Sam Obenshain

Sam S. Obenshain

Democratic Party

New Mexico Public Education Commission District 1

Tenure

2025 - Present

Term ends

2028

Years in position

0

Predecessor

Melissa Armijo

Compensation

Per diem

$95

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Albuquerque High School

Bachelor's

Washington and Lee University, 1988

Graduate

The University of New Mexico, 1991

Other

The University of New Mexico, 1994

Personal

Birthplace

Fort Riley, Kan.

Religion

Non-Denominational

Profession

Retired

Contact

Personal Facebook

Personal Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Sam S. Obenshain (Democratic Party) is a member of the New Mexico Public Education Commission, representing District 1. He assumed office on January 1, 2025. His current term ends on December 31, 2028.

Obenshain (Democratic Party) ran for election to the New Mexico Public Education Commission to represent District 1. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

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

Biography

Sam Obenshain lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Obenshain earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Washington and Lee University in 1988, and later a master's degree in special education and teaching in 1991 from The University of New Mexico. His career experience includes working as a program director and instructional coach.

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.
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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 Obenshain in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Sam S. Obenshain completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Obenshain'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 Sam Obenshain and I am running for a seat on the Public Education Commission (PEC). I have worked in public education for my entire 34-year career and have recently retired. Being a life-long educator, I have experienced almost every aspect of this profession. I began my career as an Educational Assistant in the South Valley of Albuquerque and worked my way up from special education teacher to high school coach, from assistant principal to principal and later executive director of the highest-rated public school in the state of New Mexico. During my career, I was also fortunate to take on the role of Director of Charter Schools for the state of New Mexico and finished my career at the NM Public Education Department (PED) as the Assistant Secretary of Education for Charter Schools, Home Schools , and Non-public Schools. During my time at the PED, I was fortunate to shepherd in the state-chartering system overseen by the PEC. I have worked in both traditional public schools and public charter schools both as a teacher and as an executive director. I am running for the Public Education Commission (PEC) because I believe in the "charter school bargain" which allows for greater autonomy for schools with increased accountability from the PEC. During my time as a leader of public schools, I continuously fought for innovative and effective practices that directly impacted student achievement. I hope to do the same in my role as a PEC Commissioner.

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?

• As a retired public school educator, I want to give back to the system that has given me my life's work, and believe that leadership in education needs improvement. As a Commissioner, I hope to be a voice for educational leaders who at times can feel that the system is working against them, not for them. I believe with my vast experience in the public education system, I can bring a school leader's perspective to the table and listen to and address the challenges that school leaders face on a consistent basis.
• Because I worked to create the first state-chartering system during my time at the NM Public Education Department, I believe that my knowledge of the laws governing charter schools and their authorizing bodies will allow for me to hit the ground running. Additionally, I have consulted with the Public Education Commission during my time as a charter school leader to help them navigate through the difficult decisions that they are charged with in their authorizing practices.
• Throughout my career in education I have consistently championed the belief that all kids can learn, but they do not all learn in the same way. In order to teach the students, you must first reach them. I believe that charter schools should have the flexibility and autonomy to make decisions for their schools and ultimately for their students without having to go through the immense amount of bureaucratic 'red-tape' that, in my opinion, maintains the status quo and does not provide the opportunity for innovative and proven teaching and learning practices. As a Commissioner, I will do my best to represent these ideas while at the same time holding schools and their leaders accountable to the law and the public that they serve.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Because I was in on the ground floor of charter school authorizing by the state of New Mexico, I am personally passionate about the policies and practices that allow for innovation and best practices in our public school system. I believe in the idea that innovation in charter schools should lead to innovation in all of our public schools. I am interested in challenging the status quo and know that not only do our children deserve the best education available, but that many times it is because of the public policies currently in place that keep innovation from happening.

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

The number one quality of the PEC is the oversight of the schools that they have authorized. The PEC is a necessary entity that provides charter schools a choice in determining their authorizing body. There have been many incidents where charter schools have been discouraged by local school districts to establish a school within their boundaries. The PEC offers a state-wide opportunity for charter schools to establish schools regardless of the district's opposition to such an addition to the educational landscape in their community.

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

I look up to my mother, who we lost 8 years ago to pancreatic cancer. She was my first mentor in the field of education and , of course, my first mentor in life. She had a heart as big as anyone I've known and always stood up for justice when she injustice.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Two of my favorite books that I continually go back to are "The Manufactured Crisis" by Bruce Biddle and David Berliner as well as "The Schools Our Children Deserve" by Alfie Kohn. These two books challenged me to look at the educational situation in our country differently and to truly reflect on the idea that one size does not fit all. I believe that parents truly want their children to lead happy productive lives and look for schools that give their children the best opportunity to fulfill that ideal.

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

I have always thought that the most important principle for any leader, whether elected or not, is integrity. One must be honest in words and actions, tell the truth and make the hard decisions with the public's best interest at heart. As a Commissioner, I will stay true to my belief in the educators of our state and the children who attend our schools. Tough decisions become less difficult when you have a foundational belief that the students come first. It is not enough to have that belief, however, every decision that is made must reflect that bedrock concept.

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

My experience in all areas of public education will serve me well in this position. I have been the Executive Director of the number one ranked public school in the state and, at the time, we were ranked the 20th best charter school in the country by US News & World Report. I have worked with the PEC for many years and feel as though I will walk into the position hitting the ground running.

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

The most important responsibilities for the Public Education Commission are approving or denying an initial application for a charter school, renewing or not renewing a school's charter, and overseeing the progress of state-chartered charter schools during their term(s) of existence. If done well, a Commissioner should know the laws that govern charter schools, understand the challenges that come with opening and running a public school, and have the political will to shut down a school that is not living up to its mission and philosophy. Additionally, I believe that a Commissioner should always represent the best in public education and champion the idea that charter schools are a path to educational innovation and ultimate success for all public school institutions.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to leave a legacy of confidence in the public education system and hope to positively impact the current educational landscape by reducing the red tape that school administrators have to navigate through and open the doors to giving them the freedom to reach and teach our children.

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

I vaguely remember the moon landing in 1969, I was three years old at the time, but I have a fuzzy recollection of us all sitting really close to a black and white TV watching images of the moon landing.

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

My first job was at McDonald's on Isleta and Rio Bravo in the South Valley of Albuquerque. I held that job down for a solid two and a half years!

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. I just love the main character and his constant stream of consciousness that is described throughout the novel.

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

Hmmmmm...Ethan Hunt, Jason Bourne, James Bond, or Inspector Clouseau...

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

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2

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

I have led a blessed life and only really struggle with consistently trying to do more for others.

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

The most important responsibility is to be knowledgeable about the laws and regulations that govern public charter schools. Working collaboratively with the other Commission members is also an important trait that I believe will serve all public offices well.

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

Although charter school authorizing is by far the most important power that the PEC holds, the Commissioners also represent their constituents on a variety of educational-related state committees. I think it is important for people to be aware that they have a voice in these committees through their PEC Commissioner.

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

Not necessarily, although experience in education, and more specifically, in charter school practices will be extremely beneficial to the holder of this office.

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

Collaboration skills, communication skills, knowledge of the laws and regulations that govern charter schools and their authorizers.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Have you heard the one about the roof? It's way over your head.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I believe in both financial transparency and government accountability, and as a Commissioner, I will insure that state-chartered public charter schools will be held to the highest degree of accountability in these areas. The issue that has put most charter schools in jeopardy has been the lack of appropriate financial oversight by their respective governing councils. Although the oversight from the governing board is crucial, I also will work with the NMPED to use and improve upon the processes already in place among governmental entities to not overly burden the schools with redundant reporting requirements.

Do you support or oppose changes to the current state ballot initiative process? If so, what kind of changes would you consider?

I will need to do more research before taking a position on the ballot initiative process. However, I do support any initiatives that will allow for greater access to the voting process for communities of color.

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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Sam S. Obenshain campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	New Mexico Public Education Commission District 1	Won general	$5,000	$0
Grand total			$5,000	$0
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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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Melissa Armijo (D)	New Mexico Public Education Commission District 1 2025-Present	Succeeded by -