Each summary is supported by the candidate's own words from a campaign source, direct candidate response, or official primary record retained with the profile.
Public lands, energy, water, and environment
Candidate position“We view ourselves as problem solvers at the State Land Office. This groundbreaking is about meeting a community’s needs head-on. Community solar projects like this one will deliver clean electricity directly to New Mexicans who may not otherwise be able to access renewables. And this project is just the first of many to come on state trust lands,” said Commissioner Garcia Richard. “Since I became Land Commissioner, the State Land Office has seen a nearly seven-fold increase in the amount of renewable energy on state lands. I will keep looking for ways to expand renewable energy production in all parts of the state to diversify our sources of revenue and meet our climate goals. I thank Affordable Solar for being great partners in our efforts to make renewable energy more attainable for New Mexicans.”
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“We view ourselves as problem solvers at the State Land Office. This groundbreaking is about meeting a community’s needs head-on. Community solar projects like this one will deliver clean electricity directly to New Mexicans who may not otherwise be able to access renewables. And this project is just the first of many to come on state trust lands,” said Commissioner Garcia Richard. “Since I became Land Commissioner, the State Land Office has seen a nearly seven-fold increase in the amount of renewable energy on state lands. I will keep looking for ways to expand renewable energy production in all parts of the state to diversify our sources of revenue and meet our climate goals. I thank Affordable Solar for being great partners in our efforts to make renewable energy more attainable for New Mexicans.”
Bid Packet for Paseo Gateway Tract 17 in Rio Rancho
Candidate positionPrivacy: We will not sell, share, or rent your personal information to any third party or use your e-mail address for unsolicited mail. Any emails sent by our organization will only be in connection with State Land Office business.
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Privacy: We will not sell, share, or rent your personal information to any third party or use your e-mail address for unsolicited mail. Any emails sent by our organization will only be in connection with State Land Office business.
Stephanie Garcia Richard for Lt. Governor: Fighting for our New Mexico
Candidate positionI will bring real experience to making the office of Lieutenant Governor work for all New Mexicans. I was a school teacher for 19 years and served Los Alamos for six years as a State Representative, fighting for more funding for our public schools, crime prevention, and addiction treatment. I then became the first woman and first Hispana elected to be New Mexico's Commissioner of Public Lands, where I brought billions of dollars to New Mexico's public schools, increased renewable energy production sevenfold, restored stolen land back to Tribes, and protected more public land from federal land grabs than any Public Land Commissioner has done before.
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I will bring real experience to making the office of Lieutenant Governor work for all New Mexicans. I was a school teacher for 19 years and served Los Alamos for six years as a State Representative, fighting for more funding for our public schools, crime prevention, and addiction treatment. I then became the first woman and first Hispana elected to be New Mexico's Commissioner of Public Lands, where I brought billions of dollars to New Mexico's public schools, increased renewable energy production sevenfold, restored stolen land back to Tribes, and protected more public land from federal land grabs than any Public Land Commissioner has done before.
What is a right of way?
Candidate positionBeliefA right of way is a right or privilege granted by the commissioner, to pass over, upon, through, or across, a defined area of trust lands for a prescribed purpose and time. This right of way can be issued as a road, pipeline, telecommunication, or electrical.
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A right of way is a right or privilege granted by the commissioner, to pass over, upon, through, or across, a defined area of trust lands for a prescribed purpose and time. This right of way can be issued as a road, pipeline, telecommunication, or electrical.
What exactly are Miscellaneous Instruments?
Candidate positionBeliefMiscellaneous Instruments are other contracts and instruments entered into by the lessee that do not affect record title. Per 19.2.100.43 NMAC, The State Land Commissioner does not approve Miscellaneous Instruments. Currently the Commissioner is only accepting three types of Miscellaneous Instruments, these types are identified on the Miscellaneous Instrument Filing Form. Other instruments such as assignments of interest, undivided working interests, overrides, farm outs/rights to explore and produce below a certain depth, overriding royalty assignments, operating rights, financial statements, and powers of attorney, etc. should be filed with the applicable County Clerk’s Office.
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Miscellaneous Instruments are other contracts and instruments entered into by the lessee that do not affect record title. Per 19.2.100.43 NMAC, The State Land Commissioner does not approve Miscellaneous Instruments. Currently the Commissioner is only accepting three types of Miscellaneous Instruments, these types are identified on the Miscellaneous Instrument Filing Form. Other instruments such as assignments of interest, undivided working interests, overrides, farm outs/rights to explore and produce below a certain depth, overriding royalty assignments, operating rights, financial statements, and powers of attorney, etc. should be filed with the applicable County Clerk’s Office.
Office of the General Counsel Overview General Counsel Staff
Candidate positionBeliefThe Land Office administers two types of agreements – Communitization Agreements and Unit Agreements. Communitization Agreements are issued when an oil & gas well’s proration or spacing unit, as permitted by the Oil Conservation Division (OCD), encompasses two or more leases or types of land. Communitization Agreements are for proration units/well bores and are limited to a single productive oil & gas geological formation. Units are larger land and geology-based consolidations that allow many different leaseholders to pool resources and operate a larger area on a “lease” basis, with a goal to maximize production and minimize surface impact. Within a unit or Communitization Agreement, many OCD rules for well setbacks, as well as the need for a Land Office right-of-way easement, salt water disposal (SWD) easements, and/or a business lease are eliminated; however, the Land Office must still give its approval for Communitization Agreement setbacks therefore it is imperative to obtain pre-approval for any Communitization Agreement before drilling the well, as additional permits from the Land Office may be needed. This may allow for better development of the area, with orientation and spacing of wells being dictated by geology instead of spacing rules and regulations.
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The Land Office administers two types of agreements – Communitization Agreements and Unit Agreements. Communitization Agreements are issued when an oil & gas well’s proration or spacing unit, as permitted by the Oil Conservation Division (OCD), encompasses two or more leases or types of land. Communitization Agreements are for proration units/well bores and are limited to a single productive oil & gas geological formation. Units are larger land and geology-based consolidations that allow many different leaseholders to pool resources and operate a larger area on a “lease” basis, with a goal to maximize production and minimize surface impact. Within a unit or Communitization Agreement, many OCD rules for well setbacks, as well as the need for a Land Office right-of-way easement, salt water disposal (SWD) easements, and/or a business lease are eliminated; however, the Land Office must still give its approval for Communitization Agreement setbacks therefore it is imperative to obtain pre-approval for any Communitization Agreement before drilling the well, as additional permits from the Land Office may be needed. This may allow for better development of the area, with orientation and spacing of wells being dictated by geology instead of spacing rules and regulations.
Lease Sale Process
Candidate positionBeliefThe State Land Office offers tracts for oil and gas leasing the third Tuesday of every month. Tracts are leased through a competitive sealed or oral bid process. To bid, you must have an OGRID number; if you do not have one; contact Veronica Gonzales at (505) 476-4538. Sealed bids must be submitted with payment prior to the lease sale; oral bidding is conducted at the lease sale. Full directions and the bid application form can be found in the monthly lease sale notice.
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The State Land Office offers tracts for oil and gas leasing the third Tuesday of every month. Tracts are leased through a competitive sealed or oral bid process. To bid, you must have an OGRID number; if you do not have one; contact Veronica Gonzales at (505) 476-4538. Sealed bids must be submitted with payment prior to the lease sale; oral bidding is conducted at the lease sale. Full directions and the bid application form can be found in the monthly lease sale notice.
Increase Funding for Public Schools
Candidate’s account of past workFactVote summary · Record / Past ActionFought for increased funding for New Mexico public schools as a teacher and state legislator.
- Made education funding a legislative priority.
- Brought education experience to public office.
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Stephanie Garcia Richard campaign
Advance Crime Prevention
Candidate’s account of past workFactVote summary · Record / Past ActionFought for crime-prevention measures while serving in the New Mexico House.
- Treated prevention as a public-safety priority.
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Stephanie Garcia Richard campaign
Expand Addiction Treatment
Candidate’s account of past workFactVote summary · Record / Past ActionFought for addiction-treatment measures while serving in the New Mexico House.
- Supported treatment as part of the state's response to addiction.
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Stephanie Garcia Richard campaign
Generate Revenue for Public Schools from State Lands
Candidate’s account of past workFactVote summary · Record / Past ActionUsed State Land Office management to generate billions of dollars for New Mexico public schools.
- Direct trust-land revenue toward public-school beneficiaries.
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Stephanie Garcia Richard campaign
Expand Renewable Energy on State Trust Lands
Candidate’s account of past workFactVote summary · Record / Past ActionExpanded renewable-energy production on New Mexico state trust lands.
- Increase renewable-energy leasing and production through land management.
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Stephanie Garcia Richard campaign
Restore Land to Tribal Communities
Candidate’s account of past workFactVote summary · Record / Past ActionRestored state-managed land to Tribal communities.
- Use land-management authority to address Tribal land claims.
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Stephanie Garcia Richard campaign
Protect Public Lands from Federal Land Grabs
Candidate’s account of past workFactVote summary · Record / Past ActionProtected New Mexico public lands from what the campaign characterizes as federal land grabs.
- Use state land authority to preserve protected areas.
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Stephanie Garcia Richard campaign
Make the Lieutenant Governor's Office Work for All New Mexicans
Candidate positionFactVote summary · Goal / PriorityUse the Lieutenant Governor's office to serve New Mexicans across the state.
- Bring teaching, legislative, land-management, and caregiving experience to the office.
- Make the office responsive to communities statewide.
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Stephanie Garcia Richard campaign
