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Mary Helen Garcia
Mary Helen A. Garcia (b. July 14, 1937) is a former Democratic member of the New Mexico House of Representatives, representing District 34 from 2002 to 2014. Garcia has served as Chair of the New Mexico and District Democratic Party since 1997.
Biography
Garcia earned her B.A. and M.A. from New Mexico State University in 1960 and 1976, respectively. Her professional experience includes teaching for Gadsden Public Schools from 1960 to 1961, teaching for Las Cruces Public Schools from 1967 to 1992, serving as the Director of Instruction for Las Cruces Public Schools from 1993 to 1999, and as an Elementary School Principal at Las Cruces Public School from 1984 to 1993 and again from 1999 to the present.[1]
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Garcia served on the following committees:
| New Mexico committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Business and Industry |
| • Voters and Elections, Chair |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Garcia served on the following committees:
| New Mexico committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Voters and Elections, Chair |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Garcia served on the following committees:
| New Mexico committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Voters and Elections |
Campaign themes
2014
In an article with the Albuquerque Journal, Garcia said she would focus on the following issues if re-elected:[2]
- Excerpt: "I am up for re-election and if I am re-elected my goal will be to respond to public education and higher education needs. Education consists of 57.8 percent of the total recurring general fund appropriation. We must increase standard achievement, pre-kindergarten through third-grade programs, and increase their funding. We must also continue to increase funding for the many health and human service areas as well as job creation at the local and state level. Additionally, increase capital outlay funding to improve local and state infrastructure. My goal is to be effective and efficient in responding to my constituents."
Elections
2014
Elections for the New Mexico House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014, and a general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 4, 2014. Bealquin Bill Gomez defeated incumbent Mary Helen Garcia and Christian Lira in the Democratic primary. Gomez was unchallenged in the general election.[3][4]
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 Bealquin Bill Gomez |
47.8% | 410 |
| Mary Helen Garcia Incumbent | 46% | 394 |
| Christian Lira | 6.2% | 53 |
| Total Votes | 857 | |
2012
Garcia won re-election in 2012. She ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on June 5, 2012, and was unchallenged in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[5][6]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mary Helen Garcia Incumbent |
100% | 2,810 | |
| Total Votes | 2,810 | |||
2010
Garcia won re-election to District 34 in 2010. She had no primary opposition and was unchallenged in the general election which took place on November 2, 2010.[7]
| New Mexico House of Representatives General Election, District 34 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Mary Helen Garcia (D)
|
2,860 | 100% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Garcia won re-election to District 34 in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Garcia had no challenger.[8]
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of New Mexico scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2014
In 2014, the 51st New Mexico State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 21 through February 20.[9]
- Conservation Voters New Mexico: 2013-2014 Conservation Scorecard
- Legislators are scored on environment and conservation issues.
- Rio Grande Foundation: NM Freedom Index 2014
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills relating to economic issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the 51st New Mexico State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 15 to March 16.[9]
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the 50th New Mexico State Legislature, second session, was in session from January 17 through February 16.[9]
|
2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2011, the 50th New Mexico State Legislature, first session, was in session from January 18 through March 19.[10]
|
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Garcia and her husband, George, have two children.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for Mary + Helen + Garcia + New + Mexico + Legislature
- All stories may not be relevant to this legislator due to the nature of the search engine.
See also
- New Mexico House of Representatives
- House Committees
- New Mexico State Legislature
- New Mexico state legislative districts
External links
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1996, 1992
- Voting record from New Mexico Votes.org
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed May 12, 2014
- ↑ www.abqjournal.com, "House District 34 (D) – Mary Helen Garcia (i)," accessed May 14, 2014
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Official Results Primary Election - June 3, 2014," accessed July 7, 2014
- ↑ New Mexico State Legislature, "2014 Primary Election Candidates," accessed May 13, 2014
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Official Primary Results," accessed April 15, 2014
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "2012 Primary Candidate List," accessed May 13, 2014(Archived)
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "2010 General Election results," accessed May 12, 2014
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Official 2008 General Election Results," accessed April 15, 2014
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 New Mexico Legislature, "Session dates," accessed July 9, 2014
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed June 6, 2014 (Archived)
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mary Garcia |
New Mexico House of Representatives - District 34 2003 – 2014 |
Succeeded by Bealquin Bill Gomez (D) |
