Ben R. Luján has an impressive record of public service and standing up for New Mexicans.
He was elected to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission on Nov. 2, 2004. Ben represents PRC District 3, which encompasses northeastern, northcentral and central New Mexico. His PRC district currently contains 11 counties that are part of Congressional District 3. As a member of the PRC his fellow commissioners elected him chairman in 2005, 2006 and again in 2007.
Ben has worked hard to make the PRC a strong and effective regulatory body on behalf of the citizens and businesses of New Mexico through fair, principled and ethical regulation.
He believes strongly in protecting the public interest by challenging regulated industries to improve service. Whether it’s health-care companies, Qwest or PNM, Ben has held corporations accountable and made access to their services more affordable for consumers.
Ben is a strong supporter of renewable energy. Under his leadership, the PRC implemented one of the highest standards in the nation for New Mexico utilities' renewable-energy requirements. The PRC also raised net-metering limits to provide more incentives for renewable-energy generation by individuals and businesses. Ben is dedicated to increasing the use of energy-efficiency measures to reduce costs to customers and to protect New Mexico’s natural resources and environment.
He has also helped to improve firefighting services in New Mexico. He worked with firefighters, the state Legislature and other governing bodies statewide to overhaul the New Mexico Fire Fund so that all distributions from the fund, which add up to millions of dollars, will go to improving fire services around the state.
“He has always fought for the fire fighters, often behind the scenes and in ways that have had long-lasting positive effects on our profession,” said Emily Kane, president of the New Mexico Professional Fire Fighters Association.
Ben has also fought for improved health-insurance coverage for New Mexico consumers, investigating the health-insurance industry's denial practices and spearheading development of legislation that expands access to insurance and closes loopholes the industry had been using to unfairly deny medical claims and void policies.
Before his election to the PRC, Ben served as the New Mexico Cultural Affairs Department's director of administrative services and chief financial officer. He has also served as deputy state treasurer.
He is a member of the New Mexico Telehealth Commission, where he works to encourage a single, statewide effort to create a system to deliver health-related services and information via telecommunications technologies. He also served as a land-use commissioner on the Santa Fe County Extra Territorial Zoning Commission and as a commissioner on the New Mexico Retiree Health Care Authority Board and the State Capitol Building Planning Commission.
When elected to Congress, Ben R. Lujan will continue to stand up for working families and the people of New Mexico.
