Joseph Romero is running to give HD-14 a representative whose work is centered on our schools, our educators, and our kids. After decades of leadership focused elsewhere, it’s time for a legislator who will fight for Albuquerque classrooms every session.

Fully fund our public schools, and protect local control. Joseph will keep state equalization funding “above the line” so decisions stay with the families and educators closest to students. He’ll oppose unfunded PED mandates that quietly drain district budgets and push for a guaranteed floor of true discretionary dollars so principals can hire the EA, keep the counselor, or staff the library their school actually needs.

Pay every school employee a living wage. Joseph supports a $30,000 minimum salary for educational assistants and other classified staff, indexed to the Level I teacher salary so support workers never fall behind again. He’ll back salary differentials that recognize credentials and experience, and he’ll defend the historic teacher pay raises of the last eight years against any rollback.

No vouchers. No privatization. No exceptions. Joseph opposes every scheme to divert public dollars to private schools and will vote against any effort to outsource custodial, food service, transportation, or security jobs to private contractors.

Protect retirement and healthcare. Joseph will defend the defined-benefit ERB pension, support a 13th check for retirees losing ground to inflation, and fight to extend 80% healthcare premium coverage to higher education employees who’ve been left out.

Make schools safe. Joseph supports safe storage laws, recurring state funding for school counselors and mental health professionals, and keeping guns out of the hands of school personnel. He’ll protect students and families by keeping ICE out of our schools.

Tackle student debt and invest in higher ed. Having carried student debt himself, Joseph will defend state regulation of predatory lenders and push for fair pay and personnel protections for the adjunct and classified workers who keep CNM and UNM running.

Joseph Romero will show up, do the work, and deliver results for HD-14’s schools.