House District 69

Angel Charley is running in the Democratic Primary for Senate District 30, which is currently an open seat. 

Charley is currently the Executive Director of IllumiNative, and previously worked as Executive Director for Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women. Her volunteer experience includes serving on the boards of the Laguna Federation of Democratic Women, Alliance of Tribal Coalitions to End Violence, Albuquerque Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) Collaborative, City of Albuquerque’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Commission, and as Board Chair for Native American Professional Parent Resources, Inc. She is also a graduate of Laguna High School and the University of Hawaii. 

Charley’s track record in improving the lives of rural and Native/Indigenous New Mexicans is well known, including working to pass the Indian Families Protection Act in 2022, supporting COVID-19 pandemic response measures for tribal communities, and her efforts on New Mexico’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives Task Force. She has also testified in front of Congress as an expert on MMIW and is a member of the White House Trilateral Working Group. 

Her priorities include expanding access to community health centers, updating the Renewable Portfolio Standards to include New Mexico’s Tribal communities, increasing infrastructure investment in rural and tribal communities, and direct assistance to help those facing housing crises through measures like rent control or down payment assistance for homebuyers. She also supports the modernization efforts around reforming New Mexico’s legislature so that working people and full-time parents can not only run for office but also interact with lawmakers more effectively. 

We highly recommend Angel Charley for Senate District 30 based on her experience in community organizing, nonprofit management, public health and healthcare access, and advocating for Indigenous New Mexicans.

Michelle “Paulene” Abeyta is running against incumbent Harry Garcia in the Democratic Primary for House District 69. 

Abeyta is an attorney and member of the Navajo Nation from To’hajiilee, New Mexico. She holds a Juris Doctor degree with a certificate in Indigenous Peoples Law & Policy from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, and is also a graduate of the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College. She serves on the To’hajiilee Community School Board of Education and the National Native American Bar Association Board. She previously served on the Woman, Infants & Children (WIC) Board for the Acoma-Canoncito-Laguna Service Unit, the Canoncito Band of Navajos Health Center, Inc. Board, and the National Native American Law Students Association. 

Abeyta’s desire to be a voice for the people, lived experience organizing for workers rights, and frustration with current representation are what motivate her to run for House District 69. Her priorities are education, healthcare, and economic opportunity, including access to reproductive health in rural areas via school based health centers and school nurses, increased investment in child care providers and early childhood educators, and shifting to jobs in clean and renewable energy through workforce development and training. She supports modernizing the state legislature so there is more fair compensation and staffing for legislators in order for a range of people to be able to participate. 

Abeyta also supports Paid Family Medical Leave legislation, increasing the state’s minimum wage to ensure a living wage, and more investment in funding for mental health and substance use disorder healthcare programs. With respect to affordable housing, Abeyta is in support of more affordable housing options including micro-housing communities in areas with minimal or no infrastructure. She also supports abolishing the rent control ban and increased protections for renters. Additionally, Abeyta is in support of LGBTQ+ rights and supports environmental protections, including reducing the state’s dependence on oil and gas, and closely consulting with tribal governments to ensure that natural resources and lands are respected and valued. 

We highly recommend Michelle ‘Paulene’ Abeyta based on her focus on education, policy/good governance, and healthcare, as well as support for LGBTQ+ rights and protections.

Frank Baca is running for Bernalillo County Commission District 2. Baca has grown up in the South Valley and is a retired attorney. He began his activism nearly 40 years ago working on implementation of water and sewer in the South Valley. Baca is a founding member of the Rio Grande Development Corporation / South Valley Economic Development Center. 

Baca will focus on policies related to cultural preservation, education, crime, and economic development. 

We highly recommend Frank Baca for Bernalillo County Commission District 2. 
 

Adriann Barboa is running for re-election in the Democratic Primary for Bernalillo County Commission District 3. Barboa is a community organizer and was elected to the Commission seat in November 2020.

During her time in office, Barboa has been instrumental in increasing affordable housing and housing supports for individuals exiting incarceration as well as people with behavioral and mental health needs. She has also worked to invest heavily in addiction support services for both individuals facing addiction and their families. Barboa is running for re-election because she deeply believes that it is the responsibility of the County to develop a comprehensive care plan to address the needs of the most vulnerable and underserved in her community. Her policy priorities focus primarily on building a system of prevention, intervention, treatment and housing.

We highly recommend Adriann Barboa for Bernalillo County Commission District 3 due to her proven commitment and success in leading and supporting policies critical for Bernalillo County residents.