Stephen Verchinski

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

Stephen Verchinski

Green Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

University of Connecticut, College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources

Graduate

Syracuse University, 1980

Personal

Birthplace

Hartford, Conn.

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal Facebook

Personal Twitter

Personal LinkedIn

Stephen Verchinski (Green Party) ran for election to the New Mexico House of Representatives to represent District 25. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

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

Verchinski was a candidate for District 6 representative on the Albuquerque Public Schools school board in New Mexico. Verchinski withdrew his candidacy before the by-district general election on February 7, 2017.

Biography

Stephen Verchinski was born in Hartford, Connecticut. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Connecticut College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, and master's degrees from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Syracuse University. Verchinski's career experience includes working as a police officer, a park ranger, and the state coordinator for the boating safety program.

Elections

2020

See also: New Mexico House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 25

Incumbent Christine Trujillo defeated Sarah Rich-Jackson, Stephen Verchinski, and Jocelynn Paden in the general election for New Mexico House of Representatives District 25 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Christine Trujillo (D)	60.6	9,007
		Sarah Rich-Jackson (R)	30.6	4,542
		Stephen Verchinski (G)	5.2	765
	Submit photo	Jocelynn Paden (L)	3.6	540

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 14,854
= 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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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 25

Incumbent Christine Trujillo advanced from the Democratic primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 25 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Christine Trujillo	100.0	4,431

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,431
= 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 House of Representatives District 25

Sarah Rich-Jackson advanced from the Republican primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 25 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sarah Rich-Jackson	100.0	1,527

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,527
= 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 House of Representatives District 25

Jocelynn Paden advanced from the Libertarian primary for New Mexico House of Representatives District 25 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Jocelynn Paden	100.0	36

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 36
= 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.

2017

See also: Albuquerque Public Schools elections (2017)

Four of the seven seats on the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education were up for by-district general election on February 7, 2017. In his bid for re-election to District 3, incumbent Lorenzo Garcia defeated challengers Ali Ennenga, Amy Legant, and Charles White. District 5 incumbent Steven Michael Quezada and District 6 incumbent Don Duran did not file to run for re-election, leaving both seats open for newcomers. Four candidates—Annie Bell-Rahman, Rachel Gonzales, Kayla Marshall, and Candelaria Patterson—ran for the District 5 seat, and Patterson won the race. Six candidates—Abbas Ali Akhil, Elizabeth Armijo, C. Douglas Brown, Melissa Finch, Paula Maes, and Paul Sievert—ran for the District 6 seat, and Armijo won. The race for the District 7 seat featured incumbent David Peercy and challengers Ian Burch, William Steinberg, and Brian Tierney. Peercy won re-election to the board. A total of six candidates withdrew from the race before their names were put on the ballot: R. Jason Vaillancourt in District 3, Than-Lan Sena, Alex Villanueva, and Anne Young in District 5, Stephen Verchinski in District 6, and Sina-Aurelia Pleasant-Soul in District 7.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Stephen Verchinski completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Verchinski'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.

Stephen Verchinski is 67 years old and missed Vietnam by having

parents who pushed his education as a third-generation American from immigrant Polish grandparents. He holds a B. S. degree in Natural Resources Conservation from the University of Connecticut and M. S. degrees from both S.U.N.Y. Environmental Science and Forestry and Syracuse University. He further studied at U.N.M. in the Community and Regional Planning and Education. His civic engagement spans his 40 years in New Mexico serving on local, regional, and state task forces and councils. His employment history includes public and private business positions. He lives in a solar heated and solar electric home, likes to garden and hike, bike, ski, boat and kayak. • Resources Management Law Enforcement Officer National Park Ranger (NE USA) • Supervisory Engineering Work Coordinator for Bureau of Land Management Conservation Corps (Utah) • Owner Solar Electric Systems N M • Biologist mining reclamation for Earth Environmental (Gallup, NM) • Professional Contract Forester on Santa Fe and Carson N.F. • Soil Conservation for U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (Roy, NM) • Lands and Realty for Bureau of Land Management • Former Licensed Realtor in New Mexico • State Coordinator and Certified Park Ranger NM State Parks (Directors Award) • Founder and four-time president Classic Uptown Neighborhood Association • U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary • Passage of NM Boating While Intoxicated and Education Laws

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?

• Improve our state budget. Increase the revenues coming into the state while conserving the resources we have. It is our first priority. The health and welfare of the state's citizens, education, businesses and environment depend on it. New Mexico is losing revenue due to legislative inaction and failure to assign costs to businesses properly.
• Protect our seniors and retirees. Seniors and retirees built this state with property, sales and income taxes. I live on a fixed income and fight with those that strip reasonable pay and retiree benefits. Those issues are important to me and are my priority. We need home stability, security from predatory lenders, better health care; we need well paid and trained care -givers; and seniors that are at or below the poverty line in New Mexico need special relief from state, local and property tax increases and special consideration from predatory real estate contracts.
• Protect our environment. Whatever we do to use our science reaps mental and physical benefits for generations yet to come. We have a responsibility to pass the land and water onto the next generation better than we found it. My priority here is our water. I have been project manager for a major state reservoir water study and worked on one state regional water plan. I cannot believe that this state has only protected one of its aquifers in all my 38 years here. Not even this main Rio Grande Basin is protected. As legislators we have a conservation responsibility and a need to keep a promise to the children.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The primary one is the intersection of ecological health and the struggle to address our energy and climate future. We are facing a collapsing economy in this state for failure to make greater progress. Our loss of one water and climate dependent industry will be in the billions of dollars. I gave my first presentation on the matter when I owned my solar business. We called it the Greenhouse effect at the time. I sat on a panel with national experts addressing climate change and society. I used science-based data that showed for my own home how to achieve a 50 percent reduction in energy consumption. In one low cost fix alone that this state has failed to add to its energy code, we could be reducing home and commercial business cooling costs and water consumption. I've sat on the city energy council and was a participant in Governor Richardson's energy transition task force and even as a private consultant examined wind farm sites statewide. We have to do energy transition and our labs should, as adjuncts to the military who stated that climate change is the greatest threat to global security, be asked to convert much of their work to these tasks instead of trillions for new weapons development. There are two bright spots on the horizon. There is a move to place money in the hands of the taxpayers with an energy fee and dividend system which I support with the Climate Change Lobby. And, we are moving from nuclear to plasma-based energy with the SAFIRE project.

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

I look up to my older brother Tom. He and his wife Mabel raised two boys with difficulty. David was a all-star state high school hockey player who became hooked on prescription OxyContin and then got into heroin, almost dying in a few accidental overdoses. Tom has stood by him through thick and thin and paid tens of thousands for his treatment. Tom at work also took on as a union member, the protection of a fellow employee discriminated against because he was gay. Tom helped him with the legal issues he faced and got the employee's job reinstated with back pay. Tom was looking forward to retirement from years of work and we stay in contact. His wife a public-school teacher however came down with early onset Alzheimer's. He has cared for her for over a decade at home.

As for whose example I would like to follow it is Roberto Mondragon, who as a New Mexico politician is an exemplar. He as Lieutenant Governor was the most dedicated public servant I have seen. He took his responsibilities seriously detailing carefully his meetings with the public and state agencies. I am running as a Green Party Candidate because like him, I believe in the principles of our State and Federal Constitutions and support of the values that make good dialogue on issues.

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

Listening to the people and representing them and providing good leadership.

I believe in evolutionary change in both state and federal constitutions with rights only changed

by amending those documents and not by acts of legislation. To me that is a core principle.

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

Patience with others.

Visionary leadership and leading by example.

I believe in questioning everything, even existing policies and laws.

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

As one who serves as a national delegate for my party you have the duty to be there. As a delegate I had to work on platform items submitted by the members of the party and committees and to vote on them. (over 80 votes during the last two years). Similarly, you have as a legislator to both be there to vote on legislation and work on legislation.

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

The most significant first historical event was the death of President Kennedy. It was a shock as I was raised both as a Catholic and as an American. I was eleven years old at the time and was returning with my class from a visit to use the Hartford Public Library. We had just crossed the street to walk up Charter Oak Place.

The location I remember exactly as it was where a passing motorist stopped and told my teacher, Sister Ester, of the assassination. It was directly across a monument that in a recent visit back to visit an older brother, still stands there today. It is a tall column, carved of granite, a monument to the site of the Revolutionary War Charter Oak Tree wherein the King's Charter to the colony of Connecticut was hidden from the soldiers of King George. That Charter is a document written on sheepskin and guarded today at the Connecticut State Library just like the U.S. Constitution. The Connecticut Charter allowed for representative government and the liberty for the Connecticut colony to tax itself separate from Britain. Kennedy, like that Charter represented to me the dreams of a people.

President Kennedy stood firm in his beliefs, kept the nation safe and kept us from a thermonuclear war with the Soviet Union. As I still have relatives on the borderlands in Poland, his handling of the Cuban missile crisis showed exemplary leadership. I would years later also admire his pragmatic approach to our relationships with other nations with the Peace Corps, his belief that our nation should be a peacemaker and so avoid the catastrophe of war. Today I still think of him as a good President and one who I share a common bond from our love of the water and being both sailors as we grew up and as operators of vessels. His was duty aboard a PT-109 and mine was years of use with various Boston Whalers powerboats. And, we both suffered from lower back pain from our years of service.

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

My first agricultural job at 13 was working at an egg farm and it lasted almost two years. I also did the standard paper route for the Hartford Times the afternoon paper and on weekends would sell Mason Shoes from Chippewa, Wisconsin.

My first non agricultural job was working for the Hartford Times Circulation Desk. I coordinated the missed papers and other complaints with the carriers and believe I had that for about two years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I likely have close to 800 books in my home collections that cover many topics historical, war, international law, politics, adventure, philosophy, health, wealth, construction, earth studies, land use and some fiction.

The one that I have kept coming back to for many years is the book Walden by Henry David Thoreau. It reminds me always to stay focused with the necessaries of life for keeping one going as an individual and with the other beings we share this incredible planet with. Everyone needs their food, clothing, shelter and fuel.

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

Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt.

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

Uncle John's Band

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

Yes, I originally refused work in Washington D.C. as I thought it was absurd to be doing policy for folks I did not even have an idea of issues they faced.

That said seeing it from both within and without in my opinion is the most beneficial.

When I had my business in the private sector I would write op ed pieces on what was needed from government to help my industry succeed. I also had to deal with the ramifications of poorly written laws. That is a beneficial experience to have. Many legislators come from that background.

Working for government as I did though was beneficial, as you could see how laws would go thru the legislature and the interplay with the executive branch. I would see for example how the executive branch would use executive orders to guide a new program created by law and could appreciate the difficulty of instituting good administrative policy and procedures to carry that work out. Government experience in preparing information for committee hearings working with legislative council services and being there to answer member questions makes being in government appreciate the work legislators must do. I worked on two pieces of legislation directly with supporting legislators, the Boating While Intoxicated Law and the Mandatory Boater Education Law.

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

The income to the state of course is number one challenge.

Transitioning not to just a renewable economy but more importantly, one that reduces our energy consumption in all sectors all across the board.

Dealing with the loss of our water supplies for commerce, business and public recreation use. If we lose the current U.S. Supreme Court water case it might be the ultimate game changer. A ruling against the state will likely drain our meager long term saving accounts.

Cleaning up our soils for public health and having community food production for more local security.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

First I believe we need to have smaller districts. District sizes for House and Senate races are very large hindering the process of democratically elected representative republican government. The process needs also to incorporate proportional representation to do away with winner take all elections.

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

House Taxation and Revenue for the interim committee

Energy and Natural Resources

Agriculture and Water Resources

Judiciary

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

The one aside from Roberto Mondragon was Senator Dennis Chavez.

I think that New Mexico will again be facing the challenges of a depression era and will have to be ready.

Senator Chavez blazed a good path in being for the people, for the land, and for the culture.

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?

Yes, women that have been victims of domestic abuse now facing court money draining litigation abuse.

One had her two children taken away by CYFD for a year spent so far over $100,000 in legal costs trying to get them back. 

She has been fearful of her life because she believes the biological father of her children is also a murderer.

Knowing the tragic endings to violations of restraining orders I feel we have to do better to get law enforcement on the scene faster.

We need to address the current system better and I believe I have a way to do it.

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Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the New Mexico House of Representatives

Leadership

Speaker of the House:Javier Martínez

Majority Leader:Reena Szczepanski

Minority Leader:Gail Armstrong

Representatives

District 1

Rodney Montoya (R)

District 2

Mark Duncan (R)

District 3

Bill Hall (R)

District 4

Joseph Hernandez (D)

District 5

Doreen Johnson (D)

District 6

Martha Garcia (D)

District 7

Tanya Mirabal Moya (R)

District 8

Brian Baca (R)

District 9

Patricia Lundstrom (D)

District 10

G. Romero (D)

District 11

Javier Martínez (D)

District 12

Art De La Cruz (D)

District 13

Patricia Caballero (D)

District 14

Miguel Garcia (D)

District 15

Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D)

District 16

Yanira Gurrola Valenzuela (D)

District 17

Cynthia Borrego (D)

District 18

Marianna Anaya (D)

District 19

Janelle Anyanonu (D)

District 20

Meredith Dixon (D)

District 21

Debra Sariñana (D)

District 22

Stefani Lord (R)

District 23

Alan Martinez (R)

District 24

Elizabeth Thomson (D)

District 25

Cristina Parajón (D)

District 26

Eleanor Chavez (D)

District 27

Marian Matthews (D)

District 28

Pamelya Herndon (D)

District 29

Joy Garratt (D)

District 30

Elizabeth Torres-Velasquez (D)

District 31

Nicole Chavez (R)

District 32

Jenifer Jones (R)

District 33

Micaela Lara Cadena (D)

District 34

Raymundo Lara (D)

District 35

Angelica Rubio (D)

District 36

Nathan Small (D)

District 37

Joanne Ferrary (D)

District 38

Rebecca Dow (R)

District 39

Luis Terrazas (R)

District 40

Joseph Sanchez (D)

District 41

Susan Herrera (D)

District 42

Kristina Ortez (D)

District 43

Christine Chandler (D)

District 44

Kathleen Cates (D)

District 45

Linda Serrato (D)

District 46

Andrea Romero (D)

District 47

Reena Szczepanski (D)

District 48

Tara Lujan (D)

District 49

Gail Armstrong (R)

District 50

Matthew McQueen (D)

District 51

John Block (R)

District 52

Doreen Gallegos (D)

District 53

Sarah Silva (D)

District 54

Jonathan Henry (R)

District 55

Cathrynn Brown (R)

District 56

Harlan Vincent (R)

District 57

Catherine Cullen (R)

District 58

Angelita Mejia (R)

District 59

Mark Murphy (R)

District 60

Joshua Hernandez (R)

District 61

Randall Pettigrew (R)

District 62

Elaine Sena Cortez (R)

District 63

Martin Ruben Zamora (R)

District 64

Andrea Reeb (R)

District 65

Derrick Lente (D)

District 66

Jimmy Mason (R)

District 67

Jack Chatfield (R)

District 68

Charlotte Little (D)

District 69

Michelle Abeyta (D)

District 70

Anita Gonzales (D)

Democratic Party (44)

Republican Party (26)