August 28, 2008
Albuquerque Journal
Chalmers tackles issues affecting business
By Susan Stiger Journal Staff WriterWhen you're chairman of the board of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, you take a wide-angle view of business. The big issues — say, crime, education, economic development, transportation and health care — are broad and complicated, always taking a whack at your bottom line.
You want to make a difference. But how much power do you really have? You're not a crime fighter and you're not the Santa of health insurance. Don Chalmers, owner of two car dealerships with used car outlets, became chamber board chairman July 1. Two weeks later, the New Mexico Legislature convened for a five-day special session dealing with a few of the concerns in the chamber's sights, namely health care, transportation and tax rebates.
To the tune of his favorite mood enhancer, country crooner Jerry Jeff Walker, Chalmers also awaited word on the fate of his proposal to build a racino in Tucumcari. The New Mexico Racing Commission chose Raton.
Chalmers didn't get everything he wanted, but he seems to have a tight turning radius for those “about face” moments that come when you play on a big stage.
“I will live by (the commission's) decision and move forward with my life and wish Raton all the luck in the world,” he said.
Chalmers is a Tulsa native, groomed to be a doctor, destined to be a businessman. He's sold Chevys, Subarus, Suzukis, Hyundais, Cadillacs, Olds, Lincoln Mercurys, Toyotas, GMCs and more, and now sees about $135 million annual revenue from Don Chalmers Ford in Rio Rancho, Don Chalmers Capitol Ford in Santa Fe and his used car outlets. So he does have distractions to get his mind off disappointments. Although Tulsa is his beloved home town, he's a New Mexican now. Specifically, a Santa Fean who's chair of the Albuquerque chamber board.
When the special session was over, Chalmers had a few things to say from his place in gear-up mode for a year running the board and for the next legislature.
First, the issue with the buzz — tax rebates. Individuals and dependents will receive $25, $40 or $50, depending on income. Those earning $70,000 or more will get nothing.
While some families spent their federal rebates on economy-stimulating big screen TVs or computers, a check for $40 might cover only a tank of gas. But Chalmers cautions against scoffing at the amount.
“For (a couple) making $30,000, a hundred means a lot to them. It could be $200 for a family of four. It's real easy for people making over $70,000 to say that's not much. It could make a big difference for some people. We have to be sensitive to that.”
What pushes Chalmers' sensitivity buttons is health care. He wants to rally the business community to take a stand: We'll provide health care if we get the tax incentives to make it work for everybody, for us, and the community at large.
“I want everyone covered and I want it to be affordable for business, run by private enterprise, with enough incentives for businesses to participate in providing it,” Chalmers said when the session was still going.
Mind you, that's his long-term goal; he wasn't expecting that to come out of the special session. And it didn't. Only $32.5 million of a requested $58 million passed.
“We have work to do,” he said when the session was over.
Chalmers believes the United States is a great place to be acutely sick, but not a great place to get healthy.
“It's our habits that make this not a healthy place. We need incentives and education to show or lead people to a healthier life.”
At his car dealerships, for instance, Chalmers employs a full-time nurse to help employees make healthy choices.
“She makes the rounds. She looks at weight, smoking, but people have to volunteer. We give incentives. If you quit smoking, you get $1,000.”
The nurse is an investment in Chalmer's eyes. “We need to fight absenteeism, increase satisfaction and productivity. If we all had coverage, it would be less expensive.”
Transportation, another item on the legislative agenda, is crucial to economic development, and transportation money had dried up, Chalmers said.
“Roads, from a work force standpoint, mass transit,” he said. “I'm in the business of personal transportation and I don't see that that is at all threatened by mass transit. I'm all for it. We need it and we need personal transportation.”
The $200 million the Legislature allotted to transportation will come not from surplus money, as was hoped, but from bonds. And none of it will go toward operation of the Rail Runner commuter train.
Chalmers says the chamber hasn't taken an official position on the Rail Runner. “We have it. It's here. If it's ever going to be good for the state, very frankly, with fuel prices the way they are, this would be the time. I live in Santa Fe, and I will probably use it somewhat.”
And speaking of official positions, Chalmers gives a stern-faced, wide-eyed “No,” to any question of political ambition. It's a bit fierce, as if he's tired of the question. Then he softens.
“Why would I want to step down from a better life? I'd rather help people this way,” he said.
“I ran for school board in Tulsa and won 70 percent of the vote. Most politicians are happy to get whatever majority they need. I wanted to know the names and numbers of the 30 percent that didn't vote for me.”