New Mexico
New Mexico ranks fourth in Gender Parity Index – NM Political Report
New Mexico ranks fourth overall in gender parity for elected officials according to a report released Tuesday. The Gender Parity Index listed New Mexico as fourth place, tying with Nevada, in the nation for gender parity, the first time in three years it was not ranked first place. New Mexico also scored a B with […]
New Mexico ranks fourth overall in gender parity for elected officials according to a report released Tuesday.
The Gender Parity Index listed New Mexico as fourth place, tying with Nevada, in the nation for gender parity, the first time in three years it was not ranked first place. New Mexico also scored a B with a parity score of 45.6 out of 100 points.
New Mexico has never scored an A.
Gender parity happens when 50 percent of those elected to public offices are women.
Up until January 2023, New Mexico had an all-woman U.S. House delegation which ended when Yvette Herrell, a Republican, lost her re-election bid to Democrat Gabe Vasquez in the 2nd Congressional District.
The two are facing each other in a rematch in November.
“New Mexico has had the second-most total women (30) serve as statewide executives in the country; since 1923, all twenty of its secretaries of state have been women,” the report states.
The number of women serving in the state legislature has grown from 20 percent in 1994 to 44 percent in 2024.
“(New Mexico) is one of three states where their lower house has achieved or surpassed gender parity (54 percent in New Mexico). Of the women serving as state legislators, 84 percent of them are Democrats and 16 percent are Republicans,” the report states.
The Gender Parity Index is an annual report put out by nonprofit, nonpartisan organization RepresentWomen that aims to advance systemic reforms ensuring women can run, win, lead and serve.
From 2023: New Mexico scores high in gender parity report
The group launched the report in 2013 looking “to help researchers and advocates track progress toward gender-balanced governance and identify opportunities for increasing women’s political representation in the U.S.,” according to the report.
The report’s key takeaways as a whole were that the U.S. is more than halfway to gender parity with an overall score of 27 percent with less than half of states getting 25 or more points toward parity.
This is also the first time in the report’s 11 year history that no state got an F grade.
“After eight consecutive years of scoring under 10 points, Louisiana earned its first “D” grade and moved up to 45th place. This shows just how consequential a single election cycle can be, especially with open seats,” the report states.
In order to continue sustained progress, changes need to be made to support women in office.
The top spot went to Oregon which scored an A grade with Maine, which came in second and Michigan in third place on the Index.
“The decline in incumbent women running for Congress this cycle suggests that progress will likely plateau or regress if we do not ensure a modern and safe work environment,” the report states.
This progress must happen at all governmental levels, the report states.
The report’s sources were the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, Ballotpedia, U.S. Conference of State Legislatures and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A local business owner estimates he suffered about $1 million in damages as the result of yet another fire at a South Valley recycling plant.
Town Recycling on Broadway Blvd. SE has witnessed two fires in a span of less than two weeks with the first happening May 23rd and the second occurring Tuesday of this week.
Khalil Samaha, who owns Samcar, Inc. and Cedar’s Construction next door, says his businesses escaped without serious damage from the first fire, but the second one led to the loss of his main building, inventory he sells including trucks, construction equipment, computers, records, and much more.
“It’s a total mess. Everything is on the ground with water and insulation. It’s a total loss,” he said.
He gave KOB 4 a tour of his damaged property Wednesday and says that county officials have condemned the main office and won’t let him back inside.
“You can see all the glass is popped,” he said pointing to the windows. “I don’t know if the firefighters broke them or they exploded.”
A spokesperson for Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue issued a statement saying that, based on witness accounts, both fires may have started in a “bale of cardboard” at the recycling facility.
As of Wednesday evening, Broadway between Prosperity and Rio Bravo remained closed.
Samaha says firefighters attempted to battle the second fire from a different area than the first and the wind may have made conditions tougher.
“This time, the wind didn’t help,” he said. “So, it was blowing in my direction and took the building and some equipment in the back.”
Having seen two fires at the neighboring recycling facility in a span of about 11 days, he wonders if this will finally be the end of it.
“I hope it’s the last time. But, worried? Yes, we are worried,” he said. “We are close to them, and the materials are close to the fence. We share the fence together, so it’s always in the back of your mind.”
And now he lives with the memory of how quickly everything can change – just like it did earlier this week.
“It was very quick. From the smoke to the flame to the fire, it was very, very quick.”
A representative of Town Recycling declined our request for an interview.
LAS VEGAS, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands University President Niel Woolf has sued the school, claiming leaders pushed him to redirect a $600,000 contract to a chairman’s friend.
Woolf filed the lawsuit after the university placed him on administrative leave at the beginning of May.
He says Board of Regents Chair Frank Sanchez told him to cancel a $600,000 agreement with an out-of-state contractor and give it to a local contractor.
Woolf says that company is led by a friend of both Sanchez and his brother-in-law, Sen. Pete Campos, who represents Las Vegas.
In the lawsuit, Woolf says Sanchez told him directing the funds to his friend would “go a long way towards securing money for the University from Senator Campos,” said Woolf.
Woolf is seeking damages and attorney’s fees under the New Mexico Whistleblower Protection Act.
CHAMA, N.M. – The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad will begin its summer season on Tuesday, June 9, after the railroad delayed its opening due to drought and wildfire danger.
The season was initially set to begin on May 23. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission said it would conduct a review on June 2 to determine if it was safe enough to begin operations.
“A sincere thank you to all our passengers and the communities in Chama and Antonito who have been so patient as we waited for conditions to improve,” said Eric Mason, CEO of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. “We are excited to welcome guests back aboard and hear the opening whistle signal the start of another memorable season.”
The railroad will hold a Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, June 13, in Chama. The celebration will coincide with Chama Western Heritage Days, a community festival that weekend with live music, vendors, and rodeo competitions.
The railroad recently won USA TODAY’S poll for the best scenic train ride in the country. In celebration of the win, the railroad said passengers who book by June 7 ca receive a 25% discount on coach tickets for trips through August. Guests must redeem the offer by calling the railroad at 888-286-2737 using promo code USATODAY#1.
Tickets are also available for the first Dark Sky Train departures on June 12 from Chama and June 13 from Antonito. The dark sky trains include evening excursions led by international dark sky guides, and take passengers to secluded spots with minimal light pollution.
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