Susana Martinez Quotes

My parents grew that small business from one 18-year-old guarding a bingo to more than 125 employees in three states. And sure, there was help along the way. But my parents took the risk. They stood up. And you better believe they built it.

Growing up, I never imagined a girl from a border town could one day become a governor.

In New Mexico, I inherited the largest structural deficit in state history, and our legislature is controlled by Democrats. We don't always agree, but we came together in a bipartisan manner and turned that deficit into a surplus. And we did it without raising taxes.

New Mexico is an environment where we are open for business.

Growing up I never imagined a little girl from a border town could one day become a governor. But this is America. In America algo es possible.

As the first Hispanic female governor in history, little girls often come up to me in the grocery store or the mall. They look and point, and when they get the courage, they ask 'Are you Susana?' and they run up and give me a hug.

I hope I've been able to show other young girls that as long as you work hard and you're committed to fight for your education, that anything's possible.

I will veto any tax increase.

My dad was a golden gloves boxer in the Marine Corps, then a deputy sheriff. My mom worked as an office assistant.

My parents taught me to never give up and to always believe that my future could be whatever I dreamt it to be.

Sometimes Republicans engage in number-crunching analysis that doesn't always take the neediest into account.

Too many Americans are out of work, and our debt is out of control.

I've known where my heritage is from all along.

The criminal justice system should have the authority to determine the immigration status of all criminals, regardless of race or ethnicity, and report illegal immigrants who commit crimes to federal authorities.

I went to law school. And I became a prosecutor. I took on a specialty that very few choose to pursue. I prosecuted child abuse and child homicide cases. Cases that were truly gut-wrenching. But standing up for those kids, being their voice for justice was the honor of a lifetime.

Republicans want to be tough and say, 'Illegals, you're gone.' But the answer is a lot more complex than that.

I've always known that my father's father and grandfather and grandmother were from Mexico. I've never denied it. I've always said it.

Success, they taught me, is built on the foundation of courage, hard-work and individual responsibility. Despite what some would have us believe, success is not built on resentment and fears.

Latinos care about education, yes, so we need reform, not just money.

When I was a young prosecutor, I got called to testify against my boss. I could have backed down, but I didn't. I stood up to him. And he fired me for it.

I am my own person.