COMMITMENT 2020 SPECIAL. >> I AM DOUG FERNANDEZ AND WELCOME TO OUR CANDIDA FORM FOR THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. THIS COVERS MOST OF THE NORTHERN PART OF OUR STATE INCLUDING THE CAPITAL AND NAVAJO NATION. THE SEA IS BEING VACATED. YOU WILL HEAR FROM ALL REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES. THEY WILL BE TAKING PART. I WILL BE MODERATING AS WELL AS SHELLY RIBANDO. THIS IS COMMITTED TO POLITICAL COVERAGE SO YOU CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION IN THE PRIMARY. THIS CANDIDATE FORM WILL BE CONDUCTED THROUGH VIDEOCONFERENCING USING ZOOM. EACH CANDIDATE HAS ONE MINUTE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, 32ND REBUTTALS CAN BE AT MY DISCRETION. THERE IS A SEGMENT ALLOWING A CANDIDATE TO ASK ANOTHER QUESTION. THEY WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO ANSWER AND THE PERSON ASKING GETS AN AUTOMATIC REBUTTAL OF 30 SECONDS. EACH GETS ON UNINTERRUPTED MINUTE FOR OPENING AND CLOSING. WE BEGIN WITH KAREN BEDONIE. KAREN: I AM FROM THE WEST SIDE OF THE STATE IN A PLACE CALLED MEXICAN SPRINGS. I AM FULL-BLOODED NAVAJO, BUT IDENTIFY AS AMERICAN NATIVE AMERICAN. I HAVE EIGHT CHILDREN AND AM A HOMESCHOOL MOTHER, BUSINESS OWNER, AND I’M HERE TO HELP CHANGE NEW MEXICO INTO A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. THANK YOU. DOUG: ALEXIS JOHNSON, YOU ARE NEXT. ALEXIS: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS ALEXIS MARTINEZ JOHNSON. I AM RUNNING IN THIS RACE BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THE FAR-LEFT ASSAULT ON NEW MEXICO TRADITIONAL VALUES AND APPEARED TO BRING THIS BACK INTO THE STATE. I AM A DOCDAUGHTER OF NE MEXICO AND RAISED BY MY GRANDPARENTS. I AM A MOTHER, WIFE, RANCHER, AND ENGINEER. I DO NOT SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT OVERREACH THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENIN AND I’M GETTING INTO CONGRESS TO FIGHT BACK. I SUPPORT SECURING OUR BORDER, I SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE. DOUG: MR. MONTOYA, YOUR NEXT. HARRY: MY NAME IS HARRY MONTOYA AND I’M RUNNING FOR U.S. CONGRESS IN DISTRICT THREE. I AM A PRO-LIFE, PRO-SECOND AMENDMENT, PRO-BUSINESS CONSTITUTION CONSERVATIVE. MY WIFE AND I RAISED OUR FAMILY HERE IN THE DISTRICT BECAUSE WE LOVE NEW MEXICO. WE WANT TO MAKE NEW MEXICO GREAT AGAIN. I AM A MEMBER OF THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. I HAVE BEEN ELECTED TWICE TO THE SANTA FE COUNTY COMMISSION. I HAVE BEEN PART OF THE SCHOOL BOARD AS WELL FOR EIGHT YEARS. I HAVE DEDICATED MY LIFE, MY GOD, MY FAMILY, AND MIKE IN UNITY AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO -- MY COMMUNITY AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. I ASK YOU ALL FOR YOUR VOTE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THIS DEBATE. THANK YOU. DOUG: ANGELA MORALES, YOU ARE NEXT. ANGELA: I AM RUNNING FOR CONGRESS IN DISTRICT THREE. I AM A MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, TEACHER, AND I HAVE DECIDED TO DO THIS TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE THAT CANNOT PROTECT THEMSELVES LIKE THE UNBORN BABIES AND PEOPLE WITHOUT A VOICE. I WANT TO GIVE THEM A VOICE. I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF NEW MEXICO MY ENTI LIFE AND I AM PROUD TO REPRESENT THI STATE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THANK YOU. DOUG:, THANK YOU CANDIDATES. THE FIRST QUESTION WILL COME FROM SHELLY RIBANDO. SHELLY: WE JUST PASSED 7000 CORONAVIRUS CASES IN NEW MEXICO. HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC? DOUG: MR. MONTOYA, YOU CAN GO FIRST. HARRY: THANK YOU. I THINK WE HAVE FOLLOWED A LOT OF THE GUIDELINES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT FORTH BY CDC. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A RESPONSE THAT OPENS THE ECONOMY AND THE POSSIBILITY OF SMALL BUSINESSES GETTING BACK TO SMALL BUSINESS. A LOT OF PEOPL ARE CHOKING WITH THE RESTRICTIONS AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR SCHOOLS OPEN. WHEN I SAY OPEN IT BACK UP, LET US DO IT IN A WAY THAT IS METHODICAL. LET US LOOK AT WHAT THE SCIENCE IS BEING DONE. LET’S LOOK AT HOW EFFECTIVELY AND SHALL WE CAN DO THIS AND MAKE SURE THE HEALTH OF EVERYONE IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION FIRST AND FOREMOST. BUT I WOULD CERTAINLY WANT TO BE MORE PREPARED FOR ANY TYPE OF FUTURE PANDEMICS. DOUG: YOUR TIME IS UP. ANGELA MORALES, YOU CAN GO NEXT. ANGELA: AS FAR AS THE WAY WE RESPONDED TO THIS OUR STATE DID A GOOD JOB. WE WERE ABLE TO LEVEL THE CASES AND CURVE AND KEEP OUR HOSPITALS FROM FILLING UP. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE STATE OPEN BACKUP BECAUSE WE ARE LOSING A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND I THINK THAT WILL HURT THE ECONOMY TO HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE HOME AS WE DO. AS A TEACHER I KNOW IT IS AFFECTING STUDENTS TO HAVE THEM LEARNING FROM HOME AND PARENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE STATE OPEN UP METHODICALLY AS WELL AND HOPEFULLY GET OUR SCHOOLS OPEN BY AUGUST WHEN WE GO BACK TO SCHOOL. DOUG: KAR BEDONIE. KAREN: HOW WE RATE OUR STATE FROM THE IMPACT OF THE VIRUS IS INTERESTING. FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE PEOPLE I THINK WE DI WELL EXCEPT IN THE HOTSPOTS LIKE MY RESERVATION. WE ARE FIGHTING IT DAY AND NIGHT. WE ARE DOING THE BEST WE CAN, BUT ON A STATE LEVEL HOW THEY’RE ABLE TO HANDLE IT I WOULD GIVE OUR STATE A D. THE ACTIONS THEY HAVE TAKEN TO RESTRICT THE PEOPLE AND THE ECONOMY IS GOING INTO THE GROUND. I DON’T THINK THEY HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB. OUR PRESIDENT GAVE US THE SOLUTIONS. HE GAVE US THE MEDICATIONS TO PREVENT AND HELP GET PEOPLE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE ON THIS. UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CDC A WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, HOW TRUMPETS RESPONDED TO THEM, BECAUSE THE DATA THEY WERE PROVIDED WAS THAT CORRECT. DOUG: ALEXIS JOHNSON, YOU HAVE THE FINAL ANSWER. ALEXIS: THANK YOU. THE RESPONSE OUR STATE HAD INITIALLY WAS OK. I WOULD NOT RATE THAT EXCELLENT. I SEE THE UNEVEN ASSISTANCE IN OUR NAVAJO LANDS AND WE HAVE DONE -- WE COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB WORKING WITH LOCAL, FEDERAL, AND GOVERNMENTS IN OUR NAVAJO NATION. I THINK THE RESPONSE WAS NOT AS GOOD AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN. RIGHT NOW WHAT WE AR SEEING IS AN EXTREME APPROACH THAT IS STILL BEING PUT ON NEW MEXICANS. WE HAVE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS NEEDING TO OPEN IN LOW RISK AREAS AND THEY CAN DO SO SAFELY. WE NEED TO OPEN NEW MEXICO. I WOULD GIVE THE RATING LOCALLY A D. THANK YOU. DOUG: HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO SMALL IS TO TRY AND SURVIVE. IS NEW MEXICO GETTING ITS FAIR SHARE AND IF NOT, WHO IS TO BLAME? ANGELA MORALES, YOU MAY GO FIRST. ANGELA I DO NOT THINK OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ARE SURVIVING THIS. I WOULD HAVE TO SAY WE HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN THE FUNDING THAT WE NEEDED. I WOULD FURTHER SAY A 17% PAY INCREASE FOR THE GOVERNORS’ PEOPLE IS NOT A GOOD WAY TO SPEND THAT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER SERVED BEING GIVEN TO BUSINESSES. I WOUL HOPE THE COMMUNITY COULD COME TOGETHER AND WE COULD GET THE STATE OPENED BACK UP AND MAYBE SALVAGE SOME OF THOSE PLACES THAT ARE ON THE VERGE OF CLOSING. DOUG: HARRY MONTOYA, YOU ARE NEXT. HARRY: I THINK IT IS KIND OF SUBJECTIVE IN TERMS OF WHAT IS FAIR SHARE? WHAT WE HAVE AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN AT ONE POINT. THE MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION IS IS IT ACTUALLY BEING USED TO FUND FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES THAT ARE RELATED TO THE CORONAVIRUS? SAFEGUARDS NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN TERMS OF WHEN WE HAVE THIS FUNDING OUT THERE, IS IT BEING DIRECTED AS IT SHOULD BE? ARE PEOPLE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO UTILIZE THAT FUNDING FOR WHAT IT SHOULD BE USED FOR? YOU KNOW, THERE IS ALWAYS THE NEED FOR MORE FUNDING, THERE IS ALWAYS THE NEED TO WANT TO HAVE MORE FUNDING FOR WHAT IT IS WE HAVE, BUT LET US TAKE A LOOK AT ARE WE UTILIZING IT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE? DOUG: ALEXIS JOHNSON, YOU ARE NEXT. ALEXIS: INITIALLY THE ROLLOUT OF MONEY FOR INDIVIDUALS IN NEW MEXICO THAT RECENTLY LOST THEIR JOBS UNEXPECTEDLY WAS UNEVEN. WE HAD WEBSITE CRASH, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS APPLYING FOR LOANS, SOME GOT AND SOME DID NOT. I THINK THE INITIAL ROLLOUT WAS VERY UNEVEN AND I THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON A TARGETED AND TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO KEEP THOSE FAMILIES IN BUSINESS AS WE GET THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS WE NEED TO OPEN NEW MEXICO SMALL BUSINESSES SAFELY. THANK YOU. DOUG: KAREN BEDONIE, YOU ARE NEXT. KAREN: THE MONEY FROM THE CARES ACT THAT WAS BROUGHT DOWN -- I AM A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND WE DID LOSE A BUSINESS AFTER APPLYING FOR THE LOAN -- THE QUESTIONS THEY ASKED US WAS NOT CONDUCIVE TO PROVIDING THAT KIND OF FUNDING. WHEN WE GOT A LITTL WE CAME IN AT 20% OF WHAT THE OVERHEAD IS TO KEEP YOUR DOORS OPEN. IT WAS NOT EVEN ENOUGH. IT TOOK TOO LONG TO GET HERE. WE ARE SEEING OUR BUSINESSES CRASH ALL OF THE PLACE AND AS I’M TRAVELING THROUGH NEW MEXICO THERE ARE SO MANY GONE OUT OF BUSINESS PERMANENTLY SIGNS A IT IS HEARTBREAKING. THESE PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THAT ARE STILL IN BUSINESS AND HANGING ON. THEY NEED TO GO TO 100% OPEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. DOUG: THIRD QUESTION COMES FROM SHELLY RIBANDO. SHELLY: THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAVAJO NATION SAID IT TOOK TOO LONG AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC. DO YOU AGREE AND IF SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE? DOUG: ALEXIS JOHNSON, YOU CAN GO FIRST. ALEXIS: THERE IS A LOT OF RED TAPE, A LOT OF BUREAUCRACY, THAT GOES INTO THE TRANSFER OF THE GOVERNMENT. I DEFINITELY PROMOTE MORE COOPERATION WITH VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT IN ORDER TO GET NEEDED MONEYS IN THIS WARLIKE SITUATION. I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL SUPPORTER WITH OUR NATIVE COMMUNITIES AND DONE THE BEST JOB CAN, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE. MOVING FORWARD WE WILL DO THAT. DOUG: HARRY MONTOYA, YOU ARE NEXT. HARR THE BUREAU OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR YEARS TO BE QUITE A BUREAUCRACY AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE INITIALLY IS HOW DO WE BYPASS SOME OF THIS BUREAUCRACY AND GET THE MONEY DIRECTLY WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO? TO THE NAVAJO NATION, TO THE DIFFERENT PUEBLOS, SO THERE IS A LOT OF BUREAUCRACY. WE NEED TO GET THE MONEY OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE BUREAUCRATS AND PUT IT INTO THE PEOPLE INTO THE COMMUNITY, THESE NATIONS, THESE PUEBLOS. I WOULD TAKE THE MONEY OUT OF THE HANDS OF BUREAUCRATS AND INTO THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEIR PEOPLE. DOUG: ANANGELA MORALES, YOU ARE NUTS. ANGELA: THE PRESIDENT DID A GOOD JOB OF MONITORING THAT. THEY COULD NOT AGREE ON THE DEAL THEY WERE GOING TO PUSH THROUGH IN CONGRESS. THE DEMOCRATS WERE FIGHTING IT. I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER TO PUT TO THE PLACES IT NEEDED TO GO DIRECTLY SO THEY COULD HAVE HAD THE MONEY THEY NEEDED QUICKER. THERE WAS A LOT OF PROCESSES THAT PEOPLE HAD TO GO THROUGH TO GET THE MONEY. AS FAR AS THE PRESIDENT IS CONCERNED THEY DID A GREAT JOB, BUT AS FAR AS DISTRIBUTING THE MONEY IT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE TIMELY IN AIDING OUR COMMUNITY. DOUG FINAL RESPONSE WILL BE FROM KAREN BEDONIE. KARE THE NAVAJO NATION PRESIDEN SAID IT IS A MEDICAL FOR ALL AND A RATION SYSTEM. WE WERE NOT READY FOR THIS. THEY DO NOT CARRYING ANYTHING THERE. THE SOVEREIGNTY WE TALK ABOUT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BIA. THE SOVEREIGNTY DOOR MUST BE OPEN BY THE NAVAJO NATION PRESIDENT AND COUNSEL. THEY SHOULD HAVE CALLED IN FOR MILITARY QUICKLY, FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TO COME IN WITH A MEDICAL MILITARY. THAT IS HOW THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTAIN THE SITUATION. NO, OUR OWN LEADERS ON THE GROUND DID NOT MOVE FAST ENOUGH AND NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT DOUBLE RESTRICTIONS. EVEN COMING HERE TO THIS DEBATE HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR ME TO GET HERE AND BE ON TV WITH YOU. IT WAS HARD TO GET HERE. DOUG: THANK YOU. NEW MEXICO DEPENDS ON OIL AND GAS PRODUCTIONS. THERE IS AN OVERSUPPLY DURING THE PANDEMIC. WHAT DOES OUR STATE NEED TO DO TO DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY. ? MR. MONTOYA, YOU CAN GO FIRST. HARRY: WHAT WE HAVE TO DO -- NEW MEXICO IS FAR TOO DEPENDENT ON OIL AND GAS. WE ARE DEPENDENT ON FEDERAL ASSISTANCE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY. AS A CONGRESSMAN IT SOMEWHAT LIMITED IN THE SCOPE OF HOW I CAN BE INFLUENTIAL OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE STARTING AT THE STATE LEVEL WITH OUR LEGISLATURE AN GOVERNOR AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE A STATE THAT IS BUSINESS FRIENDLY. WE HAVE FAR TOO MANY TAX THAT DO NOT ATTRACT BUSINESSES THAT NEED TO COME HERE TO NEW MEXICO. UNTIL WE CAN DIVERSIFY THAT FUNDING, WE ARE GOING TO BE DEPENDENT ON OIL AND GAS. LET’S LOOK AT HOW WE CAN DIVERSIFY AND BE A BUSINESS FRIENDLY STATE. DOUG: ALEXIS JOHNSON. ALEXIS AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNE I AM NOT LOOKING TO REPLACE -- WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DIVERSIFY -- THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE ARE REPLACING. AS MY OPPONENT MENTIONED, WE ARE FAR TOO DEPENDENT ON OIL AND GAS. I WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT OIL AND GAS HAS BROUGHT US INTO INCREASED HEALTH AND PROSPERITY THEY RUN THE HOSPITALS, THE CRANES, THE BUSES, IT HAS REVOLUTIONIZED OUR ECONOMY. I WOULD FOCUS ON UTILIZING THOSE SKILLS TO MAKE PIPELINES IN FARMINGTON AND UTILIZE SOME OF OUR OTHER RESOURCES SUCH AS MINING OF THE MINERALS, BEING ABLE TO CUT LUMBER, ALL DOING THIS IN A SAFE MANNER. DOUG: KAREN BEDONIE. KAREN: THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY HAS BEEN UNDER ATTACK BY NUMEROUS BUREAUCRATIC ENTITIES AND OUR PRESIDENT WANTS AMERICA TO BE FIRST. AMERICA IS GOING TO BE FIRST AND NEW MEXICO MUST BE FIRST. I BELIEVE WE HAVE A PLAN TO GET OIL AND GAS BACK ON TRACK, BUT WE HAVE TO OPEN THIS ECONOMY AND WITH THINGS AROUND. IN ORDER FOR OUR STORES TO BE RESTORED, WE NEED PETROLEUM. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY PLUMMETING. WE NEED TO STOP THAT PROCESS BY GETTING OUR ECONOMY MOVING ALONG, BUT SOME COUNTIES WERE RESTRICTED BY THE DEMOCRAT SIDE. THEY PUT A PERIMETER AROUND THE CHACO CANYON AND WHY DID THAT. THEY STOP NAVAJO FAMILIES FROM PUMPING OIL OFF LEASES. WE ARE PUTTING A GROUP OF PEOPLE INTO POVERTY BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO WIDEN THE CANYON AREA. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL ASPECTS. I THINK TRUMP HAS A PLAN AND I’M READY TO GET ON BOARD. DOUG: THANK YOU. ANGELA MORALES. ANGELA: I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS IN FARMINGTON THAT WORK FOR THE INDUSTRIES. I WOULD LIKE T SEE THOSE SUCCEED AND WITH WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR NATION WITH THE COVID-19 THAT HINDER THE INDUSTRY I AGREE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS A PLAN TO UTILIZE THAT AND I THINK WE SHOULD GET ON BOARD AND USE THAT. ALSO, MAYBE DIVERSIFY A LITTLE BIT. SHIP SOME OF THE OUT OF OUR STATE TO USE IN OTHER STATES AND WE CAN GET MONEY THAT WAY. WE ALSO HAVE THE TWO NATIONAL LABS THAT CAN BRING IN FUNDING. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL THOSE USED IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY TO SUCCEED. DOUG: NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM SHELLY RIBANDO. SHELLY: IMMIGRATION REFORM HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR DECADES. AS A BORDER STATE SHOULD NEW MEXICO BE A LEADER IN THE EFFORT AND IF SO, HOW? DOUG: KAREN BEDONIE. KARE I AGREE WITH DONALD TRUMP. WE HAVE TO HAVE AN ORGANIZED, SAFE MANNER IN THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS AND VET THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING THROUGH. WHEN YOU ENTER A HOME, YOU DO NOT CRAWL THROUGH THE WINDOW OR ANY UNORTHODOX MEANS. WHEN YOU COME IN YOU ADHERE TO THE RULES OF THE HOUSE AND IF YOU DO NOT AGREE, YOU GO BACK OUT THE SAME WAY YOU CAME. I BELIEVE THAT IS THE SAME WAY WE SHOULD HANDLE IMMIGRATION. IF PEOPLE WANT TO COME THROUGH AND HAVE A BETTER LIFE, THEY HAVE TO BE WILLING TO BECOME AMERICANS. YES IMMIGRATION REFORM IS A MESS AND WE NEED TO VISIT FASTING QUICKLY. WE ARE LOSING TAX DOLLARS TO SUSTAIN THESE FAMILIES BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTHING WHEN THEY GET HERE. DOUG: THANK YOU. ANGELA MORALES. ANGELA: I BELIEVE WE NEED TO CONTINUE WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH IMMIGRATION REFORM. I AGREE THAT IF SOMEBODY COMES TO MY HOUSE, WANT THEM TO COME THROUGH MY FRONT DOOR. IF THEY COME THROUGH MY BACK DOOR, THEY ARE NOT RESPECTING ME OR ANYONE IN MY HOUSE. I FEEL THE SAME WAY WITH IMMIGRATION. IF THEY WANT TO COME INTO OUR COUNTRY, THEY SHOULD COME HERE LEGALLY. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND WE NEED TO KEEP THEM, THE ILLEGALS, FROM COMING IN THAT WAY. IT DOES HURT OUR TAX DOLLARS AND OUR JOBS. I THINK THAT IN ORDER TO HELP THE ECONOMY THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO LOOK TOWARDS SPENDING FUNDING AND STOPPING. DOUG: ALEXIS JOHNSON. ALEXIS I SUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT SECURING OUR BORDER WITH A PHYSICAL WALL. THE SHOWS ARE SOVEREIGNTY AND THAT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT STOPPING DRUG TRAFFICKING WE SEE IN NEW MEXICO. IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT WE ALSO HAVE A PART OF BERNALILLO AND SAN MIGUEL AND WE NEED TO STOP THIS DRUG TRAFFICKING. IT IS AFFECTING OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. WE NEED DRONES TO BE USED ON THE BORDER AREA WHERE THE RIO GRANDE MEANDERS AND WE CANNOT PUT A PHYSICAL STRUCTURE. WE ALSO NEED MORE AGENTS ON THE GROUND TO MAKE SURE OUR BORDER IS INTACT. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNIT TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION. THANK YOU. DOUG: MR. MONTOYA, WHO HAVE THE FINAL RESPONSE. HARRY: OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR A LONG TIME. SINCE WE GO BACK TO THE 1980’S NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. IMMIGRATION IS A SENSITIVE TOPIC. YOU LISTEN TO BOTH SIDES OF THE STORIES AND THERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS, BUT ONE OF THE ANSWERS IS IMMIGRAION REFORM. IRAN FOR THIS OFFICE 12 YEARS AGO AS DEMOCRAT AND IMMIGRATION REFORM WAS PART OF THE PLATFORM ON WHICH I WAS RUNNING. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. IT’S TIME WE GET PEOPLE IN THESE OFFICES THAT ARE SERIOUS ABOUT STOPPING -- I’M TALKING BOTH SIDES -- PEOPLE’S LIVES ARE AT STAKE. OUR SAFETY HERE IS WHAT WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE CAN DO THINGS FAIRLY, EQUITABLY, AND MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE THAT DO WANT TO COME HERE LEGALLY ARE ABLE TO AND DO IT ANYWAY WHERE IT IS AFFORDABLE THEM TO DO SO. DOUG: YOU ARE WATCHING OUR COMMITMENT 2020 COVERAGE OF CANDIDATES FOR THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO ASK ANOTHER QUESTION. ♪ ANNOUNCER: THIS IS A KOAT COMMITMENT 2020 SPECIAL. DOUG: YOU ARE WATCHING THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FORM FOR THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. WE ALLOW EACH CANDIDATE TO ASK ANOTHER QUESTION AND THE PERSON ASKING GETS A 32ND REBUTTAL OPPORTUNITY. ALEXIS: THIS QUESTION IS FOR ANGELA MORALES. IN NEW MEXICO THE DEMOCRAT PARTY IS MORE THAN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN REGARDS TO NUMBERS. WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO GET NEW VOTERS OR FLIP VOTERS SO WE CAN WIN READ IN NEW MEXICO? ANGELA: I AM A TEACHER SO I WORK WITH A LOT OF DEMOCRATS AND I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING TO THEM ABOUT THE ISSUES. I THINK WHAT I WOULD DO IS BE TRUTHFUL WITH THEM ABOUT WHY I STAND FOR WHAT I STAND AND LET THEM KNOW THAT I AM A CHRISTIAN. IT IS GOD FIRST WITH ME. MOST OF MY FRIENDS IT IS THE SAME WAY FOR THE DEMOCRATS I TEND TO HANG AROU WITH, THAT SEEMS TO BE THE CONSENSUS. WE ARE ALL CHRISTIAN. I THINK I WOULD BUILD A FOUNDATION WITH THEM AND EXPLAIN TO THEM, LOOK, THIS IS WHY I AM DOING IT AND BE TRUTHFUL WITH THEM. HONESTY WINS VOTES. DOUG: MS. JOHNSON, REBUTTAL. ALEXIS: I AGREE. I BELIEVE HONESTY WINS VOTES AND I BELIEVE OUR FAITH, FAMILY, OUR FREEDOM AND NEW MEXICAN PRIDE IS GOING TO FLIP THOSE VOTERS. AS YOUR CANDIDATE IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THREE I HOPE TO GET THOSE VOTES BY GARNERING NEW VOTES AND FLIPPING DEMOCRAT AND INDEPENDENT VOTES AS I HAVE THIS ENTIRE CAMPAIGN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE. DOUG: MR. MONTOYA, YOU CAN ASK THE NEXT QUESTION. HARRY: THIS IS FOR MS. JOHNSON. YOU PICKED SOCIAL MEDIA ATTACKING ME FOR NOT BEING A REAL REPUBLICAN OR SEEING WHO I VOTED FOR IN CERTAIN ELECTIONS. THERE ARE TWO OTHER CANDIDATES BESIDES MYSELF. WHY DO YOU FEELYOU ARE THE CANDIDATE THAT WILL BEST REPRESENT US IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THREE? ALEXIS: THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR WHEN OTHER CANDIDATES ASK QUESTIONS THEY ARE NOT ATTACKS. THESE ARE QUESTIONS WE WANT ANSWERED IS VOTERS. IF YOU WERE A DEMOCRAT POLITICIAN BEFORE AND YOU LOST TWICE, YOU JUST SWITCHED TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. WE WELCOME WITH YOU OPEN ARMS, BUT NOW WE WANT TO KNOW WHY? YOU CAN SEE THE OVERREACH THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON. NEED TO KNOW YOUR VALUES. DOUG: REBUTTAL? HARRY: I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT WHEN WE TAKE A LOO AT CERTAIN PAST PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERVED THIS COUNTRY, RONALD REAGAN BEING ONE, AND WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE QUALITY OF PEOPLE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PRO-LIFE, PRO-SECOND AMENDMENT, I DID NOT LEAVE THE DEMOCRAT PARTY, THE DEMOCRAT PARTY LEFT ME. DOUG: NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM ANGELA BARELAS. ANGELA: I WATCHED VIDEO TODAY ON EVERYONE’S CAMPAIGNS AND NOTICED YOU SAID THE WATER SOURCES WERE NOT BEING LET THROUGH FOR THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS. I WAS WONDERING IF THAT HAD OPEN UP YET? AND HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE RESPONSE AS WELL AS WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BENEFIT THE STATE TO MAKE SURE THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN? DOUG MS. BEDONIE, YOUR RESPONSE? KAREN: I AM NOT SURE OF THE QUESTION. WE DO NOT HAVE A WATER LINE COMING INTO OUR DISTRICT OR COMMUNITY, BUT JUST WATERLINES IN GENERAL THERE IS A PIPE THAT RUNS FROM FARMINGTON UP TO SAN JUAN AND COMES THROUGH THE RESERVATION AND GOES INTO THE GALLUP MS. APPE MUNICIPALITY. WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TAP INTO THAT PIPELINE EVEN THOUGH IT RUNS THROUGH THE RESERVATION AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF CONTRACTS WE WERE NOT PRIVY TO. WE GOT LOCKED OUT OF THAT. WE ARE HOPING TO REVISIT THAT AND THAT IS ALSO WHY ’M RUNNING FOR CONGRESS. MY PEOPLE ARE IN DIRE NEED OF HELP AND SOCIALISM HAS COMPLETELY DROPPED THIS. DOUG: REBUTTAL OPPORTUNITY, MS. MORALES. ANGELA: I WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THE EFFORT TO GET THE SUPPLIES YOU NEED. DOUG: THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM KAREN BEDONIE. KAREN: I WANT TO TALK WITH ANGELA AGAIN. I KNOW YOU ARE ANSWERING THIS CAMPAIGN AS A WRITE IN, BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE AMERICAN FLAG MEANS TO YOU? I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WANTS TO KNOW AND WHY YOU ARE RUNNING FOR THE SEAT. THEY NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOUR HEART IS. DOUG: YOUR REPLY? ANGELA: THE AMERICA FLAG IS A STANCE FOR FREEDOM AND A LOT OF PEOPLE GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THAT. I WANT TO RESPECT IT AND I THINK THE AMERICAN PATRIOT NEEDS TO BE IN OFFICE AND SHOWING THAT RESPECT TO THE REST OF THIS COUNTRY. I HOPE THAT IS M THE SECOND PART OF THE QUESTION WAS WHY DID I CHOOSE TO DO THIS? I CAME INTO THIS LIGHT. I HAD SEEN THE CALIFORNIA CASE WHERE THEY WERE HARVESTING THE BABIES’ ORGANS AND SELLING THEM AFTER ABORTION AND I COULD NOT LIVE WITH THAT. I DECIDED THAT RATHER THAN COMPLAINT FROM THE SIDELINES I WOULD PUT M MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH WAS AND CHOOSE TO FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CANNOT FIGHT FOR THEMSELVES. THAT IS WHY I DECIDED TO DO THIS. DOUG: KAREN BEDONIE, DO YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL? KAREN: I CAN JUST TALK TO HER. [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU SO MUCH. DOUG: PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR TWEETS AN COMMENTS THAT BOTH OCCULT AND SENSITIVE. IF ELECTED, WOULD YOU EVER DENOUNCE ANY COMMENTS MADE BY THE PRESIDENT AS INAPPROPRIATE? MR. MONTOYA, YOU CAN GO FIRST. HARRY: THAT HAS CERTAINLY BEEN ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE BEEN ASKED AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE ASKED. IN THE PAST I HAVE SPOKEN UP AGAINST THE DIFFERENT POLITICAL LEADERS WHEN I WAS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. I SPOK UP ON THE ISSUE OF THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA. I CERTAINLY HAVE STOOD UP TO COMMENTS AND ISSUES BROUGHT UP BY FORMER GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON. THAT DEALT WITH THE MEDICALIZATION OF MARIJUANA AT THE TIME. BOTH TIMES T LIFEWORK I HAVE DEDICATED MYSELF TO HAS BEEN THE PREVENTION OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES AND STATE. WHEN I SAW THESE TWO ISSUES COMING UP I SPOKE UP AGAINST THEM. IF I SEE SOMETHING THAT IS OFFENSIVE IN TERMS OF THE COMMENT BY THE PRESIDENT, I WILL SPEAK UP AS WELL. DOUG: ALEXIS JOHNSON, YOU ARE NEXT. ALEXIS: MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ARE PARAMOUNT JUST AS EVERY NEW MEXICAN AND AMERICAN. I BELIEVE IN THAT FIRST AMENDMENT. I BELIEVE IN THE RIGHT TO SPEECH AND SO UNLESS ANYBODY IS PHYSICALLY THREATENING ANYBODY, AS A CANDIDATE PEOPLE CAN DO AND SAY AS THEY WISH. THEY HAVE THAT FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT. IN REGARD TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, IF THERE IS A COMMENT MADE THAT CROSSES THE LINE, I OF COURSE WILL STAND UP. I STAND FOR NEW MEXICANS. DOUG: KAREN BEDONIE. KAREN: I UNDERSTAND THE TWEETS SEEM KIND OF HARSH, BUT PEOPLE WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR PRESIDENT IS FIGHTING IT BECOME SKEWED AND PEOPLE GET OFFENDED. THAT IS ONE THING THAT IS GOING TO DRIVE OUR COUNTRY INTO THE GROUND. I KNOW HE IS FRUSTRATED, BUT HE IS SAYING WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE THINKING, BUT T POLITE TO SAY. HE IS BYPASSING THE MEDIA AND COMING STRAIGH FROM THE HORSES MOUTH. ALTHOUGH MISSED UNDERSTANDINGS ARE HIM TALKING TO THE PATRIOTS. THE HEAVY PATRIOTS WILL UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT HE IS SAYING. I TRUST MY PRESIDENT. DOUG: ANGELA MORALES, YOU HAVE THE FINAL REPLY. ANGELA: I LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP. HE SAYS WHAT HE THINKS AND IT IS HONEST. AS FAR AS DO I TAKE OFFEN OR DO I THIK I WOULD SAY ANYTHING? NO I THINK WE NEED MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO STAND UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE AND BE HONEST WITH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. WHILE WE MAY OT ALWAYS LIKE WHAT HE SAYS HE IS BLATANTLY HONEST. I ALSO STAND BY MY PRESIDENT. DOUG: THANK YOU. THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM SHELLY RIBANDO. SHELLY MEXICO CHILDREN HAVE SPENT THE LAST TWO MONTHS DISTANCE LEARNING. HOW WILL WHAT WE LEARN FROM EDUCATION DURING THIS PANDEMIC POSSIBLY CHANGE THE WAY CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT? DOUG: KAREN BEDONIE, LET’S BEGIN WITH YOU. KAREN: I AM A HOMESCHOOL MOM OF EIGHT AND SO THIS WHOLE THING DID NOT REALLY IMPACT ME A LOT, BUT I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO PARENTS AND THEY ARE UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE BRINGING HOME. THEY CAN UNDERSTAND IF THEY ARE BEHIND. IT IS A CHALLENGE FOR THE PARENTS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THEIR CHILD AND WHAT IS HAPPENING AT A SOCIAL LEVEL, PSYCHOLOGICAL LEVEL, AND ALL LEVELS. I THINK IT WILL START TO MAKE PARENTS MORE AWARE AND NOT SO COMPLACENT. THERE IS MORE EMPATHY FOR WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE GOING THROUGH. IT WILL CHANGE EDUCATION AND IT WILL WAKE UP THE PARENTAL PART OF OUR SOCIETY. I AM REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT PART. WE GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND IT KIND OF RESET EVERYBODY. I AM OK WITH THE PROCESS. DOUG: ANGELA MORALES, YOU ARE NEXT. ANGELA: I AM A TEACHER AND SO WE WENT TO SCHOOL ON THURSDAY AND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. COME FRIDAY IT WAS THE LAST DAY AND EVERYBODY WAS GOING TO BE SCHOOL FROM HOME. IN THE COURSE OF A WEEK WE TURNED CLASSROOM EDUCATION INTO ONLINE EDUCATION WHICH I THINK WE DID AN AMAZING JOB AT. I AM GOING TO BE HONEST, KINDERGARTNERS ARE NOT PROFICIENT ON THE COMPUTER. DO I THINK THIS HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON OUR CHILDREN? I DO THEY HAVE LOST SOME OF THEIR EDUCATION. DO I THINK THE DISTRICTS DID THE BEST THEY COULD? YES, I DO. I SUPPORT THEM 100%. WHEN WE GO BACK IN THE FALL I KNOW THE PLAN, AT LEAST WITH MY DISTRICT, IS TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS ARE ONLINE AND HAVE COMPUTERS BECAUSE AS OF RIGHT NOW WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. WE ARE STILL SIX FEET APART FROM EACH OTHER. I WAS IN A CLASSROOM WITH SECOND GRADERS AND IF I WERE TO SEPARATE THOSE DESKS I COU MAYBE FIT, IF I WERE LUCKY -- DOUG: ALEXIS JOHNSON, YOU HAVE THE NEXT REPLY. ALEXIS: I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN WITH MY HUSBAND IN THE ONLINE EXPERIENCES BEEN DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT ONE. THE CHILDREN RESPOND DIFFERENTLY WHEN THEY ARE JUST ONLINE. WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES, ARE THEY GETTING THE EDUCATION THEY NEED WITH JUST AN ONLINE EXPERIENCE? THAT IS A NO. I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO OPEN NEW MEXICO IN A SAFE MANNER AND LET OUR CHILDREN GET THE FULL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. IT HAS DEFINITELY GOTTEN THE COMMUNITY MORE INVOLVED AND WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE LEARNING AND SO THAT HAS BEEN A PLUS. I AM A LOT MORE ACTIVE WITH MY DAUGHTER. WE NEED TO GET NEW MEXICO OPEN. DOUG: MR. MONTOYA, YOU HAVE THE FINAL ANSWER. HARRY: AS THE SON AND FATHER OF AN EDUCATOR, I HAVE SEEN THE EVOLUTION EDUCATION FROM THE MI 1960’S TO THE MODERN TIME. THE ONE THING IT H DONE HAS OPENED UP THE EYES OF MANY, ESPECIALLY PARENTS, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT -- ESPECIALLY HOMESCHOOLERS. MORE PARENTS MAY LOOK AT DOING HOMESCHOOLING WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT BENEFITS WE CAN HAVE TWO OFFER TO THESE PARENTS. ONE OF THEM COULD POTENTIALLY BE TO EXPAND THE SCHOOL SAVINGS ACCOUNT. LET’S LOOK AT HOW WE CAN DO THAT TO ENSURE THE CHILDREN THAT ARE HOMESCHOOLED HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO THEM. HAVE THE MONEY, FOLLOW THE CHILD. DOUG DO YOU BELIEVE IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR PRODUCTION OF CRITICAL ITEMS LIKE MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND MEDICATIONS TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE U.S.? HOW WOULD YOU DO THAT? ALEXIS JOHNSON, YOU CAN GO FIRST. ALEXIS WE ARE IN DIRE NEED TO CREATE THOSE SUPPLIES HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. OUR PRESIDENT HAS DEFINITELY WORKED WITH PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND WE HAVE ROSE TO THE OCCASION. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA IS NOT HEAVILY DOMINANT IN THE AREA FOR NATIONAL SECURITY. I WOULD WORK WITH CONGRESS TO MAKE SURE OUR MANUFACTURING TAKES PLACE IN THE UNITED I SUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT WITH HIS APPROACH NOT MAKING AN ENTIRE GOVERNME RESPONSE, BUT HAVING A PRIVATE RESPONSE. THAT IS THE WAY CAPITALISM AND FREE MARKET WORKS. I WILL DEFINITELY WORK WITH HIM TO MAKE SURE OUR CRITICAL SUPPLY CHAIN IS DONE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. DOUG: KAREN BEDONIE. KARE I BELIEVE OUR MEDICAL NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE UNIED STATES. WE DO NOT KNOW THE PROCESSES THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH AND IF IT IS CERTIFIED. WHEN THE MASKS WERE COMING IN THEY COULD’VE HAD THE VIRUS. WE DO NOT KNOW THESE THINGS. I BELIEVE EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE MADE IN THE UNITED STATES. ANYTHING WE PUT IN OUR BODIES NEEDS TO BE MADE IN THE USA FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WHEN THE CLINTON ERA PUT THAT MEDICA BALLOON INTO THE CHINESE HANDS WE BECAME PART OF THE CHINESE MARKET. I THINK WE NEED TO BRING THAT BACK HERE AND PUT INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR SO WE CAN BEGIN TO PROTECT OURSELVES. DOUG ANGELA MORALES, YOUR NEXT. ANGELA I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BRING IT BACK TO THE STATES AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND MEDICATIONS. WE HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF LAWS WE USE TO PASS MEDICATIONS THAT ARE PUT INTO OUR BODIES AND I THINK IT IS SAFER IF THEY ARE MADE HERE. I ALSO THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD UTILIZATION FOR OUR TWO NATIONAL LABS. ONE RIGHT NOW IS MAKING TESTING THINGS FOR COVID-19. I THINK WE WOULD ALL BENEFIT IF WE WERE TO OPEN THOSE UP TO MAKING MEDICATIONS AS WELL. DOUG: FINAL REPLY FROM MR. MONTOYA. HARRY: I WOULD DEFINITELY SUPPORT THAT AND I BELIEVE THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS MADE. I KN RECENTLY SENATOR RUBIO SENT A LETTER TO THE FDA REGARDING A GUARANTY WE TAKE A LOOK AT HOW CAN GUARANTEE THERE WILL BE SAFETY OF PHARMACEUTICALS, MEDICAL SUPPLIES. I THINK THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO LIGHT WITH THIS WHOLE PANDEMIC. WE ARE FAR TOO DEPENDENT ON CHINA AND ONE OF THE THINGS OUR PRESIDENT HAS DONE IS TO TAKE LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT HAVE WORKED AND THAT WORKED THIS PANDEMIC? IT HAS BECOME CLEAR THE INFORMATION WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY HAS NOT BEEN FORTHRIGHT. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS HE IS DOING IS TAKING A LO ALSO AT THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVE FROM THEM. WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO BRING IT BACK TO THE STATES -- DOUG: YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. NEXT QUESTION IS FROM SHELLY RIBANDO. SHELLY: THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRI -- [INDISCERNABLE] HOW DO YOU PLAN TO TACKLE THAT CHALLENGE? DOUG: ANGELA MORALES, YOU MAY GO FIRST. ANGELA: THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS GETTING OUR BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS OPENED BACK UP. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN IN A SAFE WAY BUT A DEFINITE TIMELINE AT THE VERY LEAST FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. WE ARE TERRORIZING T CHILDREN AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM OPEN COMPLETELY BACKUP I AUGUST. THE BIGGEST THING WE ARE FACING IS THE CORONAVIRUS. DOUG: KAREN BEDONIE. KARE AS I TRAVEL THROUGH ALL OF DISTRICT 13 WE ARE SEEING A DILAPIDATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE. WE NEED TO GET BUSINESSES OPENED UP AND EVERYTHING MOVING ALONG. IT COMES HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE ECONOMY. IN ORDER TO BEGIN TO MOVE AN ECONOMY YOU HAVE TO HAVE WATER. WATER IS LIFE AND I’M LOOKING AT THAT. THE EASTERN WATER IS A BIG ISSUE WITH THE CATTLE INDUSTRY, DAIRY INDUSTRY. OUR NEW MEXICO BEEF AND YOU SEE HOW IT IMPACTS EVERYBODY. YOU GO TO THE WEST WHERE PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING. HEALTH STANDARDS ARE DONE, BUSINESSES ARE DOWN, AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE WATER OR RESOURCES TO TO KEEP THE ECONOMY MOVING. THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO TACKLE FIRST. DOUG: ALEXIS JOHNSON. ALEXIS: WHAT IS FACING NEW MEXICANS IS OUR SAFETY AND THAT INCLUDES NOT ONLY OUR HEALTH, BUT ECONOMIC SAFETY. WE HAVE TO GET NEW MEXICO AND THE GREATER UNITED STATES TO REOPEN IN A SAFE MANNER. NEW MEXICO NEEDS TO OPEN THE DOORS OF COMMERCE AND THAT IS WHERE WE NEED TO START. THAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE. MAKING SURE THE SAFETY OF NEW MEXICANS, NOT ONLY FROM COVID-19, BUT ALSO OUR FINANCIAL SECURITY. WE HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR OUR CHILDREN WITH DIGNITY AND WE NEED TO GO BACK TO WORK. AS YOUR NEXT CONGRESSWOMAN I WOULD WORK TO MAKE SURE THE GOVERNMENT OVERREACH WE HAVE SEEN DOES NOT OCCUR WITH THE REPRISAL OF COVID-19. THANK YOU. DOUG: MR. MONTOYA. HARRY: THERE ARE MANY CHALLENGES WE FACE HERE IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THREE REGARDING HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, THE ECONOMY, JOBS. AS A RESULT OF THIS PANDEMIC THE ECONOMY IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD FOCUS ON. WE HAVE A ROBUST ECONOMY THAT WA THRIVING IN THE UNITED STATES. A LOT OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP’S ECONOMIC POLICIES. THEY WERE WORKING. WE NEED TO REINVIGORATE THOSE POLICIES AS WE OPEN BACK UP OUR BUSINESSES. THE OTHER THING I WOULD NOTE IS THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT NEIGHBORING STATES LIKE ARIZONA, UTAH, COLORADO, TEXAS, THEY WERE THRIVING MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN HERE. ONE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES I FEEL I HAVE IN TERMS OF BRINGING A ROBUST ECONOMY BECKY NEW MEXICO IS BRINGING THOSE -- BACK TO NEW MEXICO IS BRING THOSE BACK TO OUR DISTRICT AND ALLOWING OUR PEOPLE TO CREATE THEIR OWN JOBS. DOUG CANDIDATES, IF THERE WAS A PANDEMIC 100 YEA AGO, AND ONE JUST 11-12 YEARS AGO, WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED THIS TIME? ALEXIS JOHNSON, YOU GO FIRST. ALEXIS WE HAVE LEARNED THE RESPONSE WE NEED TO HAVE IS ONE OF COLLABORATION FROM THE LOCAL LEVEL TO YOUR FEDERAL LEVEL. WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER FOR A RAPID RESPONSE TO ANY FURTHER SPREAD OF THIS COVID-19 WILL REPRISAL. I DEFINITELY SUPPORT OUR ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE PROPER PROTECTIVE GEAR FOR OUR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ALL THE EQUIPMENT NECESSARY. OUR PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WITH OBAMA LEFT US WITH NO STOCKPILES. THAT IS ONE THING GOING FORWARD WE WILL HAVE. WE WIL WORK MORE COLLABORATIVELY TOGETHER. DOUG: MR. MONTOYA. HARRY: I THINK I ALLUDED TO IT EARLIER. THE ONE THING WE HAVE LEARNED A A RESULT OF THIS PANDEMIC IS WE ARE FAR TOO RELIANT ON THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY. WE ARE FAR TOO RELIANT ON THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND THE INFORMATION WE ARE RECEIVING FROM THEM. WE HAVE, OVER THE YEARS -- BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HAV BEEN A PART OF THIS SHIPPING AWAY OF OUR JOBS. NEED TO BRING THIS BACK HERE. IF WE WERE ABLE TO RESPOND THE WAY WE NEED TO AS A COUNTRY, THAT MEANS WE ARE TRULY INDEPENENT IN TERMS OF NOT RELYING ON OUTSIDE COUNTRIES AND OUTSIDE RESOURCES THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN SO TOTALLY DEPENDENT AT THIS POINT IN TIME. THE OTHER THING WE CAN LEARN IS -- YOU ALWAYS LOOK AT WHAT THE LESSONS ARE LEARNED. WHERE CAN WE PUT THOSE INTO ACTION DOUG: KAREN BEDONIE. KAREN: PREPARATION ON ALL LEVELS OF LIFE FROM PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES TO CHILDREN TO THE SYSTEMS GOVERNMENT, EDUCATION, STATE, WE NEED TO HAVE RESPONSE TIMES AND PROCEDURE PUT IN PLACE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS. WE NEED TO STOCKPILE PP AND OTHER THINGS. WE NEED TO BE READY FOR THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. ALSO, I KNOW WE WERE NOT. PREPARED BECAUSE WE WERE FOLLOWING SUIT WITH N YORK. WE WERE FOLLOWING WHAT GOVERNOR CUOMO WAS DOING. WE HAVE TO PUT THESE IN PLACE WERE LEADERS OR REPRESENTATIVES HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT TO DO WITH OUR NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL. OUR PRESIDENT WAS WAITING AROUND AND NOT UNDERSTANDING AND NOT READY FOR THESE TYPES OF THINGS. OUR HOSPITALS WERE DEFINITELY NOT READY. PREPAREDNESS AT ALL LEVELS OF LIFE. DOUG: ANGELA MORALES. ANGELA: I AGREE THAT WE WERE YOU ARE UNPREPARED FOR ANY PANDEMIC, BUT WE DID NOT HAVE THE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT WE NEEDED ON HAND. WE NEED TO STOCKPILE THAT AND BE MORE PREPARED NEXT TIME. WE DON’T EXACTLY KNOW HOW THIS EVEN STARTED. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THEORIES ON THAT AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE NOTHING LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENS AGAIN. THE MEDICATIONS HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED TO THE STATES AS THEY PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THE PRESIDENT DID A GREAT JOB THE STATES WERE UNPREPARED AND I WOULD SAY THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE UNPREPARED. PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE WATER BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A DIVERSE COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE TAKEN CARE OF NEXT TIME AND OUR PREPAREDNESS IS BETTER. DOUG: YOU ARE WATCHING COMMITMENT 2020. WE WILL HAVE MORE FOR YOU WHEN WE COME BACK. ♪ ANNOUNCER: THIS IS A KOAT COMMITMENT 2020 SPECIAL. DOUG: YOU ARE WATCHING THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. WE HEAR FROM ALL THE CANDIDATES AND THE CLOSING STATEMENTS WILL GO IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER BEGINNING WITH KAREN BEDONIE. KAREN: I WANT THINK MY CAMPAIGN. WHAT I ATTEMPTED WAS A GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN AND I HAVE GONE THROUGH TIRE CHANGES BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN CAMPAIGNING WITH THE PEOPLE. I HAVE BUILT FAMILY AND THE STRUCTURE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL NOW AND I’M STARTING TO SHARE MY LIFE SO YOU UNDERSTAND WHO IMS A PERSON. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE WE NEED TO CHANGE NOT ONLY THE FACE OF OUR -- THE WAY POLITICS IS DONE, BUT CHANGE THE WAY WE BELIEVE. WE HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT WE, AS AMERICANS, HAVE THE ABILITY TO STAND UP. WE DO NOT NEED TO DEPEND ON POLITICIANS AND OTHER PEOPLE TO SPEAK FOR US, BUT WE CAN DO THIS FOR OURSELVES. TIMES ARE CHANGING AND I ASK YOU TO STAY WITH ME AND KEEP FIGHTING. WE ARE GOING TO SEE IF WE CAN WIN THIS ELECTION. GOD BLESS AND SAVE THE BABIES. DOUG: THANK YOU. ALEXIS JOHNSON. ALEXIS: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I AM A MOTHER, A WIFE, A RANCHER, AND AN ENGINEER. I BRING A UNIQUE SKILL SET AND THAT IS OF SOMEONE WHO IS ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS FOR THESE COMPLEX PROBLEMS. I AM A DAUGHTER OF NEW MEXIC AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING THE VOICE OF THE FORGOTTEN NEW MEXICAN TO THE FOREFRONT. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SECURING OUR BORDERS WITH OUR PRESIDENT, HOLDING CHINA ACCOUNTABLE, AND OPENING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR VOTE AND YOU CAN FIND ME AT WW ALEXISJOHNSONNM.COM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE. DOUG: HARRY MONTOYA. HARRY: I AM THE CANDIDATE YOU CAN TRUST THAT WILL BE ABLE TO EVENT THE EVENTUAL DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE. I HAVE THE CONFIDENC OF DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE. I HAVE BEEN ELECTED FOR DIFFERENT TIMES AND SERVING 16 YEARS IN NEW MEXICO. YOU CAN TRUST THAT I AM GOING TO LOOK AT THE INTEREST OF THIS DISTRICT. NOW IS THE TIME FOR REPUBLICANS, MODERA DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENCE TO COME TOGETHER AND ELECT SOMEBODY WHO HAS TRADITIONAL VALUES AND THE VALUES OF THE AVERAGE AMERICAN FIRST AND FOREMOST IN MIND. I CAN WIN CRITICAL VOTES AND THE PUEBLO . LET’S STOP PLAYING FOR HALFTIME. I RESPECTFULLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. DOUG: ANGELA MORALES. ANGELA: MY NAME IS ANGELA MORALES. IF YOU ARE GOING TO VOTE F ME, YOU’LL HAVE TO WRITE THAT IN. AT THE END OF THE DAY ONE OF THE FOUR OF US WILL BE ON THAT BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. YOU WILL GET A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE REPRESENTING YOU. I HOPE YOU CHOOSE THE ONE OF US YOU THINK IS WILLING TO FIGHT FOR YOUR BELIEFS AND TO STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE NEW MEXICO BECOME. THANK YOU. DOUG: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING. THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS JUNE 2. CANDIDATES, THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING. YOU CAN FIND THIS FORUM AND OTHERS AT KOAT.COM. ♪