Bilingual educator forges unique path as a lawmaker
Ex-ABQ middle school math teacher acknowledges challenge
SANTA FE — First-term state Rep. Yanira Gurrola took a little-traveled path to the Legislature.
The former Albuquerque middle school math teacher grew up in Chihuahua, Mexico, and worked as an engineer at maquiladoras, or duty-free factories along the U.S.-Mexico border, before eventually moving to New Mexico.
She currently works as a bilingual educator and was not contemplating a foray into politics until Antonio “Moe” Maestas vacated his West Side House seat in December after being appointed to the Senate.
When she got a phone call from a union representative urging her to apply to the Bernalillo County Commission for the legislative seat, Gurrola said she at first thought she was joking.
But Gurrola agreed to apply, was subsequently selected and became one of 17 new House members during this year’s 60-day legislative session, albeit the only one who didn’t attend an orientation for new lawmakers since she wasn’t appointed until Jan. 9 — just a week or so before the start of the session.
“Two months ago, I didn’t see myself here,” Gurrola, a Democrat, said in a recent interview in her office in the Capitol Annex.
With little time to prepare, Gurrola acknowledges it’s been a challenge getting up to speed in the ways of the Roundhouse, including the rules that guide legislative debate.
“I feel like I’m swimming, I’m swimming, I’m swimming and I don’t see the edge,” she said.
But the political neophyte said she’s learning the ropes quickly, in large part due to an outpouring of support from other female lawmakers, and has signed on to more than a dozen bills as a co-sponsor.
As she settles in as a legislator, Gurrola said she plans to focus on education, worker protection and school safety issues.
She also said her background as a bilingual teacher with an engineering degree from the Instituto Tecnológico de Chihuahua could provide her with unique perspectives on issues.
While foreign-born residents make up about 9.2% of New Mexico’s population, according to 2021 U.S. Census Bureau data, there have been relatively few immigrants who have served in the New Mexico Legislature.
Records maintained by the Legislative Council Service show nine lawmakers since the 1960s have been born in other countries, though some of them were born on military bases or in unincorporated territories of the United States.
Recently, former Reps. Idalia LechugaTena and Abbas Akhil, both Albuquerque Democrats, were both immigrants elected to the House from Mexico and India, respectively.
Gurrola, who first came to New Mexico on a religious community service trip, said she got her master’s degree in teaching from the College of Santa Fe after a counselor told her she could be a role model for other Mexican women.
That prophecy seems to be playing out as a former student from Washington Middle School who was visiting the Capitol as part of a class trip left Gurrola a note during this year’s session saying she had changed her life.
“That made me think, ‘This is the reason I’m doing this,’ ” Gurrola said. “That’s the reason that motivates me.”