ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – News coverage of the first New Mexico gubernatorial debate was dominated by Susana Martinez’s inability to explain why she wants to cut money from public schools and give it to private schools.  Martinez tried to pretend it’s a position she never held, but then Diane Denish – and the press – set the record straight.

Several New Mexico reporters today highlighted Martinez's consistent and on-record support school vouchers, which drain money from public schools.

Heath Haussamen, NMpolitics.net:  “I’ve already reported that Martinez has moved away from the traditional vouchers she advocated during the primary.”[NMPolitics.net, 8/20/10] . . . “Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez told me last year that she supported vouchers.”[NMPolitics.net, 8/12/10]

Barry Massey, Associated Press: “However, during the primary election campaign, Martinez advocated a different proposal. She told The Associated Press in May that she supported granting tax credits to families who send their children to private or religious schools.” [Artesia News, 8/20/10]

Joe Monahan, NM Politics with Joe Monahan: “One of the unsuccessful GOP Guv candidates told me Thursday that Martinez explicitly advocated traditional public school vouchers in joint primary campaign appearances. Also, a former aide to Guv candidate Janice Arnold-Jones also told us that he was present when Martinez supported traditional school vouchers.” [New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan, 8/20/10]

Excerpts from today’s media coverage of last night’s debate:

Gubernatorial candidates Denish, Martinez mix in off-topic jabs during education debate
Kate Nash, Santa Fe New Mexican

. . . Denish repeatedly worked to paint Martinez as a flip-flopper on vouchers, pointing to past statements that she said indicate Martinez's support for vouchers. Martinez repeatedly said she doesn't support public money for private schools, but instead is for scholarships and tax credits for children to attend private schools if their parents choose. 

"You can say it over and over again, it's not going to make it true," Martinez told Denish. "You can deny the failures of your administration, that's not going to make it true either." 

Denish said Martinez should be straight with the public, accusing her of advocating for a voucher program "for months." 

"Tax credits, that's just another name with a middle man in the middle," Denish said. 

The vouchers theme was a keystone of Denish's debate answers, and have been central to her campaign for several weeks. Staffers handed out statements to the media during the debate with quotes from Martinez they said prove her support for taking public money out of public schools, as they have in several news releases recently. . . .  

Fact check: Sifting through the rhetoric of the first gubernatorial debate

Steve Terrell, Santa Fe New Mexican

Here are some claims made by both candidates at Thursday's debate and how they rated factually. . . .

Denish claimed Martinez supports a program of school vouchers, which Denish said would "take money out of public schools and put it into private schools." Martinez said she supports giving tax credits to businesses and individuals who give money for scholarships for students to attend the school of their choice. 

Fact: According to The Associated Press, "... during the primary election campaign, Martinez advocated a different proposal. She told The Associated Press in May that she supported granting tax credits to families who send their children to private or religious schools.". . .

Candidates Clash Over Education

Brian Martin, KOAT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- New Mexico's gubernatorial candidates clashed on educational policies Thursday as they met in the first debate in the general election campaign.

Democrat Diane Denish and Republican Susana Martinez are vying to become the state's first female governor. . . .

Denish grilled Martinez about her support of school vouchers.

"My opponent isn't being straight with you," said Denish. "For months, she has advocated a voucher program, taking public money out of public schools and putting it into private schools."

"I support public choice," responded Martinez, "the ability for teachers and parents to decide where to go to school.". . . . .

Gov candidates throw jabs at debate

Education was subject, others came up

 Ian Schwartz, KRQE

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M (KRQE) - The two candidates for governor squared off Thursday night in their first debate.

Republican Susana Martinez and Democrat Diane Denish went after each other on education issues at Eldorado High School in Albuquerque. . . .

Both said there should be no more cuts to education.

Denish said she favors closing tax loop holes to bring in more dollars while Martinez said she wants tax breaks to businesses that offer scholarship money to kids in struggling schools so they can get out.

Denish insisted that translates into school vouchers and that Martinez was a flip flopper on that position.

"For months she has advocated a voucher program taking public money out of public schools and putting it into private schools," she said. . . . .

First NM Governor's Debate Goes to Denish for Content and Style 

Democracy for New Mexico

Martinez Dishonest About Her Support For Vouchers 

One of the main wrangling points between the candidates centered on public schools vs. private school vouchers. Denish kept blasting Martinez on her plan to have school funding "follow the child" and to institute a voucher-type program that would given tax breaks to individuals and businesses that give scholarships to take kids out of public school and send them to private schools. Despite previously saying publicly that she supports vouchers, Martinez now claims her plan is really not about vouchers, and that it wouldn't take money away from public education. She never does explain where the taxpayer money would come from to pay for the tax breaks.

Denish characterized Susana's proposal as just another voucher plan -- but with a middle man, so to speak. The tax dollars would pass through the hands of those making donations for "scholarships" before paying for private school. Voucher programs provide taxpayer money directly to the private schools when a child opts to go there. Bottom line: the funding still comes from taxpayer dollars and goes to educate kids in private schools instead of going to support and improve public schools.

“For months, Susana Martinez told Republican audiences that she supports a voucher plan that takes money out of our public schools and gives it to wealthy private schools, but tonight she had trouble defending her position. That’s because taking money from our public schools is simply indefensible,” Denish said in a statement released after tonight's debate. “Unable to defend her position on school vouchers, Martinez resorted to national Republican talking points and tried to sell it off as her own plan. New Mexico families won’t be fooled.”

“As someone who has worked with New Mexico teachers and parents for years, I know what it’s going to take to strengthen and transform our public schools," Denish continued. "We must fully fund our public schools and give our teachers the support they deserve and need. We must expand early childhood education opportunities, hold schools accountable for performance, and make sure our high schools give students a clear pathway to either the workforce, college or a career in the military. But one thing is clear: we will not strengthen our public schools by taking money out and giving it to private schools, as Susana Martinez has proposed doing time and time again.”

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