The Democratic Party of New Mexico today released a new video showcasing former TV weatherman and GOP Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Ronchetti’s plan to institute a private school voucher program that will drain money from public education.

The ad includes a clip from a radio interview in which Ronchetti explicitly expressed his intent to institute such a plan.

“Mark Ronchetti does not care about public schools and this video proves it,” said Democratic Party of New Mexico Communications Director Daniel Garcia. “Vouchers mostly benefit people who already have money and who live near decent private schools. They would take money away from New Mexico’s public school students, including those in rural and Native communities who may not live close to a private school. Mark Ronchetti is bad for public schools and bad for New Mexico.”

Mark Ronchetti’s attack on public schools does not end with school vouchers. His tax proposals would necessitate billions of dollars of cuts to education, health care, and law enforcement. He also opposes the amendment that would increase access to early childhood education and has promised to revoke the Opportunity Scholarship if elected, which would devastate the nearly 34,000 New Mexicans currently getting their degree tuition-free.

A transcript of the video, which can be viewed online HERE, is below.

Voiceover: Mark Ronchetti is pushing school vouchers for private schools. A policy that will drain funding from our public schools. In a radio interview, Ronchetti confirmed that he would want vouchers for private schools.

Radio Host: You mentioned the money follows the student. How far would that money be able to follow the student?  Does the student have to be in public school or would that money be able to follow if the parent wanted to put them in a private school?

Ronchetti: No, no, no. I think ideally you want to give people the maximum amount of flexibility you can.

Voiceover: Who will this hurt? Every New Mexican. Especially rural and native students.

Voiceover: Ronchetti’s tax proposals will also force billions of dollars in cuts to education, health care, and police officers.

Voiceover: Mark Ronchetti. Bad for Public Education. Bad for New Mexico.

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