Democrat Beth Bardwell has announced her candidacy for Doña Ana County Commission District 3. This is the seat that was held by Karen Perez until her resignation in August, at which time Governor Martinez appointed Republican Ben Rawson to fill out the remainder of the term.
Bardwell cited her experience in public policy and her strong commitment to the county’s future as key to that decision.
“We are at a critical stage in our development as a region,” Bardwell said. “Decisions we make now will have an enormous impact on how we grow, the sustainability of water and other resources, and the quality of life for our residents. We need the tools and perspective necessary to plan effectively for our future.”
Bardwell, 55, is an attorney who has represented the Navajo Nation, served as a prosecutor for the City of Flagstaff, and for the past eighteen years has lived in Las Cruces, specializing in water policy and freshwater conservation.
Protecting our water resources and natural areas will be a high priority for her work on the commission.
“Careful planning is essential if we hope to preserve the farmland and open space that surround our urban areas,” Bardwell said. “It will also help us preserve local culture and ensure that we use limited financial resources in the most efficient way possible.”
She also intends to focus on revitalizing our regional economy, and providing a platform of opportunity for every person in the county. She sees quality education, public health and safety, and an integrated countywide transit system as central to this vision.
“Doña Ana County residents can choose to live in rural areas, small communities or urban settings,” she said. “Developing the infrastructure to support and integrate these choices is our challenge. I look forward to helping our community meet this challenge in coming years.”
Bardwell lives in the Las Alturas area of Las Cruces and is married to Jon Holtzman, an astronomy professor at New Mexico State. They have two daughters: Tessa, a freshman at Bates College and Gwen, a junior at Las Cruces High School.