• New Mexico House Education Committee Chairman Endorses Stephanie Garcia Richard For Dist. 43

Staff report

The Los Alamos Federation of School Employees sponsored a House Dist. 43 Candidate Forum Tuesday evening at Los Alamos High School in which Rep. Rick Miera, Chairman of the New Mexico House Education Committee addressed the audience about school funding issues.

RICK MIERA

Miera also endorsed Dist. 43 Democratic candidate Stephanie Garcia Richard.

“I came to Los Alamos to support Stephanie today,” Miera told audience members after the forum ended. “She’s a front-line teacher and it’s her experience that we need in the legislature.

District 43 currently includes Los Alamos and portions of Sandoval and Santa Fe counties. 

STEPHANIE GARCIA RICHARD

Garcia Richard stated in a news release, “I am surprised Rep. Miera came up to Los Alamos for this forum but glad that he understands our unique education issues. I am also honored to have his formal endorsement. It means a lot coming from someone of his character and stature.”

Miera, a Democrat and 24-year veteran of the House and Chairman of the House Education Committee, oversees public school funding and policies. He represents Albuquerque’s Dist. 11.

Miera spoke Tuesday about key education issues the legislature faces in the next session and how they may affect funding to Los Alamos Schools.

Garcia Richard and Republican opponent Jim Hall spoke to the 40 community members and teachers at Tuesday’s forum, which covered educational funding, student testing, teacher evaluations and the affects to Los Alamos schools.

Garcia Richard is a graduate of Barnard College, Columbia University and teaches 3rd grade at Pablo Roybal Elementary School in Pojoaque. In 2010, she ran for the House Dist. 43 seat against then incumbent Jeannette Wallace and came within 190 votes of winning.