Gary Earl Johnson was Governor of New Mexico from 1995-2003.  When he ran for his first term, he had had no prior political experience and had no political machine or establishment behind him. He defeated a former Republican Governor in the primaries, and went on to unseat an incumbent Democratic Governor in the general election by a 10-point victory margin, at a time when Democrats outnumbered Republicans 2-1 in the state. Gov. Johnson was term-limited and could not seek a third term in 2003. He has since become an avid triathlete, and after leaving office, climbed Mt. Everest (with a broken leg). He has now returned to the public policy debate with his 501(c)4 political action committee, the Our America Initiative.

Josiah Schmidt: Thanks for talking with us, Governor. What are your plans for the next year?

Gov. Gary Johnson: I will be getting out on the road, and seeing what interest there is for the OUR America Initiative. I believe citizens are ready to play a part in common-sense approaches to our nation’s challenges.

JS: Your two kids are helping you out with your new political advocacy committee at OurAmericaInitiative.com. Tell us a little about your children and your home life.

GJ: My daughter Seah is 30 years old, and she is constantly on the phone giving me helpful suggestions. My son Erik actually quit his job and is working for OUR America out of Denver. I am also engaged to be married to Kate Prusack. We’re extremely happy, and we’ve been together long enough to know that it’s right.

JS: Well, congratulations! That's great news. Tell us about the company you built. What kind of tough administrative decisions have you had to make as an entrepreneur?

GJ: I’ve had to make so many tough administrative decisions that I couldn’t even begin to tell you where that starts and ends. Basically, I started my company in 1974 with one employee. By 1994, we had over 1000 people. I have always considered myself an entrepreneur and continue to do so.

JS: When you ran for Governor, you reportedly ran 100% positive campaigns, never mentioning your opponents in print or ads. How did that work?

GJ: That’s what did happen. No money was spent in talking about my opponent in print, radio or TV. I would talk about opponents in speeches, etc., in order to compare the two of us and to compare our positions, but good politics is talking about what it is you plan to do, not running on the basis of how terrible your opponent is. That is just good politics. I don’t know any other example in the country other than mine that has absolutely refused to run negative ads. We won twice in New Mexico, even though Democrats outnumbered Republicans 2-1. I believe we won on the basis of good government and things that needed to be done rather than the deficiencies of my opponent.

JS: As Governor of New Mexico, you were known for vetoing 750 bills (more than all the vetoes of the other 49 Governors combined), shrinking the size of state government by over 1000 employees, and for stopping a 2-1 Democratic legislature from passing any tax hikes for your entire eight years. How did this help promote business and create jobs in your state?

GJ: I’ve always said that so much of what elected officials try to tout is their effect on the economy, or on job creation. I’ve never been an individual that would ever say that government actually creates any jobs whatsoever. Government has a responsibility to create a level playing field, for everyone to access the American Dream. I contributed to that while I was Governor of New Mexico – to making that playing field level.

JS: Almost everyone agrees that health care in America is getting too expensive and that some kind of reform is needed. But what kind of reform would you like to see?

GJ: Free market. Period. I believe that through the free market we blow the lid off supply, meaning that at one point we would be able to pay a thousand dollars for a surgery that is currently costing ten thousand. The reform we’ve seen so far was insurance entitlement and not real health care reform. Real reform will happen only by opening up to a true free market approach.

JS: Do you think that the Federal Reserve's unprecedented injections of new money into certain sectors of the economy over the past decade is related to the skyrocketing prices we've seen in energy, health care, college tuition, etc.? Does anything need to be done with the Fed?

GJ: Well, obviously the Fed needs to be looked at. When I say looked at, I mean examined for future viability. I’m not referring to strict oversight, because I don’t advocate that. Clearly the Fed has followed a course of weak dollar versus strong dollar. When the Fed was created in 1913, the dollar was worth a dollar. Today, the dollar is worth a nickel, and I truly think we’ll see it go to a penny. Does it need to be examined for viability, whether or not it should exist? Absolutely.

JS: We know that you oppose the nation building in Iraq and Afghanistan, but you have also said you support going after al Qaeda and those who perpetrate and plan attacks on America. How would you like to see the War on Terrorism be carried out more effectively?

GJ: Just that there is a recognition of terrorism and that we go after specific individuals and organizations that would in fact bring about armed action against the United States. This is and should be our main concern right now. I don’t think that this is taking place in either Iraq or Afghanistan today. I supported the initial efforts in Afghanistan but they have since lost their focus. For that reason, our troops shouldn’t be in either country to the extent they are today.

JS: What are your thoughts on the foiled "underwear bomber" attack of this past December?

GJ: I think that this topic is very, very political; it gives politicians the opportunity to point at XYZ and say ‘this needs to be done,’ as opposed to understanding that this is a process that continues to improve. This process needs to be technology-based. I think that at some point we will be able to ensure a safe flight through the use of improved technologies.

JS: You've also said that you feel that the abortion issue should be returned to the 50 states to decide.; But what is your personal view on abortion?

GJ: I do not support abortion after the point of viability, and viability being the case where the fetus can live outside the womb, even through artificially sustaining methods. So, I am against partial birth abortions. I also support parental consent and notification.

JS: How does your stance against Drug Prohibition fit in with traditional conservative values?

GJ: I think it fits right in. We should empower individuals to make choices, as long as those choices don’t adversely impact others. This is what we ended up doing with alcohol, and we need to learn the same lessons we did during prohibition. That isn’t to say that we believe that there is a justification for using drugs – but, no matter what we say about drugs, people continue to use them. In the case of marijuana, I believe it should be legal as long as you don’t become impaired and do harm to others, (i.e., get behind the wheel of a car). I view it in the same way that people can drink in the evening as long as they don’t put anyone else in harm's way.

JS: Could you share with us one of the most interesting changes that you made while Governor?

GJ: Absolutely. One of the most interesting things I did as Governor was starting the “Open Door After Four” program every third Thursday from 4:00 – 10:00pm. This meant anyone could come into my office and speak with me personally – and believe me, this generated some of the most interesting stories I had as Governor. No one in the state of New Mexico was unable to see me.

JS: Do you think your brand of conservatism is a philosophy that the GOP can unite behind?

GJ: I do, and rather than sitting on the couch and theorizing about that, OUR America is actually out in the public, finding out concretely whether or not those ideas resonate.

JS: You've been courted by the Libertarian Party in the past, because of your outspokenness for individualism and liberty. Do you think you'll always remain a Republican?

GJ: I do. I think I will always remain a Republican. I do believe in individualism and liberty, but I think that belief can be taken out and advocated more effectively with the Republican party than the Libertarian party. The Republican Party has been and will always be my party, and I think it’s worth trying to work within it, rather than outside of it.