John,
I want to tell you about an achievement I’m proud of: I have achieved 35 years of sobriety.
Most people running for office wouldn’t choose to speak candidly about alcohol addiction. But I’m not like most people running for office. My story is different.
I was about 23 years old when I made the brave decision to get sober. It was a struggle at first, but I persevered because I was committed to doing all I could. I went to AA meetings and probably read 20 books on addiction.
My struggles made me fierce, which is why I chose to speak openly about my sobriety in my very first campaign ad when I ran for Congress. And I’m so glad I did. I'll never forget the day we went to the Marigold Parade in the South Valley, and people came up to me right and left and thanked me for saying that in my ad. They shared stories about themselves, their parents, and their loved ones struggling with addiction, and it brought tears to my eyes that people felt represented by someone like me.
My journey to sobriety taught me that you must face hard truths if you want to make change, which is why I’ll never shy away from the tough fights that lie ahead for New Mexico.
Crime, poverty, homelessness, and addiction are weighing heavy on our state, and I intend to tackle those challenges head-on as governor. I promise to be honest about topics other politicians might try to sweep under the rug, because I believe if we’re honest, we can make progress.
Thank you for hearing my story, John. That’s how we’ll win this race – by sharing our stories, lifting each other up, and being fierce enough to fight for the bright future all New Mexicans deserve.
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