2024 Primary Election Guide: N.M. Senate

 

 

Tina R. Garcia 

Age: 58 

Occupation: Retired magistrate judge 

Education: High school; certificate in judicial studies 

Previous elected political offices: County clerk, 2000-07; magistrate judge, 2008-21; appointed member of the Los Lunas Board of Education, 2021-23 

Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a felony, or DWI in New Mexico or in another state? “No.” 

1. What in your experience, education etc., makes you qualified for this position?

“My political career has given me the experience I need for this position. As a county clerk, judge and board of education member, I learned the importance of local government, New Mexico laws, election laws and budgets. I bring a track record of effective leadership and understanding of the challenges and the opportunities within Valencia County.” 

2. What do you hope to work on or see passed at the Legislature to address safety issues in our community?

“Laws are not always funded nor have the best practices in place for our courts or law enforcement agencies. This is about communication. I will work with law enforcement, treatment providers and other community partners to ask them what they need to address these issues in our community and will then seek legislation to help them help our community.” 

3. Every municipality and county struggles with paying the high cost of infrastructure projects. How should the state address growing and costly infrastructure needs?

“I know traffic is a big concern. I will work with all stakeholders in Valencia and Socorro, to see the plans they have already created and hopefully find shared solutions in the state budget to help. There will never be enough money, so we need common goals and timelines to address these issues. I hope we continue to grow but we need to work together to create and fund infrastructure projects together.” 

4. What can the Legislature do to help address the teacher shortages in New Mexico?

“As a school board member, I learned teachers need to be heard, respected and trusted. We need to listen to what they need to do their job effectively. Pay, insurance and retirement are basic needs for teachers. The state budget needs to properly fund districts so that teachers feel secure in their jobs. New Mexico is a beautiful state to work in, recruitment across the country is already being done and is necessary.” 

 

 

Joshua A. Sanchez

Age: 42 

Occupation: Small business owner 

Education: High school diploma 

Previous elected political offices: Current New Mexico state senator – District 30 

Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a felony or DWI in New Mexico or in another state? “No.” 

1. What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?

“Four years as a New Mexico state senator has helped me understand the challenges that New Mexico faces. Family is incredibly important to me, and I have embraced the people of New Mexico as an extension of my immediate family. I want to help them reach their full potential. It is important to me. As a small business owner, I understand what it takes to have people who depend on me and so, I understand that the people of New Mexico depend on me to do the job as senator well.” 

2. What do you hope to work on, or see passed, at the Legislature to address safety issues in our community?

“I want to work on improving border security and work to stop the spread of illegal drugs, like fentanyl from ruining our state. Crime prevention and enforcement changes need to be made to the laws in New Mexico, otherwise we are going to continue to have safety issues in New Mexico’s communities.” 

3. Every municipality and county struggles with paying the high cost of infrastructure projects. How should the state address growing and costly infrastructure needs?

“The best way citizens can address the growing costs of infrastructure projects is to get out and vote. Over 90 years of the same party leadership is not working.” 

4. What can the Legislature do to help address the teacher shortage in New Mexico?

“New Mexico’s teacher shortage is a part of a much bigger problem, and it is in line with our doctor shortages as well. Our state must find a way to become more attractive to live in, and a place where a person can live and thrive, we aren’t that right now. We have high crime rates with minimal repercussions for those crimes. This hampers our ability to attract teachers, doctors, and businesses.”

 

 

Angel M. Charley 

Age: 40 

Occupation: Executive director 

Education: Associate degree 

Previous elected political offices: None 

Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a felony or DWI in New Mexico or in another state? “No.” 

1. What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?

“I have spent my professional career working to lift up families. As the former executive director of the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women, I worked for safer communities through direct service and policy advocacy. I am from the Pueblo of Laguna and know our rural and tribal communities.” 

2. What do you hope to work on, or see passed, at the Legislature to address safety issues in our community?

“Improving community safety means supporting public safety personnel—police and firefighters—but also making sure our schools are well-funded—that kids are kept busy with after-school programs, that parents have well paying jobs and housing they can afford, and there are available drug treatment and mental health programs in our communities.” 

3. Every municipality and county struggles with paying the high cost of infrastructure projects. How should the state address growing and costly infrastructure needs?

“State and federal collaboration is key to how we fund local infrastructure projects. Leveraging federal programs that offer matching funds can amplify the impact of state dollars and meet growing needs. Having strong relationships with our federal delegation is key—and I’m pleased to have Sen. Heinrich’s support for my campaign.” 

4. What can the Legislature do to help address the teacher shortage in New Mexico?

“Teachers play a crucial role educating our next generation —yet they are often overworked and underpaid. Educators need to be valued for their work, paid livable wages, and need good working conditions. I will work to increase education funding and I am proud to be endorsed by NEA-NM and ATF-NM.” 

 

 

Clemente Sanchez 

Age: 65 

Occupation: Retired and consultant 

Education: Bachelor (BBA) and master degrees (MBA) 

Previous elected political offices: New Mexico Senate District 30, 2013-2020 

Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a felony or DWI in New Mexico or in another state? “No.” 

1. What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?

“I served in the New Mexico Senate from 2013-2020 and was chairman of the corporations and transportation committee. I have a BBA from ENMU and an MBA from NMHU. I have shown leadership when I was in the Senate representing my district and not special interests. Experienced educator and businessman.” 

2. What do you hope to work on, or see passed, at the Legislature to address safety issues in our community?

“We need to support our law enforcement and give them all the tools that they need to do their jobs. Improve their pay and benefits. Improve and continue recruitment and retention efforts.” 

3. Every municipality and county struggles with paying the high cost of infrastructure projects. How should the state address growing and costly infrastructure needs?

“What would need to be done is to get these projects started and reduce the bureaucracy that happens at the state level with paperwork. The longer the projects sit without starting costs go up. Improve our capital outlay system which is where a lot of the funding comes from for our municipalities and counties.” 

4. What can the Legislature do to help address the teacher shortage in New Mexico?

“Continue to improve teacher pay and benefits as well as pay for teacher aides, cooks, maintenance staff, etc. PED and the school districts need to increase recruitment efforts. This recruitment should start at the K-12 level by encouraging students to go into the profession as well as with higher education and the professional community because these professionals have a lot of practical experience to bring to the table to project the teacher profession as exciting and rewarding. Recruit retired and career change professionals to get the training and become teachers.” 

 

 

Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics (I) 

Age:  73  

Occupation: Retired  

Education:  Ph.D., University of Minnisota; M.S., University of Wisconsin; B.S., EKU  

Previous elected political offices:  NM State Senate (12 years); Santa Fe County Commissioner (eight years)  

Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a felony or DWI in New Mexico or in another state? “No.”  

1. What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position? 

“My ability to work with constituents of all parties; my understanding of state government; my focus on the future of the state.”  

2. What do you hope to work on, or see passed, at the Legislature to address safety issues in our community?

“Services to homeless population — behavioral health; services to children and individuals experiencing domestic violence; gun protections from children; services to prevent abuse and hoarding of animals.”  

3. Every municipality and county struggles with paying the high cost of infrastructure projects. How should the state address growing and costly infrastructure needs? 

“The state could identify major infrastructure projects in every county to fund separately from projects that are less than $500,000. Large trust funds, which need to be enhanced, have been established to work on water projects, roads, libraries, conservation, and environmental projects.”  

4. What can the Legislature do to help address the teacher shortage in New Mexico? 

“Lottery and opportunity scholarships can technically pay for an individual’s undergraduate education degree. Affordable housing can be a legislative issue. Communities could identify incentives to work in their areas — affordable housing, a business welcome package, gas cards, etc.  Protect school districts options for four day school weeks.” 

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VOTING INFORMATION

Absentee by mail 

If absentee ballots are not returned by mail, they can be returned in person at the following locations by 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 4: 

• Valencia County Clerk’s Office, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas
• Any of the early in-person or alternate early voting locations.
• Any of the 15 Voting Convenience Centers open on Election Day throughout the county.
• Any of the three secure absentee ballot drop boxes
• Belen Community Center, 305 Eagle Lane, Belen
• Bosque Farms Public Library, 1455 W. Bosque Loop, Bosque Farms
• Valencia County Administration Building, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas

Early, in-person voting 

8 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Friday, May 17, Monday through Saturday 

Valencia County Administration Building, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas 

Alternate, early voting 

10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, May 18, through Saturday, June 1, Monday through Saturday 

• Belen Community Center, 305 Eagle Lane, Belen,
• Bosque Farms Public Library, 1455 W. Bosque Loop, Bosque Farms
• Pueblo of Isleta Veterans Center, 4001 N.M. 314, Isleta
• Valencia County Administration Building, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas

Voting Convenience Centers 

7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 4 

• Ann Parish Elementary, 112 Meadow Lake Road, Meadow Lake
• Belen Community Center, 305 Eagle Lane, Belen
• Belen Public Library, 333 Becker Ave. Belen
• Bosque Farms Public Library, 1455 W. Bosque Loop, Bosque Farms
• Century High School, 32 Sun Valley Road, Los Lunas
• Del Rio Senior Center, 351 Rio Communities Blvd., Rio Communities
• Don Jose Dolores Cordova Cultural Center, 426 Jarales Road Jarales
• El Cerro Mission Community Center, 309 El Cerro Mission Road, El Cerro
• Logsdon Hall, 19676 N.M. 314, Los Chavez
• Los Lunas Schools Administration, 119 Luna Ave., Los Lunas
• Meadow Lake Community Center, 100 Cuerro Lane, Meadow Lake
• Pueblo of lsleta Veterans Center, 4001 N.M. 314, Isleta
• Tomé Adelino Fire Department Valley Station, 2755 N.M. 47, Tomé
• Town of Peralta Town Hall , 90A Molina Road, Peralta
• UNM-Valencia Workforce Training Center, 1020 Huning Ranch, Los Lunas