Albuquerque, NM – Susana Martinez, who last night professed her passion for education, apparently didn't care enough about the future of our schools to even make it to the polls for a historic 2003 education election which put more money into New Mexico's classrooms.

"If you really do care about education, then where were you when that critical vote was being cast Susana? You can't just show up one day and say you care about education when the Dona Ana County Clerk records clearly show you didn't even care enough to vote on two of the most important constitutional issues facing New Mexico's voters in the last two decades,” said DPNM Chairman Javier Gonzales. 

Neither the Secretary of State nor the Dona Ana County Clerk has a record of Martinez voting in the 2003 special election. According to the Santa Fe New Mexican “Checking Martinez’s voting history at the secretary of state’s website appears to verify that there is no record of Martinez voting in that election. Martinez did not respond to that charge in the debate.” [Santa Fe New Mexican, 8/19/10] 

Diane Denish voted in the 2003 special election and was a leader in the Yes on 1 and 2 campaign, which increased pay for New Mexico's teachers and linked raises to an improved licensure system so that teachers were rewarded for improving their skills.

"This was a vote to put more money into the classroom and Susana Martinez didn't show up," Gonzales said. "It's one more example of Diane Denish fighting to improve our schools and Susana Martinez turning her back on our kids and families."

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