LAS CRUCES - Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup, has been named chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, replacing longtime leader John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, who was defeated in the Democratic primary last year.
Munoz survived his own primary challenge last year, and went on to win re-election to his fourth term. He had been serving as the committee’s vice chairman.
The Finance Committee takes the lead in drafting the annual budget, and typically has the final say on any spending bills before they get to the Senate floor. New senators Crystal Diamond, R-Truth or Consequences, and Siah Correa Hemphill, D-Silver City, were both named as committee members, as were southern New Mexico senators Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces and William Burt, R-Alamogordo.
Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, will return as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which typically has final say on all bills relating to changes in state law. Cervantes was named chairman following the drunken driving conviction of former chairman Richard Martinez prior to last year’s session.
Bill Soules, D-Las Cruces, will return as chairman of the Senate Education Committee. Other Senate chairmanships announced Tuesday were Liz Steffanics, D-Cerrillos, to head the Conservation Committee; Benny Shendo Jr., D-Jemez Pueblo, to head the Tax, Business and Transportation Committee; Shannon Pinto, D-Tohatchi, to head the Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Committee; Daniel Ivey-Soto, D-Albuquerque, to head the Rules Committee and Gerald Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, to head the Health and Public Affairs Committee.
In the House of Representatives, Angelica Rubio, D-Las Cruces, was named chairwoman of the Transportation, Public Works and Capital Improvements Committee, giving southern New Mexico its first chairmanship in three years. None of the committee chairman in the last two sessions were from south of Albuquerque.
Nathan Small, D-Las Cruces, and Micaela Cadena, D-Mesilla, were named vice-chairs of two of the most powerful committees. Small will be behind Patricia Lundstrom, D-Gallup, as head of the Appropriations and Finance Committee and Cadena will be second to Gail Chasey, D-Albuquerque, in leading the Judiciary Committee.
Joanne Ferrary was named vice-chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, where Debbie Armstrong, D-Albuquerque, will be chair.
Other House chairs are Derrick Lente, D-Sandia Pueblo, head of the Transportation, Public Works & Capital Improvements Committee; Moe Maestas, D-Albuquerque, head of the Commerce & Economic Development Committee; Liz Thomson, D-Albuquerque, head of the Consumer & Public Affairs Committee; G. Andres Romero, D-Albuquerque, head of the Education Committee; Matthew McQueen, D-Santa Fe, head of the Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Committee; Eliseo Alcon, D-Milan, head of the Labor, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee; Miguel Garcia, D-Albuquerque, head of the Local Government, Land Grants & Cultural Affairs Committee; Daymon Ely, D-Corrales, head of the Rules & Order of Business Committee; Georgene Louis, D-Albuquerque, head of the State Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee; and Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque, head of the Taxation & Revenue Committee.
Committee chairmen typically serve for two years, until the next election.