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Doug Turner said he plans to make New Mexico more attractive to businesses by cutting taxes and requiring more accountability in the state鈥檚 public education system.

But the Republican gubernatorial candidate distanced himself from some of President Donald Trump鈥檚 policies during a Journal town hall event this week, saying he would oppose the Department of Justice鈥檚 legal attempts to obtain information about New Mexico voters.

He also demurred when asked if he would describe himself as MAGA, responding, 鈥淚 would describe myself as an American.鈥�

鈥淚 am a pragmatic person; I am independent-minded; I am practical and I think I am fair,鈥� he later added during the Tuesday event held at the Journal鈥檚 Ray Cary Auditorium. 鈥淚 think that all people in this state deserve someone like that in office who is not going to make a decision because someone else told them what to do.鈥� 

Turner, a small business owner whose public affairs company does work for the United Nations and several federal agencies, is one of three GOP candidates vying for the party鈥檚 nomination in this year鈥檚 open race for governor.

He reported this week having raised slightly more than $500,000 since launching his campaign in February. That positioned him to enter the final six weeks before the June 2 primary with more money on hand than his two opponents 鈥� outgoing Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull and cannabis entrepreneur Duke Rodriguez.

If elected, Turner said he would try to find common ground with leaders in the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

鈥淭he more people sit down and have a meal, a beer, and just talk about the issues that are important to them and their respective districts, the closer you get to understanding where they鈥檙e coming from and what the real issues are,鈥� Turner said. 

However, he also said he would push for reductions to the state鈥檚 personal income tax and gross receipts tax rates, which he described as significantly higher than neighboring states. Such a policy move could benefit taxpayers but ultimately lead to less money for state government programs.

鈥淚 am running for governor because I think the state desperately needs an entrepreneurial management spirit in the Governor鈥檚 Office,鈥� Turner said.

Of the five major party candidates still running for governor, Turner was the last to enter the race. He said that was due in part to family challenges related to the January 2025 death of his wife, Mala Htun, after a lengthy battle with breast cancer.

He said he ultimately discussed the governor鈥檚 race with his three children and decided to jump in after they expressed support.

During this week鈥檚 town hall event, Turner faced questions on a wide range of policy and political questions.

In response to one question, he said Rodriguez鈥檚 call for construction of a $200 million sports stadium in sa国际传媒官网网页入口 would be a 鈥済ross, gross mismanagement鈥� of public dollars. But Turner expressed support for the idea of a less expensive stadium for New Mexico United, the sa国际传媒官网网页入口-based professional soccer team.

On the issue of New Mexico鈥檚 beleaguered child welfare system, which is facing a lawsuit from Attorney General Ra煤l Torrez鈥檚 office, Turner said he would oppose efforts to make the Children, Youth and Families Department a standalone agency independent of the governor鈥檚 administration.

Turner also acknowledged the challenges of addressing homelessness and mental health issues in sa国际传媒官网网页入口 and other parts of New Mexico, while laying at least some of the blame at the feet of the state鈥檚 last Republican governor.

鈥淲e kind of blew up our mental health system in the state about 10 years ago 鈥� or 12 years ago 鈥� and I think we need to put it back together,鈥� he said, referring to former Gov. Susana Martinez鈥檚 decision in 2013 to freeze Medicaid funding for all of the state鈥檚 behavioral health providers due to fraud concerns that were never substantiated.

The Journal鈥檚 next town hall event is scheduled for April 20 and will feature independent gubernatorial candidate Ken Miyagishima, who is the former mayor of Las Cruces.

Dan Boyd covers state government and politics for the Journal in Santa Fe. Follow him on X at @DanBoydNM or reach him via email at dboyd@abqjournal.com.