Lee Weinland

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Lee Weinland

Libertarian Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Personal

Birthplace

Durango, Colo.

Religion

Christian

Profession

Retired

Contact

Campaign Facebook

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Lee Weinland (Libertarian Party) ran for election to the New Mexico State Senate to represent District 5. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Weinland completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Lee Weinland was born in Durango, Colorado. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in 1975. Weinland is retired.

Elections

2020

See also: New Mexico State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for New Mexico State Senate District 5

Leo Jaramillo defeated Diamantina Storment and Lee Weinland in the general election for New Mexico State Senate District 5 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Leo Jaramillo (D)	68.5	15,649
	Submit photo	Diamantina Storment (R)	26.8	6,132
		Lee Weinland (L)	4.7	1,075

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 22,856
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New Mexico State Senate District 5

Leo Jaramillo defeated incumbent Richard Martinez in the Democratic primary for New Mexico State Senate District 5 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Leo Jaramillo	60.6	6,153
		Richard Martinez	39.4	3,996

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 10,149
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for New Mexico State Senate District 5

Diamantina Storment advanced from the Republican primary for New Mexico State Senate District 5 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Diamantina Storment	100.0	1,753

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,753
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for New Mexico State Senate District 5

Lee Weinland advanced from the Libertarian primary for New Mexico State Senate District 5 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lee Weinland	100.0	51

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 51
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Lee Weinland completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Weinland's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am retired from working at Los Alamos National Labs and my own communications & advertising business in Los Alamos. I have lived here in New Mexico most of my life and have a bachelor's degree in communications from University of Minnesota in 1975. I was married for 20 years & have a wonderful daughter graduating from University of New Mexico this year with honors. I was a coach with our local Special Olympics teams and volunteer helping senior citizens. I support individual freedom, smaller government, & fiscal responsibility. I hear from my constituents that we need to develop more sustainable long-term sources of revenue and less dependence on Gross Receipts taxes and oil & gas. I can see a great future in helping to build a stronger, safer, free, and more prosperous New Mexico that will be the model and bench mark for other states. I have a vision of New Mexico which is blessed with more sunshine and open space than other states to be the largest producer of sustainable solar, wind & safe nuclear energy so plentiful that we can be 100% sustainable and selling surplus energy to other states. I am here to serve us all!

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I am not a Republican nor am I a Democrat. I am a Libertarian. This means that I do not support any measures and laws that take away personal freedom & rights given to us by the Constitution.
• I will not be bound to vote for any party's policy and will not stand for any partisan pressure to vote for anything that is not good for all of us.
• I am here to help New Mexicans move forward into this century with prosperity, health, and freedom from expanding government control of individual rights.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The economy - We must aggressively pursue economic diversification in New Mexico which includes attracting new sustainable & environmentally sustainable industries. But more than this we must create an economic climate with tax parity that will keep companies wanting to stay in New Mexico. In short, by lowering the cost of doing business here we will grow as new companies come her and stay here.

Military - I am for ensuring the strongest defense systems to protect or borders and freedom of all New Mexicans & Americans. I support strengthening our National Guard capabilities and keeping them home to be prepared for any threat to our liberty or safety. I am wholeheartedly against sending our National Guard troops to distant lands to fight other nation's wars which is a strategy that leaves us internally weaker and vulnerable.
Taxes - I believe it is possible and imperative to lower taxes. We must look at being more fiscally responsible and better stewards of our tax resources.

Reproductive and health choice rights - My personal religious position is bound by my belief that abortion in most cases is wrong. But as a Libertarian, I cannot support any laws that remove an individual's rights to choose health options. This also encompasses an individual's right to choose to vaccinate or not.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to Gary Johnson, former Governor of New Mexico and Senator John McCain, my cousin. Both were candidates for president of the United States and a large part of my decision to run for New Mexico State Senator.

Albert Einstein - He brought us the math that brought the world into nuclear and free energy, the wisdom that helps us keep it together, and the humor that keeps me smiling. If I could bring any one back to life it would be him. He brought me my love of math and science.

Robert Oppenheimer - The first director of Los Alamos National Laboratory and co-inventor of the nuclear bomb. I met him in third grade at a science demonstration in my elementary school. He started my fascination with science.

Mark Twain - Of all the authors I've ever read, he speaks to my deepest senses of humor, adventure, and wisdom. Also Louis L'Amour, western novel author who I met as boy in Durango Colorado where he wrote most of his 300+ books.

Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, and Mother Teresa.

John W Turner, Jr - My great grandfather in Durango Colorado. He survived the loss of one leg as a child before 1900. He became a financial leader of Southwest Colorado brought electricity to the territory with hydro power damns & generators still in operation today. He survived the 1929 market crash & prospered in the rebuilding of the country following the depression. And he taught me to fish & hunt.

John Turner Sr - He was my great-great grandfather and western pioneer to New Mexico and Colorado in the Civil War years. He was elected sheriff of Elizabeth Town, New Mexico, a booming mining town in Northern New Mexico, now a ghost town. He knew Pat Garret & governor Lew Wallace (author of Ben Hur) and participated somewhat in the hunt for Billy the Kid.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

To be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. Learned them as boy Scout & live by them today.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

INTEGRITY

HARD WORKER
ORGANIZED
MULTI-TASKING
FOCUSED
INDEPENDENT THINKER
LOYAL
RELIABLE
HELPFUL COMPASSIONATE HEART
GOOD BUSINESS SENSE
IMAGINATION & CREATIVE SOLUTION PROVIDER
COURAGEOUS (I AM A CANCER SURVIVOR)
FAIR AND JUDICIAL
CALM & COLLECTED

COMMUNICATOR

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Show up. Legislators who are absent can't help anyone.

Honesty. Never compromise your integrity.

To do my duty to God and my country. To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. I these learned as a Boy Scout also.

What legacy would you like to leave?

A STATE THAT IS ENERGY SELF SUFFICIENT WITH A PROSPEROUS ECONOMY NOT SO DEPENDENT ON GOVERNMENT AND A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.
A SELF-SUFFICIENT DAUGHTER WHO IS PROSPEROUS AND EMPLOYED TO HELP OTHERS AS HER ABILITIES ALLOW.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

SPUTNIK - The Russians beat America at putting the first space craft in orbit. I was 4 years old then. Then just 12 years later we were the first on the moon in 1969. I remember thinking that I wanted to be part of seeing us land on Mars and beyond. And now, living in Los Alamos, I am privileged and honored to know and have worked with some of the crew that designs & controls the Mars rover program!

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Paper Boy. I got up at 4 a.m. to deliver 75 - 100 papers every day on my bicycle or walking in snow, rain, or shine. I learned to love the sunrise & quiet time in the morning and free donuts from the only other souls awake at that ungodly hour.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Why not. I just love it.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Sky King. He was a successful rancher, with a jeep named Nelly-bell and his own airplane. He did heroic deeds to help others.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Glorious Day y Casting Crowns

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

It seems the more I do to help folks, the harder it gets. I hate to say it but it sometimes seems that no good deed goes unpunished. Yet I will never quit trying to help others as I know I can make a difference one day at a time. My attorney has advised me to "stay in my own lane" but I just can't do that.

Health - I have survived terminal cancer and paralysis from the flu shot plus my daughter's genetic condition, cancer, and handicaps. But my mother taught me that our family motto is to "adapt, cope, & conquer". I pay particular attention to my helath with diet & exercise to keep fit for duty.

Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

It should be about balance of power as prescribed by the original authors of the constitution. But it seems now that one side is seeking control of the other to further one pies agenda and in New Mexico it is the Democrats so sometimes it seems there is not much difference.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

No.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

Energy.

Water & land management.
Sustainable economic growth.

More balanced political redistricting.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

We must work together for the good of the people and not the party with the most votes

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Of course! Even as a Libertarian, it is critical to develop positive relationships with other legislators to serve the people unilaterally.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Finance. Energy. Education

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Celestino Romero, Taos New Mexico, a model of integrity, honesty & hard work.

Manuel Lujan, & Pete Domeneci as models of how to unite parties to accomplish unified goals for all the people
Gary Johnson, one of the best governors New Mexico has ever had.
Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham - I admire her strength and courage in the handling of our current Covid 19 crisis. It is obvious she is the right person to keep New Mexicans on a path to recovery at this critical & unprecedented time.

Peter Wirth - As a compassionate person and leader of the Senate majority party, he has made huge differences in the lives of New Mexicans by standing up for those with not much power to do it on their own.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Possibly U.S. Congress.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

With one stroke of a pen, $300,000 was removed from the budget which provided most of funding for our New Mexico Special Olympics programs.
After talking to several of the athletes and committee, including my daughter, Peter Wirth mounted a campaign to restore this funding and save the program. I only hope as a member of the Senate to be able to help in this manner as well.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Footnotes

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Current members of the New Mexico State Senate

Leadership

Majority Leader:Peter Wirth

Minority Leader:William Sharer

Senators

District 1

William Sharer (R)

District 2

Steve Lanier (R)

District 3

Shannon Pinto (D)

District 4

George Munoz (D)

District 5

Leo Jaramillo (D)

District 6

Roberto Gonzales (D)

District 7

Pat Woods (R)

District 8

Pete Campos (D)

District 9

Cindy Nava (D)

District 10

Katy Duhigg (D)

District 11

Linda Lopez (D)

District 12

Jay Block (R)

District 13

Debbie O'Malley (D)

District 14

Michael Padilla (D)

District 15

Heather Berghmans (D)

District 16

Antoinette Lopez (D)

District 17

Mimi Stewart (D)

District 18

Natalie Figueroa (D)

District 19

Anthony Thornton (R)

District 20

Martin Hickey (D)

District 21

Nicole Tobiassen (R)

District 22

Benny Shendo (D)

District 23

Harold Pope (D)

District 24

Linda Trujillo (D)

District 25

Peter Wirth (D)

District 26

Antonio Maestas (D)

District 27

Patrick Boone (R)

District 28

Gabriel Ramos (R)

District 29

Joshua Sanchez (R)

District 30

Angel Charley (D)

District 31

Joseph Cervantes (D)

District 32

Candy Ezzell (R)

District 33

Nicholas Paul (R)

District 34

James Townsend (R)

District 35

Crystal Diamond Brantley (R)

District 36

Jeff Steinborn (D)

District 37

William Soules (D)

District 38

Carrie Hamblen (D)

District 39

Liz Stefanics (D)

District 40

Craig Brandt (R)

District 41

David Gallegos (R)

District 42

Larry Scott (R)

Democratic Party (26)

Republican Party (16)