I chose to be a Democrat because, as a nurse, I saw that Democrats kept people safe and historically fought for a social safety net in a free-enterprise, capitalist nation. I have since gained experience fighting for democratic values in New Mexico that I believe could be helpful.

After my son was born with multiple disabilities, I helped pass a memorial in the state legislature, building a task force consensus on a later bill (successfully passed) to mandate private insurance coverage for all kids’ hearing aids and provide equal hearing-aid technology for children covered by Medicaid and Private Insurance. The bill also eliminated gross receipts taxes on seniors’ hearing aids.

When my son was in middle school, I helped his principal and other parents equalize computer disparities between his previous magnet middle school (McKinley) and the newer middle school in my neighborhood (Desert Ridge).

As a community health nurse, I helped pass a bill that allowed school nurses to stock emergency medicines to save children’s lives at school.

I am currently working on advocacy goals that will help improve the quality of life for New Mexicans in areas such as paid family medical leave.

Gun violence solutions based on public health evidence are also a priority, as in resolutions to:

• Ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines
• Licensing of firearms with storage and training requirements
• Closer supervision of alcohol and firearm retailer locations
• Expanding prohibited populations

Methane reduction is also a major objective. My granddaughter was born four years ago on the hottest day on record in Los Angeles county. I had to pack her in ice to take her to the outpatient hospital for a COVID screening on her second day of life. Meanwhile, ash was raining down on the car from forest fires due to increasing temperatures caused by greenhouse gases. We in New Mexico need to do our part to reduce methane emissions and protect the environment for her generation and all of humanity.

Finally, I am working on maintaining Title I funding and IDEA to New Mexico schools currently threatened by the dismantling of the Department of Education.

I will be honored to help Jacob Trujillo and NM Democrats build capacity to accomplish these outcomes and others.

Kathleen Mosely, 1st Vice Chair