ALBUQUERQUE — Steve Pearce, candidate for Governor of New Mexico, has pledged to not raise taxes on New Mexico. Pearce, who has long championed lower taxes and economic growth, said he is focused on bringing jobs to New Mexico. He released the following statement:

"I am proud to pledge to the working families and small businesses of New Mexico that I will not raise taxes on them as Governor. Above all else, New Mexico needs jobs now and that will be my first priority as Governor. In business, I created jobs. As Governor, I will apply the skills I used in the private sector to bring to New Mexico good paying jobs that will grow our economy.

"My opponent is offering a very different vision and has put forward policies that will require massive tax increases to implement, which will further damage our state's economy and drive jobs out of state. I do not believe that raising taxes is the answer to New Mexico's economy or budget. With an outflow of people, businesses and jobs, raising taxes would make a desperate situation even worse. That is the wrong approach to fixing our state's economy and giving our people hope for a better future."