An open race for the state’s Public Regulation Commission is on November’s general election ballot.

The race is between Patrick Lyons, a former state senator and the current state land commissioner, and longtime business owner Stephanie L. Dubois of Tularosa.

The PRC regulates utilities, telecommunications, motor carriers and insurance industries to ensure fair and reasonable rates, and to assure reasonable and adequate services to the public as provided by law.

Departments under the PRC’s umbrella include the State Fire Marshal's Office, the Firefighter Training Academy, Pipeline Safety and the registration of all corporations doing business in New Mexico.

Lyons, a 1974 graduate of Clovis High School, is running as a Republican. DuBois is running as a Democrat.

Candidates were asked the same questions in short interviews with Freedom New Mexico.

Stephanie L Dubois

What do you think are the most important issues?

The PNM rate hikes for those cities (Ruidoso, Deming, Hondo, Tularosa, Ruidoso Downs) near where I live, that’s going to be a major one.

Now that the Obama health care bill is law, the PRC is going to have to regulate how that law is going to affect New Mexico and how it’s going to fit, and how much it’s going. I think the Legislature is going to look at whether to remove certain divisions out from under the PRC, like the insurance division and some of the others.

What do you believe prepares you for the job?

Admittedly, I don’t have a college degree, and I don’t know if that prepares me. I think owning an independent business helps (a dog grooming and training business called Halsam Generals, which she has owned for 40 years).

I also ran the Chamber of Commerce for three years in Deming. I also do mediation for a magistrate judge.

Tell us about somebody who was a major influence in your life.

I’m 65, so I’ve had a lot of people influence me. I would say my mother and dad. My dad is still alive and campaigning with me. We learn our politics from our parents. (Their lessons are) what makes us ethical human beings. I think my parents gave me that.

What’s more important to have, education or experience?

Probably a little bit of both. I do have some college credits, but I don’t have a degree. For what’s going on at the PRC, transparency is more important. People that are looking to vote for someone are looking to have someone in the office they can trust. With the exception of Jason Markis, I don’t think there’s anyone on there they can trust.

What’s your definition of open government?

Another newspaper asked me if I plan to meet with lobbyists. I said I would, but it would be in the public, no closed door stuff. If they need to talk to me, they can do it out in the open. Sunshine is the Clorox of open government. That’s why I took public money, so I would be a public voice.

Patrick Lyons

What do you think are the most important issues?

There are two. One of them is a good reliable utility rate for the consumer. Number two is the same thing with insurance. We have to have good insurance at a reasonable cost.

What do you believe prepares you for the job?

For one thing, we have a lot of experience, 10 years, in the state senate. We know the budget process. There’s also the eight years in the state land office.

Tell us about somebody who was a major influence in your life.

My father (Phil Lyons), for sure. He was just the greatest guy in the world. He always took care of the family, and said if you don’t have anything nice to say about somebody don’t say anything at all.

What’s more important to have, education or experience?

I think it’s a combination of both. You need to have a good education; you need experience.

What’s your definition of open government?

You can’t have a utility hike without having a hearing. Let’s have good, fair hearings in a timely fashion and hear both sides of the issue. Let’s hear consumer input and let’s hear company input.

Unlike DuBois, you’re not taking public money. Who are the people who have donated money to your campaign?

It’s just been friends, family ... connections I’ve made the last 20 years.