Ramona Goolsby has been a family nurse practitioner, an officer in the U.S. Army Reserves, a staff accountant for a CPA firm, a small business owner and manager of a ranch. She says she’s not a politician, but she hopes her varied experiences will appeal to voters as she campaigns to be New Mexico’s secretary of state.

The Rio Rancho Republican is running against Doña Ana County Democrat Amanda López Askin in the November general election.

In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Goolsby joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to speak about her background, share why she’s decided to run for secretary of state and discuss her top priorities.

Goolsby speaks on her concerns about the state’s voter rolls and says she would like to launch a voter roll cleanup task force.

Chacón later asks Goolsby questions about her position on voter ID requirements and the SAVE America Act, as well as if she agrees with Donald Trump’s claims that the 2020 election was rigged.

The episode ends with Goolsby talking about what led her to come to New Mexico and about her Master Cattleman certification.

Ramona Goolsby has been a family nurse practitioner, an officer in the U.S. Army Reserves, a staff accountant for a CPA firm, a small business owner and manager of a ranch. She says she&rsquo;s not a politician, but she hopes her varied experiences will appeal to voters as she campaigns to be New Mexico&rsquo;s secretary of state.
The Rio Rancho Republican is running against Do&ntilde;a Ana County Democrat Amanda L&oacute;pez Askin in the November general election.
In the latest episode of the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast, Goolsby joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;state politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to speak about her background, share why she&rsquo;s decided to run for secretary of state and discuss her top priorities.
Goolsby speaks on her concerns about the state&rsquo;s voter rolls and says she would like to launch a voter roll cleanup task force.
Chac&oacute;n later asks Goolsby questions about her position on voter ID requirements and the SAVE America Act, as well as if she agrees with Donald Trump&rsquo;s claims that the 2020 election was rigged.
The episode ends with Goolsby talking about what led her to come to New Mexico and about her Master Cattleman certification.

The Santa Fe New Mexican’s weekly podcast hosted by state government and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón features the policies, politics and personalities at the state Capitol during New Mexico's 2025 legislative session.

The Santa Fe New Mexican&rsquo;s weekly podcast hosted by state government and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n features the policies, politics and personalities at the state Capitol during New Mexico's 2025 legislative session.

Around the Roundhouse

The Santa Fe New Mexican&rsquo;s weekly podcast hosted by state government and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n features the policies, politics and personalities at the state Capitol during New Mexico's 2025 legislative session.

Republican Ramona Goolsby shares her priorities in campaign for N.M. secretary of state

Patrick M. Brenner is founder, president and CEO of the Southwest Public Policy Institute, a New Mexico-based public policy think tank with a stated mission to deliver data-driven research, advance government transparency and safeguard consumer choice across the Southwest.

In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Brenner joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to talk about a range of topics including what his think tank does, how it is funded and some of the policies the institute is currently focused on.

Brenner also discusses what led him to depart the Rio Grand Foundation, an Albuquerque-based think tank, and eventually create his own.

Brenner touches on issues including opioid settlement transparency, New Mexico’s Inspection of Public Records Act, banking deserts, housing affordability and more.

A former Republican, Brenner also speaks about what led him to leave the party and offers some thoughts on New Mexico’s gubernatorial race.

Patrick M. Brenner is founder, president and CEO of the Southwest Public Policy Institute, a New Mexico-based public policy think tank with a stated mission to deliver data-driven research, advance government transparency and safeguard consumer choice across the Southwest.
In the latest episode of the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast, Brenner joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;state politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to talk about a range of topics including what his think tank does, how it is funded and some of the policies the institute is currently focused on.
Brenner also discusses what led him to depart the Rio Grand Foundation, an Albuquerque-based think tank, and eventually create his own.
Brenner touches on issues including opioid settlement transparency, New Mexico&rsquo;s Inspection of Public Records Act, banking deserts, housing affordability and more.
A former Republican, Brenner also speaks about what led him to leave the party and offers some thoughts on New Mexico&rsquo;s gubernatorial race.

From opioid settlement transparency to banking deserts, think tank CEO talks policy issues in N.M.

Michael Perry grew up in Roswell with an interesting aspiration for a child — he wanted to be a game warden.

One of his grandfathers was a director with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and took Perry quail hunting all over the state. After studying wildlife science at New Mexico State University, Perry followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and served as a game warden for the department for more than two decades.

Perry now has a new goal — to become the New Mexico state land commissioner.

Formerly an assistant commissioner over state lands at the State Land Office, Perry is the Republican nominee for state land commissioner. He is running against Democrat Juan de Jesus Sanchez III to succeed outgoing State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard.

In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Perry joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to share his positions on policy issues facing the State Land Office and to discuss the path that led him to this point.

Chacón begins the episode by asking Perry about his stance on the withdrawal of state lands from mining leases around Chaco Culture National Historical Park initiated by Garcia Richard. He also asks Perry about his thoughts on Garcia Richard’s denial of an application to run a portion of a natural gas pipeline for Project Jupiter through state trust land.

Perry then responds to a question about a proposal to increase oil and gas bonding on state lands.

Questions then turn to Perry’s campaign and how he plans to break a long drought of Republicans in statewide races. Perry says his decades of experience with the state Department of Game and Fish and the State Land Office give him an edge over his younger opponent.

The interview ends with questions about Perry’s roots in New Mexico, his professional background and his passion for the state.

Michael Perry grew up in Roswell with an interesting aspiration for a child &mdash; he wanted to be a game warden.
One of his grandfathers was a director with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and took Perry quail hunting all over the state. After studying wildlife science at New Mexico State University, Perry followed in his grandfather&rsquo;s footsteps and served as a game warden for the department for more than two decades.
Perry now has a new goal &mdash; to become the New Mexico state land commissioner.
Formerly an assistant commissioner over state lands at the State Land Office, Perry is the Republican nominee for state land commissioner. He is running against Democrat Juan de Jesus Sanchez III to succeed outgoing State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard.
In the latest episode of the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast, Perry joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;state politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to share his positions on policy issues facing the State Land Office and to discuss the path that led him to this point.
Chac&oacute;n begins the episode by asking Perry about his stance on the withdrawal of state lands from mining leases around Chaco Culture National Historical Park initiated by Garcia Richard. He also asks Perry about his thoughts on Garcia Richard&rsquo;s denial of an application to run a portion of a natural gas pipeline for Project Jupiter through state trust land.
Perry then responds to a question about a proposal to increase oil and gas bonding on state lands.
Questions then turn to Perry&rsquo;s campaign and how he plans to break a long drought of Republicans in statewide races. Perry says his decades of experience with the state Department of Game and Fish and the State Land Office give him an edge over his younger opponent.
The interview ends with questions about Perry&rsquo;s roots in New Mexico, his professional background and his passion for the state.

Former game warden Michael Perry touts decades of experience in campaign for state land commissioner

New Mexico is the only state in the country with an unpaid Legislature, but that could change come November.

Voters in the upcoming general election will consider a constitutional amendment that would pave the way for state lawmakers to receive a salary for the first time in New Mexico’s history.

Retired state government attorney Clifford Rees served House Democrats as a technical expert on the proposed amendment during the 30-day legislative session earlier this year and is a proponent of efforts to modernize the Legislature. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Rees joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to share his insight on the amendment, discuss the potential amount legislators would receive and talk about what he thinks may have held up past efforts to pay legislators.

Rees worked for four different state agencies as an attorney, spending the bulk of his career at the New Mexico Department of Health before retiring as general counsel of the state Department of Finance and Administration in 2005. He has volunteered his time and expertise over the last four years to research and speak on the process to modernize the New Mexico Legislature.

While legislators don’t receive a salary, they do receive per diem for meeting attendance, mileage reimbursements and pensions. Rees discusses how their pensions work and says that the constitutional amendment to pay legislators a salary would have no impact on their pensions.

Rees argues that paying lawmakers would expand the pool of people who are able to serve and says proponents of the amendment need to make the case that constituents as well as legislators would benefit by its passage.

New Mexico is the only state in the country with an unpaid Legislature, but that could change come November.
Voters in the upcoming general election will consider a constitutional amendment that would pave the way for state lawmakers to receive a salary for the first time in New Mexico&rsquo;s history.
Retired state government attorney Clifford Rees served House Democrats as a technical expert on the proposed amendment during the 30-day legislative session earlier this year and is a proponent of efforts to modernize the Legislature. In the latest episode of the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast, Rees joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;state politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to share his insight on the amendment, discuss the potential amount legislators would receive and talk about what he thinks may have held up past efforts to pay legislators.
Rees worked for four different state agencies as an attorney, spending the bulk of his career at the New Mexico Department of Health before retiring as general counsel of the state Department of Finance and Administration in 2005. He has volunteered his time and expertise over the last four years to research and speak on the process to modernize the New Mexico Legislature.
While legislators don&rsquo;t receive a salary, they do receive per diem for meeting attendance, mileage reimbursements and pensions. Rees discusses how their pensions work and says that the constitutional amendment to pay legislators a salary would have no impact on their pensions.
Rees argues that paying lawmakers would expand the pool of people who are able to serve and says proponents of the amendment need to make the case that constituents as well as legislators would benefit by its passage.

Republican Ramona Goolsby shares her priorities in campaign for N.M. secretary of state

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