Michael Schuetze

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

Michael Schuetze

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Moorhead State University, 1983

Personal

Religion

Non-denominational Christian

Profession

Retired

Michael Schuetze (Republican Party) ran for election to the New Mexico Public Education Commission to represent District 1. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Schuetze completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Michael Schuetze earned a bachelor's degree from Moorhead State University in 1983.

Elections

2024

See also: New Mexico Public Education Commission election, 2024

General election

General election for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 1

Sam S. Obenshain defeated Michael Schuetze in the general election for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 1 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sam S. Obenshain (D)	55.5	43,067
		Michael Schuetze (R)	44.5	34,516

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 77,583
= 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.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 1

Sam S. Obenshain advanced from the Democratic primary for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 1 on June 4, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sam S. Obenshain	100.0	9,301

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 9,301
= 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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 1

Michael Schuetze advanced from the Republican primary for New Mexico Public Education Commission District 1 on June 4, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michael Schuetze	100.0	4,245

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,245
= 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.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Schuetze in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Michael Schuetze completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Schuetze'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.

Mike Schuetze graduated in 1984 with a B.S. in Industrial Technology with a Business Management minor from Moorhead State University. Mike has 16 years in manufacturing, 30 years in Public Service, Tool & Die Certification, Paramedic Certification, Albuquerque Fire Academy-61st Cadet Class, Albuquerque Police Academy-100th Cadet Class, 20+ years Volunteer work in all sectors, Private School Board two years and currently retired.

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?

• Children and Family need to come first.
• Educational Choice is a necessary option.
• Supporting Charter Schools with their mission and driving quality education across the spectrum of Public Education.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Educational choice is my major priority.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

Provides students and parents in New Mexico District 1 quality and innovative options within Public Education.

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

I look up to Jesus. He is the only example I want to follow, because He changed the world.

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

Integrity and honesty.

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

I have sought continued education all my life. I have worked in computer manufacturing to public service: paramedic/fire/police and bring 48 years of work experience.

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

Providing students and parents in New Mexico District 1 quality and innovative options within Public Education.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I was a man of God.

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

When I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Mid 30's

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

Pulling weeds for farmers at the age of 15 and I did this for the summer.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Bible, because it is the manual for life.

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

"I can only imagine" by Mercy Me.

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

I struggle with not being good enough.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

Providing students and parents in New Mexico District 1 quality and innovative options within Public Education.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

This office is strictly to govern over Charter Schools and many do not know this.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

No

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Passion for our children to have choices for their education.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Vital, we are elected officials and need to be held accountable.

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.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Michael Schuetze campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	New Mexico Public Education Commission District 1	Lost general	$200	$100
Grand total			$200	$100
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

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