On Wednesday, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Martha Garcia, a 78-year-old former Cibola County Commissioner and president of the Ramah Navajo Chapter House, to fill the vacant New Mexico House District 6 seat following the passing of Rep. Eliseo Alcon.
The district, which covers Cibola and McKinley counties, including the Village of Milan, the Pueblo of Zuni, and parts of the Navajo Nation, has been unrepresented since late November when Alcon resigned due to declining health. Alcon, who was 74, passed away in January.
Progressive freshman State Sen. Angel Charley (D-Acoma), whose district overlaps with HD 6, called Garcia’s appointment “historic” and praised her commitment to advancing justice and equity. “Today’s appointment marks a significant milestone, not only for House District 6 but for the generations who have fought for a voice in decisions that shape our future,” Charley said in a statement. “Martha’s commitment to justice, equity, and the well-being of our people will serve as a guiding light in the legislature. I look forward to working alongside her to uplift our small towns and tribal communities in western New Mexico and protect the values we hold dear.”
Garcia, known for her progressive stance on key issues, did not respond to voicemails requesting comment on Wednesday, according to reports.
Before Garcia’s selection, governing boards in Cibola and McKinley counties had nominated two other candidates for the seat, but residency investigations found one of them ineligible. The governor chose Garcia over former Rep. Harry Garcia and former state Sen. Clemente Sanchez after a charade attempting to deem Rep. Garcia ineligible. He is a more moderate Democrat versus the progressive Ms. Garcia.
Garcia’s swearing-in ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, officially marking the beginning of her tenure in the New Mexico House of Representatives.
🤦🤦🤦🤦🤦🤦🤦 SAD for NM!
It’s ironic that the Bolshevik’s in Russia also used the term progressive to describe themselves. There is nothing progressive about Marxism as history has proven. MLG has just appointed another liberal tool she can manipulate to further her agenda of destroying NM.
One old liberal dies so bring in an older liberal who will die. Geez!!
At a time when Trump and America are dismantling DEI, MLG and New. Mexico double down on it.
When is DEI gonna DIE?
Southeast NM has been unrepresented in US Congress since the last election and in the Senate since Mr. Domenici.