By VALERIE ESPINOZA
Former Santa Fe County Clerk

Imagine a CEO of a publicly traded company delivering polished remarks on an earnings call and then refusing to take a single question. Investors would not call that discipline—they would call it a red flag. They would wonder what was being hidden and whether leadership could withstand real scrutiny.

Now imagine a nominee for the United States Supreme Court submitting a flawless résumé and polished written statements, then refusing to appear for a confirmation hearing. No questions. No real-time examination. Just a request to be approved based on carefully prepared paperwork. No serious person would see that as confidence. They would ask the obvious question: what cannot survive direct examination?

Now stop imagining and look at New Mexico’s race for governor.

Deb Haaland is asking New Mexicans to trust her with the highest office in the state, yet she continues to avoid the very forums designed to test leadership: open debate, unscripted questioning, and direct accountability. Instead, voters get consultants, carefully managed statements, and a spokesperson who often seems to answer more questions than the candidate herself.

That is not a sign of a leader. That is message management.

As the Albuquerque Journal editorial page recently noted, “Haaland has developed a troubling pattern of silence when controversy arises. Whether it involves campaign ethics, criticism over tactics, or legitimate concerns from voters, she too often lets others speak for her.” A candidate for governor should not need a translator for accountability.

If the public has questions, the candidate herself should answer them.

That concern became even more serious when Haaland’s campaign came under fire for publishing detailed personal property information about Sam Bregman’s family—what many viewed as political doxxing. Sharing private information about an opponent’s family is not tough politics; it reflects poor judgment and raises serious ethical concerns.

Yet instead of directly explaining why that information was shared, whether she approved it, or whether she believed it was appropriate, Haaland again let others handle the fallout. Silence in the face of that kind of controversy is a grave error in judgment. It raises a simple question: if this is how a campaign handles a contraversy, how would an administration?

That concern is amplified by Haaland’s own record under questioning. During her time as Secretary of the Interior, congressional hearings often revealed strained exchanges, vague responses, and repeated efforts to sidestep direct answers. Lawmakers from both parties expressed frustration with the lack of clarity.

That makes the refusal to debate even more significant.

If a candidate has struggled to provide clear answers under pressure before, avoiding a debate is not a strategy of strength – it looks like avoidance. What exactly is gained by refusing to stand on a stage and defend your record before voters? More importantly, why not just step up to the plate, Deb?

This is not simply about campaign style. It is about governing, which is the goal.

Governors do not get to operate through consultants and talking points when crises hit. They do not get to hand difficult questions to a spokesperson when public trust is on the line. The top post requires judgment under pressure, the ability to think on your feet, and the willingness to stand accountable.

Debates are one of the few remaining places where voters can see that in real time. They are not political theater. They are a test of competence, judgment, and the ability to lead without a script.

Too much is at stake in New Mexico to allow any candidate—especially one seeking the governor’s office—to hide behind highly paid spinmeisters and carefully crafted messaging. Crime, education, economic growth, and public safety demand more than political choreography.

Leadership is not measured by how well someone avoids pressure. It is measured by how they perform under it.

The real question in this race is not simply who can win an election. It is who is willing to stand up, be tested, and answer – in real time – to the people they seek to lead. New Mexicans should demand nothing less.

And for the record, the event to be held on May 2 that the Haaland campaign calls a debate is not. Don’t be confused by a conversation that will be aired on PBS on May 7. Even the organizer is calling it Debate Games – it’s a forum with games added to it – and it will truly be a circus.

Republicans are not afraid to face voters. Step up to the occasion, Deb.

Valerie Espinoza is the former Chair of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission and former Santa Fe County Clerk.