverty and insurance.

"I think that the poverty gap has gotten way too huge," she said. "I am looking for someone who is looking to even up the playing field."

Eichenberg said he plans to continue his party's fight for universal health care.

He said students are going to need a health care reform once they graduate and enter the work force. The reform should put their interests above the interests of insurance and drug companies, he said.

"Too many New Mexicans have no insurance or are underinsured," Eichenberg said. "Too many live in fear of losing their coverage or having claims denied, and all the while, small businesses that provide coverage for their employees are hammered by exploding insurance costs."

Snyder said the state should also expand opportunities for students going into health professions and create programs that would provide full-ride scholarships in exchange for service in rural or other underserved areas of the state.

"Additionally, I would like to see the State of New Mexico use a portion of the new gaming compact dollars to create a state-based student loan fund for New Mexico students, similar to the existing Lottery Scholarship program," she said.

Eichenberg said he is also concerned about how the the economy may affect graduating students.

"As state senator, I will do everything I can to help," he said. "I . invite students themselves to contact me with any proposal they have to help solve this issue."

Donald Duran III contributed to this report.