Submitted by Nandini Pillai Kuehn, Ph.D., MHA, Corrales
I would like to thank Adam Prior, who is currently running to unseat Representative Kathleen Cates in House District 44, for publicly acknowledging, after reviewing her donations and her votes, that she cannot be bought. (See his Letter to the editor: Follow the money — and the facts — in District 44’s health care debate) Mr. Prior has received substantial contributions from the oil and gas industry, and I assume that would not buy his vote either.
Mr. Prior wants to specifically address health care, so here are the facts. Kathleen has put in real work on the House Health and Human Services Committee. She voted for medical malpractice reform and helped get the medical compacts through the House which will help considerably with our shortage of medical providers. She has introduced and championed legislation to protect and expand rights for people with disabilities, and she’s pushed bills requiring state agencies and public facilities to meet accessibility standards so all residents can access the services they need. She has also stood up to chemical companies trying to roll back protections against forever chemicals, defending public health protections that directly affect our water and our families. Her record speaks volumes – and it’s for the people.
Kathleen has spent the past four years fighting hard for the residents of District 44. She shows up – council meetings, local events, and meetings with constituents, while attending interim committee meetings, formulating legislation, working to support her family, and continuing her advocacy for our most vulnerable populations (such as individuals with disabilities and the LGBTQ+ community). She has lived in our community for over 20 years and was active in the community long before she considered running for office.
Representative Cates is the kind of representative that we need. She gets things done. She has brought millions of dollars to her constituents for a variety of projects and has directed funding for public safety vehicles, to municipalities and counties and community and cultural entities. She is our Representative, and that’s why I am supporting her for re-election to the NM House of Representatives.