Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard congratulates Rep. Brian Egolf  on being chosen Speaker of the House. Rep. William Rehm looks on. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post

Newly elected Speaker of the House Brian Egolf has appointed Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard of Los Alamos to chair of the House Education Committee.
In this capacity, Garcia Richard will lead the committee in setting education policy and budgeting throughout the state. She is the first representative from Los Alamos to chair a legislative committee.

Garcia Richard has been an educator for 16 years.

“I am honored to be appointed to chair the House Education Committee,” Garcia Richard said. “As an educator, I understand the impact that state education policy can have on our schools and communities … in this new role I am in a stronger position to stand up for our kids and teachers.”

Garcia Richard is entering her third term in the House of Representatives. Her district includes Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval and Santa Fe counties.  Along with her chairmanship of the Education Committee, Garcia Richard has been named to serve as a member of the newly formed House Labor and Economic Development Committee.

She resides in White Rock with her husband Eric Vasquez and their two daughters.

Egolf appointed Garcia Richard in the afternoon session of the opening of the 60-Day Legislature, which got underway at noon Tuesday at the State Capitol. Gov. Susana Martinez delivered her annual State of the State Address during the session.