Educational Event Held by Jeff Apodaca

Candidate Apodaca and his wife Jackie Apodaca held a meet and greet for educators yesterday near the Hotel Albuquerque. The topic was education and what their plans were for the future.

Jackie Apodaca shows a very well developed base of knowledge of the educational system. She along with her husband were both products of the New Mexico educational system. Jackie has twin boys that are presently in the public school system. Jackie is a strong supporter of coding courses at the K-12 level. My 22-year-old daughter who is very into computers and a four-year college graduate loved the idea. She says that it would be great for all students to come out of high school with that type of knowledge no matter which field they enter.

Jeff Apodaca has a well throughout educational plan that anyone can read on his website: Educational Plan

• \3% Cost of living increases for teacher pay annually.

• Removing the PARCC test
• Getting rid of the A – F grading system for schools
• Paying teachers more and special education teacher even more highly.
• Paying for Pre K education
•   Making schools into activities for the families of children attending with rap around services for children.
• A return to much needed vocational education for students that don’t wish to attend four year colleges or universities.  

      These are just a few of the items listed in his plan. 

I was disappointed by the behavior of one of his supporters and volunteers who misrepresented himself at the event but Jackie assured me that neither her or her husband tolerated that type of behavior. 

I understand that some people are put off by Jeff Apodaca’s straight forward behavior but in all honesty I find it refreshing to be able to speak with a businessman that has passion for what he sees as a vision for the future of New Mexico. His well-developed understanding of how to handle large sums of money would pay off for the state and his firm stand on issues would work well for him in the roundhouse. I can see why some state senators are already supporting his opponent since they see real change for the state’s approach on many different issues that would benefit voters more than lobbyists.  

Someone asks Jeff Apodaca about the gun issue during the event. He told them that he was a hunter and gun owner. He is a strong supporter of second amendment rights. He like most parents first reaction was to protect his children after the last school shooting but after talking with local students understands that the children do not want to attend school in a prison.  He does support a ban on bump stocks, high powered guns that are mostly used in war, and high capacity animation loaders. He supports local control of how the schools protect their children but does not support teachers carrying guns in the classroom. He says that he will support funding for methods to protect children in school. Apodaca does support the Democratic Party’s stand on this issue.