Sierra Club Endorsements

Kasandra Gandara is running for Las Cruces Mayor. Gandara has served as a Las Cruces City Councilor for District 1 since 2015 and has been Mayor Pro Tempore since 2019. During her time on City Council, Gandara has collaborated on a number of projects including: developing policy review committees in the priority areas of health, housing, economic, quality of life, transportation, finance, and public safety; establishing programs such as the mayor's suicide task force; Doña Ana Resilience Leaders -- a collective group who work on addressing trauma in communities to build resilient children and families; safety net programs such as the Mano y Mano workforce reintegration program for homeless and near-homeless folks; ”Lift UP" -- an anti-poverty program in the most vulnerable neighborhood to be scaled out throughout the city; and helped shape the way the city works to be accountable and transparent to the public by the creation of the PEAK performance program -- a performance-based budgeting system designed to provide continuous improvement in each department to include its contractors externally.

Gandara retired in 2015 from the State of New Mexico after nearly three decades of service with the Department of Health, as well as Children, Youth and Families. She has also held a number of social work roles within the community prior to her retirement.

Gandara was born and raised in Bayard, New Mexico in a union family who taught her to always fight for what is right. In addition to being driven by her upbringing, Gandara is interested in representing the community by becoming the first Latina Mayor to be elected in Las Cruces history. Kasandra Gandara’s priority areas are improving quality of life through affordable access to opportunities for culturally-uplifting recreation and gathering and economic development through innovative public/private partnership such as healthcare, aviation, creative media, and green energy. Additionally, she will prioritize public safety through increased policy and oversight; updated training for Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD); and smart crime reduction strategies and policies. She will also address sustainability through balancing economic vitality, environmental health, and social responsibility with an emphasis on equitable approaches to addressing climate change, clean energy, and resiliency.

We recommend Kasandra Gandara for Las Cruces Mayor.

Abby Foster is running for Albuquerque City Council, District 4 against incumbent Brook Bassan. Foster is a licensed attorney and mediator who practices adult guardianship law. Foster's law firm, which she owns, protects low-income New Mexicans with disabilities from financial exploitation. Foster serves on the New Mexico State Bar’s Elder Law Section Board and the Parent Advisory Council of PB&J Family Services.

Abby Foster did not return a candidate questionnaire so the information presented is gathered only through public sources.

Foster is interested in protecting New Mexicans with disabilities. Abby Foster’s priorities are reducing homelessness and addiction through a “housing first” approach, expanding affordable housing in Albuquerque, and growing the economy through investment in high-value industries. She wants to lead on sustainable and clean energy by increasing usage of renewable energy for city transit and fleet vehicles. She also wants to lead on education by fully funding the city’s Early Childhood Education program. Foster further states that she is committed to protecting abortion access and reproductive healthcare through city funding that supports reproductive healthcare; reducing gun violence by promoting gun safety laws already on the books; and reducing crime through full funding of public safety departments. While we support a majority of Foster’s priorities, her stated desire to add more funding to the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) and to hire more officers gives us pause and is an opportunity for the community to engage in meaningful conversation with Foster if she is elected. 

We recommend Abby Foster for Albuquerque City Council, District 4.

Cassie McClure is running for Las Cruces City Council, District 1. McClure is a well known progressive leader who has lived in Las Cruces since 2003, a Columnist with Creators.com, and a writer with McClure Publications. McClure is the columnist of “My So-Called Millennial Life '' which appears weekly in the Las Cruces Sun News. She is currently the Chair of Las Cruces Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and a board member of the NM Writers Board. She has previously served as the President of Las Cruces Press Women and as the Secretary of New Mexico Press Women. 

McClure’s children are what drives her interest in making Las Cruces better for all children. Cassie McClure’s priorities include improving communication between the city and its residents and creating safe and walkable neighborhoods where people can gather as friends and family. She will also prioritize working collaboratively with nonprofits, businesses, and NMSU to provide better jobs and sustainable development through infrastructure investments that preserve our natural resources and history.

We recommend Cassie McClure for Las Cruces City Council, District 1.

Tessa Abeyta is running for her second term as Las Cruces City Council, District 2, where she has prioritized policies related to child welfare, health, and social services. Abeyta is the Co-Executive Director for the New Mexico Public Health Association. She is the President-Elect for the NM Municipal League, Vice Chair of the El Paseo Redevelopment Project, and Vice Chair of the Local Emergency Planning Committee of Dona Ana County. 

Abeyta’s upbringing, combined with being a proud single mother, drives her interest in continuing to serve in her seat in Las Cruces City Council, District 2. Tessa Abeyta’s priorities are economic expansions by incentivizing small businesses and investing in key labor initiatives including apprentice and pre-apprenticeship programs. She will further prioritize infrastructure and community programs through investments in parks and roads; new affordable housing developments and after-school programs; and community and multi-generational centers. Lastly, Abeyta states she will prioritize public safety through investing in community policing. While Abeyta is generally supportive of police officers, she also focuses her priorities on holistic community safety such as advocating for the Las Cruces Crisis Response Team (LIGHT). 

We recommend Tessa Abeyta for Las Cruces City Council, District 2. 

Johana Bencomo is running for her second term as Las Cruces City Councilor for District 4, where she has focused on ensuring the city prioritizes anti-poverty efforts to improve the quality of life for all Las Crucens. Bencomo was elected to the city council in November 2019, winning almost 63 percent of the vote after two rounds of ranked choice voting in the District 4 race. 

Bencomo is currently the Program Director for the Future Presidents Project with the Women’s Democracy Lab. Prior to that, she served as the Executive Director for the faith-based organizing non-profit in Southern NM, NM CAFé. She is a board member of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, a field instructor for NMSU’s School of Social Work, a WK Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network Fellow, and a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council for Racial Justice. 

Bencomo was raised by immigrant parents who instilled in her to fight for what she loves, which drives her interest in continuing to serve on her seat in Las Cruces City Council, District 4. Johana Bencomo’s priority areas are community safety through continued investment in the crisis response model and bringing in more mental health and substance treatment resources. She will invest in housing stability by passing a Unified Housing Code and investment in affordable housing development, revitalization of neglected areas, and neighborhood infrastructure through funding a traffic calming project as well as street and sidewalk improvements. 

We recommend Johana Bencomo for Las Cruces City Council, District 4.

Janelle Astorga is running for Albuquerque Public Schools, District 1. Astorga was born and raised in Albuquerque and is a product of the Albuquerque Public School District. She is currently the Development Coordinator for Southwest Organizing Project and the Co-Director of The Learning Alliance of NM. Astorga has worked directly with Albuquerque Public Schools on events and conversations that center the voices of students and teachers, and has performed anti-racism training for APS staff. She has also worked in schools as an Education Assistant, Substitute Teacher, and Family Liaison.

Astorga’s personal experience with Albuquerque Public Schools, both as a student and as a consultant, drives her interest in running for school board. Astorga’s priorities include bilingual education and ethnic studies; mental health support for students and teachers in the form of meditation rooms; self-care workshops; and other forms of progress reports that are not just focused on testing. She prioritizes safety in schools through anti-racism workshops and equitable funding for infrastructure repairs; college and career readiness; and investing in technology for digital literacy.

We recommend Janelle Astorga for Albuquerque Public Schools, District 1.

Ronalda Tome-Warito is running for Albuquerque Public Schools, District 2. Tome-Warito graduated from Crown Point High School and went on to earn her Master’s degree in Social Justice Studies from the University of New Mexico. She is a self-employed education consultant focusing on special education. Previously, she worked as a Project Specialist/Advocate for Education for Parents of Indian Children with Special Needs.

Tome-Warito's desire to bring her work experience with special education and her lived experience as a Native American to the school board drives her interest in running. Tome-Warito has an extensive list of outstanding awards and achievements that include the appointment by the Governor to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act State Advisory panel, serving on the NM Family/Parent Involvement Advisory Board as President, currently serving on the National Indian Education Association Board, and appointment to the NM Advisory Committee for Civil Rights. Her priorities include expanding parent advocacy, amplifying family involvement, and enhancing community engagement.

We recommend Ronalda Tome-Warito for Albuquerque Public Schools, District 2.

Heather R. Benavidez is running for Albuquerque Public School, District 4. Benavidez graduated from Albuquerque Public Schools. She is the CEO of The Arc of New Mexico, a non-profit organization that advocates for people living with disabilities. Prior to that, Benavidez was Chief of Staff for the New Mexico State Treasurer’s Office. She is the Chair of the 100% Community Housing Taskforce in Valencia County and Juvenile Justice Advisory Board. She also serves on the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Taskforce and the DWI Planning Council.

Heather R. Benavidez did not return a questionnaire, so all information provided is from public sources.

Benavidez is running for school board because she sees the need for additional support for students with disabilities and special education. Her priorities will be increasing funding to support students with disabilities and special education, increasing student enrollment, filling vacant teaching positions, and increasing the safety of students, faculty, and staff. She will work with the board and the superintendent to support students and staff in a way that schools can focus resources to ensure they attract and retain the educators the students need and deserve.

We recommend Heather R. Benavidez for Albuquerque Public School, District 4.

Patrick Nolan is running for Las Cruces School Board, District 1. Nolan was appointed to the seat in April of 2023, following the resignation of the previous member. He is also the father of a Las Cruces Public Schools student. Nolan is the current Executive Director of the non-profit organization, Friends of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks, dedicated to protecting public lands and previously worked on several educational issues during his time as Union Representative for the American Federation of Teachers New Mexico.

Nolan’s daughter attending the school district, and his desire to make school a critical piece to overall community well being, are what drives his interest in continuing to serve his seat in Las Cruces Public Schools, District 1. Patrick Nolan’s priorities are to support staff; address transportation issues; ensure well maintained, safe, and well-designed buildings; and provide more options for after school programs for students.

We recommend Patrick Nolan for Las Cruces Public Schools, District 1.

Teresa Tenorio is running for her second term as Las Cruces School Board Member for District 4. Tenorio is currently the President of the Board. In her first term, she fought hard for equitable policies; stood with students and teachers on policies such as Equity and Excellence for All Students and Gender Inclusion in Schools; as well as oversaw two difficult transitions for the Superintendent. Tenorio routinely speaks up during meetings for good policy. She is also extremely active in the community and schools, regularly showing up for -- and participating in -- events with teachers and students.

Tenorio’s years of experience in the education sector, and having three children of her own attending Las Cruces Public Schools, drive her interest in running for reelection. Beyond her school board responsibilities, legislatively she supported the safe storage act for firearms, funding for energy efficiency in schools, 80/20 health insurance for school employees, and funding to meet student health needs. Tenorio’s priorities are to make sure the foundation of education is strong for our children through policy, budget, and support and oversight of the superintendent.

We recommend Teresa Tenorio for Las Cruces Public Schools, District 4.
 

Edward “Ed” Frank is running for Las Cruces Public Schools, District 5. Ed Frank was a math teacher for 39 years at the middle school, high school, and community college levels. Frank has previously served as an Las Cruces Public Sc hools (LCPS) board member after being elected in 2015. He was a progressive member of the board and continues to advocate for student safety, valuing teachers, and improving standards and evaluations for students and teachers. Frank previously served as the Vice-President of the National Educators Association in Pennsylvania.

Franks’ 39 years as a teacher drives his interest in running for school board. Ed Frank’s priorities are for all students to feel safe at school; for educators to feel valued and appreciated; to implement appropriate and multi-faceted evaluations for students and educators; and to have exceptional student outcomes.

We recommend Ed Frank for Las Cruces Public Schools, District 5.