Luciano Varela

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Luciano Varela
LVarela.jpg
New Mexico House of Representatives District 48
Incumbent
In office
1987-Present
Term ends
December 31, 2014
Years in position 26
PartyDemocratic
Compensation
Base salary$0/year
Per diem$153/day
Elections and appointments
Last electionNovember 6, 2012
First elected1986
Next electionNovember 4, 2014
Term limitsN/A
Education
Bachelor'sCollege of Santa Fe, 1968
J.D.LaSalle Extension University, 1974
Military service
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1957-1959
Personal
BirthdayFebruary 17, 1935
Place of birthPecos, NM
ProfessionRetired
ReligionCatholic
Websites
Office website
CandidateVerification

Contents

Luciano Varela (b. February 17, 1935) is a Democratic member of the New Mexico House of Representatives. He has represented the 48th District since 1987.

Committee assignments

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Varela served on the following committees:

New Mexico Committee Assignments, 2013
• Appropriations and Finance
• Health, Government and Indian Affairs

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Varela served on the following committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Varela served on the following committees:

Issues

Lawsuit against Gov. Martinez

Mimi Stewart, Henry Saavedra, John Arthur Smith and “Lucky” Varela filed two lawsuits against Gov. Susana Martinez over her line item vetoes in an unemployment bill and a housing bill.

Raul Burciaga, the director of the Legislative Council Service, told committee members of the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) May 19, 2011 that in his opinion two line-item vetoes made by Gov. Martinez violate the state’s constitution.

“Some of the governor’s vetoes seem to impinge on the legislature’s appropriation powers and plow new ground in a governor’s exercise of the veto authority,” said Burciaga.

That day, Gov. Martinez firmly said she disagreed.

“I could protest any governor doing this … it’s not partisan,” Sen. Stuart Ingle. “She’s a good governor … but it’s a little bit of stretch to do this.”

Burciaga testified that the veto Martinez made in unemployment bill H.B. 59 is part of a revenue bill and “did not authorize the expenditure of state money because that authorization was already in statute and not amended in this bill.” Burciaga said the veto is “unconstitutional and, hence, unenforceable.”

The second veto came when Gov. Martinez reduced an appropriation the legislature made to budget bill H.B. 2 from $150,000 to $50,000. Burciaga said that while state courts have not addressed the issue specifically, reducing “an item of appropriation is a legislative function that the governor has no power to do.”

“I think we need to challenge this in the courts,” Rep. Luciano “Lucky” Varela (D-Santa Fe) said.

“The main difficulty I have is changing the figure [from $150,000 down to $50,000 in HB2],” Ingle said, expressing concern that if the current partisan makeup of the Roundhouse were reversed, a future Democratic governor could assume greater power at the expense of the legislative branch. ”We just can’t go there.”[1][2]

Elections

2012

See also: New Mexico House of Representatives elections, 2012

Varela ran for re-election in 2012. He ran unopposed in the June 5, 2012 Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election which took place on November 6, 2012.[3][4]

New Mexico House of Representatives, District 48, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark.jpgLuciano Varela Incumbent 79.6% 9,655
     Libertarian Bob Walsh 20.4% 2,477
Total Votes 12,132

2010

See also: New Mexico House of Representatives elections, 2010

Varela won re-election to the 48th District Seat in 2010. He had no primary opposition and defeated Bob Walsh (R) in the general election which took place on November 2, 2010.[5]

New Mexico House of Representatives General Election, District 48 (2010)
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark.jpg Luciano Varela (D) 7,776 78.50%
Bob Walsh (R) 2,128 21.50%

Soundbites from bipartisan forum

Luciano Varela and his opponent Bob Walsh spoke at a forum in late September 2010.[6]

2008

On November 4, 2008, Varela won re-election to the 48th District Seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Varela had no challenger. [7]

Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor information for Varela is available dating back to 1992. Based on available campaign finance records, Varela raised a total of $359,187 during that time period. This information was last updated on May 28, 2013.[8]

Luciano Varela's Campaign Contribution History
Year Office Result Contributions
2012 New Mexico State House, District 48 Won $29,120
2010 New Mexico State House, District 48 Won $46,032
2008 New Mexico State House, District 48 Won $24,739
2006 New Mexico State House, District 48 Won $141,051
2004 New Mexico State House, District 48 Won $24,824
2002 New Mexico State House, District 48 Won $40,734
2000 New Mexico State House, District 48 Won $10,887
1998 New Mexico State House, District 48 Won $14,021
1996 New Mexico State House, District 48 Won $11,483
1994 New Mexico State House, District 48 Won $7,316
1992 New Mexico State House, District 48 Won $8,980
Grand Total Raised $359,187

Varela won re-election to the New Mexico State House in 2012. During that election cycle, Varela raised a total of $29,120.

Varela won re-election to the New Mexico State House in 2010. During that election cycle, Varela raised a total of $46,032.

Varela won re-election to the New Mexico State House in 2008. During that election cycle, Varela raised a total of $24,739.

Varela won re-election to the New Mexico State House in 2006. During that election cycle, Varela raised a total of $141,051.

Varela won re-election to the New Mexico State House in 2004. During that election cycle, Varela raised a total of $24,824.

Varela won re-election to the New Mexico State House in 2002. During that election cycle, Varela raised a total of $40,734.

Varela won re-election to the New Mexico State House in 2000. During that election cycle, Varela raised a total of $10,887.

Varela won re-election to the New Mexico State House in 1998. During that election cycle, Varela raised a total of $14,021.

Varela won re-election to the New Mexico State House in 1996. During that election cycle, Varela raised a total of $11,483.

Varela won re-election to the New Mexico State House in 1994. During that election cycle, Varela raised a total of $7,316.

Varela won re-election to the New Mexico State House in 1992. During that election cycle, Varela raised a total of $8,980.

Recent news

This section displays the most recent stories in a google news search for the term Luciano + Varela + New + Mexico + Legislature

All stories may not be relevant to this legislator due to the nature of the search engine.

Luciano Varela News Feed


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External links

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References

  1. ↑ "Lawmakers file suit over Susana vetoes," Capitol Report New Mexico, May 26, 2011
  2. ↑ "Legislative director says two vetoes from Susana are unconstitutional," Capitol Report New Mexico, May 19, 2011
  3. ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, Official Primary Results
  4. ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State "Primary Candidate List," Accessed March 23, 2012
  5. ↑ North Dakota 2010 General Election Results
  6. ↑ "Soundbites from candidates forum: Lucky Varela (D) vs. Bob Walsh (R)," New Mexico Watchdog, October 2, 2010
  7. ↑ 2008 election results, New Mexico House of Representatives
  8. ↑ followthemoney.org, "Varela, Luciano," Accessed May 28, 2013
Political offices
Preceded by
' 		New Mexico House of Representatives - District 48
1987–present 		Succeeded by
NA
v • d • e
Democrat majority Current members of the New Mexico House of Representatives
House Speaker: W. Ken Martinez (D) • House Majority Leader: Rick Miera (D) • House Minority Leader: Donald Bratton (R)
   
Democratic (38) • Republican (32) • New Mexico Senate • New Mexico House of Representatives • New Mexico Senate
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