“The truth will set you free.”- John 8:32 Offsite Link by Anonymous Winning was never guaranteed, but I will continue to fight with respect and dignity for the very soul of this beautiful community. These are challenging times and I will be a truth-teller first and foremost, especially when it is relevant to the problems we are facing as a nation, a state and a community of Norteños. I trust the voters to make a better choice because we have so much at stake this November. If the Republican Party chooses to focus on something I did nearly four decades ago rather than how hard I will work to bring back our devastated economy, provide healthcare, create new jobs and industries, to improve our public schools, to fix our crumbling infrastructure, and to protect our land, acequias and our way of life, that is their choice. I am proud to have worked alongside so many in this community to bring change for the better, and nothing will change that.
I am proud of the non-profits I’ve founded and the work they are doing today to inspire our community, to provide food and shelter to our homeless, to feed and nourish, and address chronic substance abuse. I am proud of bringing arts to the schools in a new and creative way that included an entire community. I’m proud of helping people in rural New Mexico deal with life-threatening illnesses during the AIDS and COVID pandemics. Over the past three decades, I have brought people together from all walks of life to tackle some of our state’s most pressing issues. Those experiences do not reflect who I am, and they are insignificant in the scope of my life’s work, yet they helped inspire my dedication to my community and the work I do to make sure that youth have opportunities, support and confidence. I am not proud of that choice, as I was young and naïve, but those experiences helped me to understand the exploitation young people face. Among those choices were two adult films I acted in as an adult, with other adults, in a very different environment and time. I was auditioning for commercials and doing my best to succeed. I worked hard to earn my own way, never relying on anyone else, including my parents.
Thirty-eight years ago, as a 22-year-old struggling college student, I was a modern dancer and performer living in Los Angeles. Serving others-working to improve the community I love-is my mission, my passion, and the work I will do the remainder of my days, whether I am elected NM House 40 Representative or not. After much reflection and advice, I decided to not let the fact of something I did nearly forty years ago, in a very different time and climate, prevent me from running. When I was asked to run for the State House, I knew Republicans and their allies would bring up whatever they could find to discredit me. Roger Montoya has released this statement He was formerly honored by CNN as one of its "Heroes"