In Denver my Dad carried the card of the Carpenter’s Union. The patriarch of our family, Augustus, fought with his fists for safer conditions with the Iron Workers. In 1995, I celebrated when I first became eligible to join SAG. From lived experience I know this to be true: Unions matter.

As a fourth-generation union member I'll fight for people over corporations every single day.

Today, New Mexico’s film industry stands at a crossroads. After years of steady growth and global recognition, Tamalewood is now facing headwinds that threaten its momentum. Productions are increasingly lured overseas by cheaper labor, tax incentives, and the promise of post-production packages that seem too good to pass up. Meanwhile, a tightening economy has many studios tightening their belts — and rethinking where and how they invest. Looming over it all is the rise of artificial intelligence, which some fear will cut jobs.

These are real challenges. But New Mexicans are no strangers to adversity.

We’ve built this industry with grit, creativity, and a deep understanding of what it takes to tell a story that matters. Our actors and crews are among the most skilled and versatile in the world. Our communities know how to roll out the red carpet — whether it’s for an indie shoot or a global blockbuster. And our landscape? It simply cannot be duplicated. From high desert to mountain forest, modern cityscape to timeless adobe, New Mexico offers a cinematic canvas unmatched anywhere on earth.

That is why Tamalewood and its actors aren’t going anywhere.

With the right vision and leadership, we can face this moment with strength. We can fight for fair policies that boost our actors. We can innovate with integrity, making room for new technology without sacrificing the human heart of storytelling. And we can keep telling the world what we already know:

New Mexico is the best place to film on the planet.

The future of film is still being written. I’m running to make sure New Mexicans have a starring role.

Warmest Regards,