Carla Sonntag, president and CEO of the New Mexico Business Coalition, is no stranger to the challenges her home state faces. Born and raised in New Mexico, she loves the state’s culture, people, and landscape. However, her frustration with ineffective policies nearly drove her to leave 16 years ago. Instead, she says that after much prayer and reflection she decided to stay and fight for change. “There is no perfect place, so why not stay and make this better?” she asks.
Her organization, along with her more recently formed Better Together New Mexico coalition, advocates for sound business policies, and improvements to public safety and public education. Sonntag says these are interconnected issues that can be managed to improve New Mexicans’ daily lives.
Carla, as she is known to most policy makers and associates, believes that economic growth and prosperity result from sound governance. “The Business Coalition is focused on good business policy,” she says. “Education is a priority because our children are our future workforce, and right now, they’re not being educated properly.”
She is concerned about crime as well, noting that it drives people out of the state. As a non-partisan group, Carla says the business coalition does not care about party affiliation. Instead, they care about improvements in specific areas. “What we care about is: what are you doing about it?” she says. She asks elected officials, “are you making it better for all of us?”
Her Better Together New Mexico is a project unites 144 organizations across the state to push for changes together. “We’ve locked arms and said we’re going to do this together,” she says. “And it’s amazing what’s happening.”
According to Sonntag, the coalition is already seeing progress, and she credits the success to the persistence of its members. “When people are informed, they realize they can change things–that’s our whole purpose,” she says.
A crucial part of Sonntag’s advocacy work is keeping citizens engaged with the legislative process. Through the Business Coalition’s website, citizens can sign up for email updates and participate in calls to action. “When there’s an issue that deeply concerns New Mexicans, we put together a call to action,” she says.
With just a few clicks, citizens can send letters to decision-makers. One recent campaign generated over 270,000 emails opposing the ‘paid family medical leave’ bill, House Bill 11. Sonntag sees this as proof that people care about state policies and want a voice in shaping it. “It takes less than a minute, and it makes a huge impact,” she says.
The medical leave bill, which recently passed committee and is heading to the House floor, is one of Sonntag’s primary concerns. She warns that the legislation will impose a new tax on employees and employers. “Every employer with more than four employees will have to pay a tax on every dollar they pay in payroll,” she says. “They lowered the fees in the revised bill, but that just means the program will be in [financial] trouble even faster.” Sonntag is frustrated that the bill is advancing despite warnings from analysts that it will quickly become unsustainable. “We’re in the third year of a budget surplus, and instead of investing wisely, the state is creating more social programs and increasing taxes,” she argues.
Carla is also involved in legislative matters concerning crime and public safety. She points to a recent poll conducted by CWS Research and Hudson Talley, which found that 94% of New Mexicans believe repeat violent offenders should be held without bail until trial. “People are tired of living in fear,” she says. “They’re tired of seeing repeat offenders back on the streets committing more crimes.” The poll, which the business coalition helped sponsor, also revealed overwhelming support for the state’s oil and gas industry, with majorities of Hispanic, Latino, Native American, and Asian respondents favoring increased production. “We’re the second-largest oil producer in the U.S., and that revenue funds nearly half our state budget,” she says. “If we shut that down, we’re going to be in serious trouble.”
Sonntag’s advocacy work is deeply personal. Her husband, Larry Sonntag, a former Albuquerque police officer and U.S. Air Force veteran, plays an important role in her efforts. “After years of me supporting him in the military and police force, he told me it was my turn, and he would support me,” she says. “I couldn’t do this without him. He’s my right arm and half my brain.” The couple has dedicated their time and energy to making New Mexico a safer, more prosperous place for its residents.
The pair have a track record of proposing solutions that get adopted. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Carla drafted a reopening plan that gained support from 19 mayors across the state. When her plan was ignored by the governor, she turned to the legislature and successfully lobbied for unemployment fund replenishment. “We saved businesses from devastating rate hikes. I don’t care who takes credit—I just care that it got done.”
Despite remaining challenges in New Mexico, Carla remains hopeful for her home state. She believes that bipartisan cooperation is still possible, pointing to a recent bill she supported that passed with votes from both parties. “We had Republicans and Democrats sponsoring it because it addressed an issue created by an executive order. It wasn’t about politics—it was about what’s right for New Mexicans.”
She urges more New Mexico citizens and businesses to get involved in the state’s political processes. “We need participation–we need people to speak up,” she says. “This isn’t about us,” Carla says. “It’s about making New Mexico better.”
