Allen Weh on the Bob Clark Program

This morning New Mexico Gubernatorial Republican Candidate Allen Weh spent an hour with Bob Clark on 770 KKOB. Below are my notes on the interview and following that is my conclusion.

Introduction
Spoke mostly about his campaign and not his qualifications. He worked hard on his campaign going around the state and getting feedback on how to be an effective candidate in a state where there are more democrats and independents than republicans. Also talked about silly skirmish with Diane Denish. Of course she uses taxpayer dollars for inappropriate things, she's an acolyte of Bill Richardson and a democrat.

Notes on the Interview
- Cap on rate of payday loans (stupid question) - He tap danced around this question
- What happens when stimulus money runs out? Blames denial in Santa Fe in regard to funds. Has to cut essential services. Cites building paint job as as non-essential versus cuts in schools or police. Cuts to museum hours. Cuts to unnecessary boards and commissions, no specifics.
- Budget question. 6 billion under Richardson, 3.9 under Johnson, what number? Danced around this question, north of 4 billion based on inflation. He does not know.
- Border security He said Arizona did the country a favor. I agree. He does not state how or why. Only that they drew attention to the problem. He will remove sanctuary policies with the state police not turning over to ICE. He thinks NM does not need a similar law to AZ. He thinks Licenses to illegals is dumb. New policy, immigrants must be legal. Duh. Termination must coincide with termination of visa. Border security is a national security issue. A secure border is an absolute requirement for the security of the country. Weapons, human trafficking, criminal elements cited as problems. We must intercept them before they get to far into the country. Border must be tight. Must use all state resources, unencumbered, add to the southern part of the state.
- Bicycle and Pedestrian safety. Punted as municipal decision.
- Red light cameras in state. Punted as municipal decision. On state roads, not neccesarily a proponent.
- Listens to the people is something a good governor should do not just what he wants.
- As state Republican chair, he could relieve county chair but was rebuffed by state and triede anyway. Does he believe that he can ignore rules and policies as he can. He blames it on unfriendly callers in political season. Claims 31 years of business as proof of being good at building coalitions. Does not name business and how he built coalitions and with whom.
- What can he bring to the table that other candidates can not? Another dumb question. States that all candidates have integrity. He states his experience, age, military experience (doesn't specify what) and his business (no specifics) and that he has managed money.
- State Govt cannot be run as a business states a question because it is not for profit. He says they are wrong because you have to be responsible, you have to set a budget, you cannot spend more than you take in. Govt has forgotten that they work for the people. He wants to manage state govt like a business.
- As chair did you push Steve Pearce to run against Heather Wilson? He said you can't and that they made up their own mind. Dumb question.
- Family issues, he is against same sex marriage and he is pro life.
- Bronze star, Silver star and purple heart military awards brought up as character plus by caller. Obviously a supporter, he asked why Weh does not bring these up more. He tries to balance his campaign. He vetoed the use of the word hero in his campaign. He spoke some about his military experience.
- If elected, what is the future of the rail runner? He will put guys on issue, peel back the onion and leave anything on the table. Last resort is shuttering and would like to make it at least sustainable with small govt subsidies.
- He will work with the legislature to re-instate the death penalty.
- Will he impose fines on business that knowingly hire illegal aliens? He says that if all the laws already on the books we would not have this problem so he should not have to.

My Conclusion
Before the interview I wasn’t inclined to vote for Weh and after the interview I know that I will not vote for him. For the most part he seems like a nice person and all but I am unimpressed with his campaign and his qualifications. For the most part he seems to be campaigning on his 31 years in business but never goes into any details. I had to look up that he and his wife have owned CSI Aviation, a charter flight company, since 1979. I’m not sure how large the company is and what his experience really is with it. Another tenant of his campaign is that he is not a politician. While it is true that this is his first political campaign he was the chairman of the New Mexico Republican party from 2004 to 2009. Perhaps unfairly I consider that to be a political position. The interview did nothing to change my perception of Weh and I could not vote for him in good conscious because I do not think that his vague answers and stances bode well to the office of Governor.