Ms. Tonja Brandt is the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Southwest Public Policy Institute (SPPI). Ms. Brandt is a music educator and has been a small business owner, a homeschooling mother, and a public school teacher, experiences that give her insight into the wide-ranging challenges faced by individuals in all walks of life.
As the mother of three adult children, Ms. Brandt recognizes the importance of New Mexico’s economic policies and tax structure in keeping young adults in the state. She understands the value of a good education and believes that sound education policies, without unnecessary and burdensome requirements on teachers, will help students learn and thrive. She believes that a top-notch education, coupled with a fair tax structure, can make New Mexico a thriving and desirable place to live and do business.
Ms. Brandt graduated from Manzano High School in 1987 and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of New Mexico in 2012. She is married to Craig Brandt, a member of the New Mexico Senate.
Ms. Brandt’s commentary has appeared in Albuquerque Journal.