Jon Barela
Encyclopedia
Jon Barela is an entrepreneur
and the 2010 Republican
nominee for . He currently serves as Economic Development Secretary for the state of New Mexico.
, and attended Las Cruces High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in History and Diplomacy from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
at Georgetown University
in Washington, D.C., receiving a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (B.S.) in 1984. After graduation from Georgetown University
School of Foreign Service, Barela joined the staff of New Mexico Congressman Joe Skeen. As a senior aide to the Congressman, he focused on the House appropriations and legislative process. While working for Congressman Skeen, Barela earned his law degree from Georgetown
in 1987.
.
In 1993, Barela joined Intel
as its community and government relations manager. He set company benchmarks for outreach into underrepresented communities and was awarded the Intel Achievement Award, the company’s highest and most selective honor.
Barela left Intel in 2005 to become an entrepreneur. He is a founder and part owner of Cerelink, an Albuquerque cloud computing provider to the motion picture industry, which has benefited from New Mexico's publicly-financed film tax credit program.
New Mexico’s Work Force Development Board, and the Albuquerque Public Schools
Foundation.
He most recently served on the Albuquerque Public Schools
Board of Education
, helping oversee operations of one of the country’s largest school districts. The school board passed a policy that replaced a hot lunch with a meal that included a cheese sandwich, milk or juice, and carrot sticks when the children' parents fell behind with their lunch payments. Barela supported the policy, "We don't want to be bailing people out of their responsibility because they know the community is going to step up and pay this bill."
for , but was ultimately defeated in a 51%-49% race on election night. After the election, he was appointed by Governor Susana Martinez
to serve as secretary of New Mexico's Economic Development Department.
Barela ran unopposed in the primary for New Mexico's 1st congressional district
Republican nomination.
"Taxpayer Protection Pledge", a written promise by legislators and candidates for office that commits them to oppose tax increases.
He supports programs to encourage parents' involvement in their children's education, and successful programs which show parents and children the connection between education and future success, such as the "Learn and Earn" program. He cites his experience in the community working on behalf of educational programs as indication that he knows what works and what does not. In regard to the Affordable Health Care for America Act
, Barela prefers removing legislative and regulatory barriers to providing insurance, such as allowing interstate pooling for insurance purchase, rather than further government intervention in the health care system.
Barela has received the highest rating from the National Rifle Association
. The Gun Owners of America
also gave him their highest rating and their endorsement.
.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
and the 2010 Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee for . He currently serves as Economic Development Secretary for the state of New Mexico.
Early life and education
Jon Barela was born and raised in Las Cruces, New MexicoLas Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, also known as "The City of the Crosses", is the county seat of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 97,618 in 2010 according to the 2010 Census, making it the second largest city in the state....
, and attended Las Cruces High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in History and Diplomacy from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service is a school within Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., United States. Jesuit priest Edmund A...
at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in Washington, D.C., receiving a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (B.S.) in 1984. After graduation from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
School of Foreign Service, Barela joined the staff of New Mexico Congressman Joe Skeen. As a senior aide to the Congressman, he focused on the House appropriations and legislative process. While working for Congressman Skeen, Barela earned his law degree from Georgetown
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in 1987.
Career
Barela returned to New Mexico in 1987 and joined the Modrall law firm in Albuquerque. Four years later, he became New Mexico’s Assistant Attorney General and Director of the Civil Division under then Attorney General Hal StrattonHal Stratton
Harold D. “Hal” Stratton, Jr. is an American lawyer currently practicing law with the Albuquerque office of the Denver based western regional law firm, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP...
.
In 1993, Barela joined Intel
Intel Corporation
Intel Corporation is an American multinational semiconductor chip maker corporation headquartered in Santa Clara, California, United States and the world's largest semiconductor chip maker, based on revenue. It is the inventor of the x86 series of microprocessors, the processors found in most...
as its community and government relations manager. He set company benchmarks for outreach into underrepresented communities and was awarded the Intel Achievement Award, the company’s highest and most selective honor.
Barela left Intel in 2005 to become an entrepreneur. He is a founder and part owner of Cerelink, an Albuquerque cloud computing provider to the motion picture industry, which has benefited from New Mexico's publicly-financed film tax credit program.
Community affairs
Barela has made competitiveness and improving education central themes in his chairmanship of several significant organizations, including the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce (one of the country’s largest Hispanic chambers), New Mexico First (the state’s leading nonpartisan public policy group),New Mexico’s Work Force Development Board, and the Albuquerque Public Schools
Albuquerque Public Schools
Albuquerque Public Schools is a school district based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.Founded in 1891, the Albuquerque Public School District is the largest of 89 public school districts in the State of New Mexico....
Foundation.
He most recently served on the Albuquerque Public Schools
Albuquerque Public Schools
Albuquerque Public Schools is a school district based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.Founded in 1891, the Albuquerque Public School District is the largest of 89 public school districts in the State of New Mexico....
Board of Education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
, helping oversee operations of one of the country’s largest school districts. The school board passed a policy that replaced a hot lunch with a meal that included a cheese sandwich, milk or juice, and carrot sticks when the children' parents fell behind with their lunch payments. Barela supported the policy, "We don't want to be bailing people out of their responsibility because they know the community is going to step up and pay this bill."
2010 U.S. Congressional campaign
Barela challenged Democratic incumbent Martin HeinrichMartin Heinrich
Martin T. Heinrich is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes the central area of the state, in and around Albuquerque.- Early life, education and career :...
for , but was ultimately defeated in a 51%-49% race on election night. After the election, he was appointed by Governor Susana Martinez
Susana Martinez
Susana Martinez is the 31st and current governor of New Mexico.A Republican, Martinez is the first female governor of New Mexico, as well as the first female Hispanic governor in the United States. She was formerly the district attorney for the 3rd Judicial District of the U.S. state of New Mexico...
to serve as secretary of New Mexico's Economic Development Department.
Barela ran unopposed in the primary for New Mexico's 1st congressional district
New Mexico's 1st congressional district
New Mexico District 1 of the United States House of Representatives serves the central area of New Mexico, in and around Albuquerque. The current Representative is Democrat Martin Heinrich, who became the district's first Democratic representative in 2009.-History:Until the 1968 elections, New...
Republican nomination.
Political positions
Barela has signed the Americans for Tax ReformAmericans for Tax Reform
Americans for Tax Reform is an advocacy group and taxpayer group whose stated goal is "a system in which taxes are simpler, flatter, more visible, and lower than they are today. The government's power to control one's life derives from its power to tax...
"Taxpayer Protection Pledge", a written promise by legislators and candidates for office that commits them to oppose tax increases.
He supports programs to encourage parents' involvement in their children's education, and successful programs which show parents and children the connection between education and future success, such as the "Learn and Earn" program. He cites his experience in the community working on behalf of educational programs as indication that he knows what works and what does not. In regard to the Affordable Health Care for America Act
Affordable Health Care for America Act
The Affordable Health Care for America Act was a bill that was crafted by the United States House of Representatives in November 2009. At the encouragement of the Obama administration, the 111th Congress devoted much of its time to enacting reform of the United States' health care system...
, Barela prefers removing legislative and regulatory barriers to providing insurance, such as allowing interstate pooling for insurance purchase, rather than further government intervention in the health care system.
Barela has received the highest rating from the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
. The Gun Owners of America
Gun Owners of America
Gun Owners of America is a gun rights organization in the United States with over 300,000 members. They make efforts to differentiate themselves from the larger National Rifle Association , and have publicly criticized the NRA on multiple occasions for what the GOA considers to be the selling out...
also gave him their highest rating and their endorsement.
Personal life
Barela and his wife, Gina, have three children, John Paul, Christiana, and Joseph Daniel. Barela's parents, John and Edna still reside in Las Cruces, New MexicoLas Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, also known as "The City of the Crosses", is the county seat of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 97,618 in 2010 according to the 2010 Census, making it the second largest city in the state....
.
External links
- Cerelink
- Jon Barela for Congress
- Financial information at OpenSecrets.org