District 41 N.M. House Representative Susan K. Herrera

Age:

74

Occupation: Retired, former CEO of Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation Education: Bachelor’s in University Studies from UNM

Political experience: One term as N.M. House District 41 representative; Rural Development, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs committees, chair; Education and Legislative Education Study Committee, member; U.S. House Rep. Jim Lloyd, former legislative aide; Congressional Hispanic Caucus, former director

Political party: Democrat

Charged or convicted of a crime (more serious than a traffic ticket): Social media or website: susanherrera.com

ANo

lthough Susan Herrera had worked in politics for many years previously, her first experience in elected office began just three and a half years ago, in 2019, after she unseated long-serving District 41 Representative Debbie Rodella, who had held the position since 1993.

Asked what sets her apart from her challenger this year, Marlo Martinez, an owner of a small business in Española, Herrera responded, “I’ve done it, and he doesn’t have a record. He hasn’t done it.”

Herrera makes it clear that she believes she hasn’t simply fielded the position for District 41 — which covers a handful of precincts in western Taos County, Rio Arriba County and Santa Fe County — she lists a number of political initiatives she has either spearheaded herself or been involved in during her first term in office.

“The first bill is predatory lending. I got that passed,” she said. “People have been working on that for 10 to 15 years, really, but haven’t been able to change it. We got it down to 36 percent. That’s probably my biggest accomplishment to tell you the truth. Nobody thought I could do it.”

House Bill 132 reduced the interest rate cap for lending from 175 percent down to 36 percent. The law goes into effect in N.M. in 2023.

In 2020, Rep. Herrera also co-sponsored the Kinship Guardianship Act with Sen. Linda M. Lopez of Bernalillo County. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the act into law, which provides financial subsidies and lowers barriers to childcare for non-parental guardians, such as grandparents.

Herrera was also a supporter of Gov. Lujan Grisham’s proposal to increase teacher pay by an average of 20 percent this year.

“A lot of people just take lobbyist bills. I don’t do that,” she said. “I take five bills that have an important impact on my district. I work to write them. I work to develop them. Then I work to pass them. That’s kind of what I try to do at the legislature. So I try to take local problems and bring them to the forefront.”

Regarding the longstanding issue of suicides at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, Herrera said she is skeptical about whether a proposal to introduce 24-hour law enforcement coverage is a “good use of resources” and is unsure funding for cameras — recently secured by Taos County — will help. However, she is in favor of raising the railings at the bridge or possibly installing curved fencing to make the bridge safer.

“I’ll work to get some capital outlay money,” she said. “I think we’re going to be in good shape. I’m sure it will cost a lot … But if somebody gives me the price tag, I will work with Bobby Gonzales, Leo Jaramillo, myself and Kristina Ortez and see if we can’t pull that off — and get the governor to back it, too.”