Choose Ortez for House seat

The best leaders are ordinary people who have lived and worked in the trenches, giving them a nuanced understanding of the issues their constituents face and how policy shapes each of our lives, because the personal is indeed political.

Kristina Ortez grew up in a small farming town in the San Joaquin Valley. She is the granddaughter of Margarita Zamora, a farmworker all of her working life, and the daughter of Stella Ortez, a single mother who worked full time as a probation officer for many years.

While Kristina grew up miles away, her story is similar to many of us who grew up in rural Northern New Mexico. Kristina is a firstgeneration college student who forged her way to Harvard and completed her master’s of public administration at the University of New Mexico while working and raising two young daughters.

Kristina has been a public servant for over 20 years, most recently serving as the executive director of Taos Land Trust. Among other things, Taos Land Trust works with the Taos Valley Acequia Association

and the town of Taos to help local families restore and retain their land.

This is close to many of our hearts as so many of our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents have had no other alternative than to sell family land due to unaffordable property taxes and a need to survive. In many cases, this is the only inheritance reserve a family has.

As a child, I attended annual Easter egg hunts and family reunions at O.G. Martinez’s property in Arroyo Hondo. The Martinez family has worked in partnership with Taos Land Trust to keep this sacred land as part of their family’s legacy and as an undeveloped gift to the community of Arroyo Hondo. Not so long ago, my daughter got to hunt for eggs in that same pasture.

Kristina has dedicated her professional career to the preservation of public lands and ensuring clean water for rural communities. She serves as the secretary for the newly restored Vigil y Romo Acequia Commission and is a founding board member of Alianza Agricultura de Taos, which was created to directly address the agricultural tax issue here in Taos.

The combination of these formative life and career experiences have shaped a sensitive understanding and an experienced point of view.

I’ve watched as this woman thoughtfully and courageously made the decision to step up to potentially assume the responsibility and honor of representing our district at the New Mexico Legislature. She raised her hand in the middle of a full life to say that she is ready and willing to serve.

There is no ego involved but a great willingness to roll up her sleeves. She will not pretend to come with all of the answers, but instead will listen and trust the inherent wisdom of the communities she represents.

Kristina is committed to learn what she doesn’t know and boldly use her skills and gifts to serve and fight for what will enhance and sustain our community, because in her heart she knows that thriving communities are supported by good solid policy making.

Whether in office or not, Kristina will continue to stand up for the people and land of northern New Mexico. On June 2, we have the opportunity to give her a platform that will amplify her voice, our voices. Please vote for Kristina Ortez to become our House District 42 representative.