Susan K.Trujillo
Age: 72
Occupation: Taos Municipal Schools board, member
Education: Northern New Mexico Community College, Associate’s in applied science in accounting, certificate in bookkeeping; UNM–Taos, introduction to paralegal studies I & II, government law; Highlands University Branch, budgeting; N.M. Certified Public Official; N.M. Certified Public Supervisor; N.M. Certified Public Manager; N.M. Local Government Leadership Program, certificate of achievement Political experience: Former Taos County treasurer (served two terms)
Political party: Democrat
Charged or convicted of a crime (more serious than a traffic ticket): No Social media or website: facebook.com/ profile.php?id=100080969361364
Alifelong Taos county resident, Susan K. Trujillo has worked in the public sector for over 40 years. She is currently a Taos Municipal School Board member.
After becoming a widow at the age of 43, she enrolled at Northern New Mexico Community College and earned an Associates of applied science in accounting. With a background in finance, and as the Taos County treasurer from 2013 to 2020, she views governmental issues through the lens of putting money in the right places, and said she values a transparent and concise budget.
Unprompted, she revealed the Taos County Budget and its exact contents inside of a 2-inch binder during an interview. According to Trujillo “government is incredibly complex and because I know how complex it can get, it is so important to know the bureaucracy involved and how to process anything or get anything done.”
She worked as the finance director, helping, in part, to oversee the mill levy taxes collected to help support Holy Cross Medical Center. Trujillo claims “accountability from the hospital was not there. There was no reporting that was made available to us.” She believes restrictions should have been set in place to make Holy Cross more accountable, such as monthly reporting from the hospital to the county or someone from the commission board sitting on their board meetings. Holy Cross does now provide regular updates to the public via its website.
Trujillo said she was not in favor of the legalization of cannabis.
“I’m at a loss. I don’t know how this could happen in New Mexico,” she said during a forum the Taos News hosted on May 12. “There was no plan for it. We’re going to have to do our own regulating. The police department is also in a quandary in how they are going to control that. It’s going to affect the working situation and the traffic.”
In addition to providing affordable housing, she believes in supplying education on life skills when it comes to purchasing a home and maintaining a home, for the working class. “They are assuming a big responsibility when it comes to purchasing a home….there’s budgeting issues, we should be able to have a plan to educate those people that are going to be applying for these homes.”
Trujillo encourages parents to look for summer programs, like reading clubs, swimming classes, youth soccer and Taos Little League, to help with child development.
On the matter of progress being made on the Taos Recycling Center, Trujillo said she spoke with Mayor Pascual Maestas to discuss the recent collaboration with Taos County and the Town of Taos. She says “attorneys are drafting the details of agreement at the moment and that the communication is open, the desire and passions are there to reopen the recycling.”
Also during this month’s forum, Trujillo said she would also work to ensure safer conditions for detainees at the Taos County Adult Detention Center, whose past leadership has been a subject of concern for county residents. “The jail should be a holding center, and not a permanent solution to our community,” she said.