Commentary: Joanne Ferrary has announced her candidacy for the New Mexico House of Representatives, District 37. District 37 covers the northeast side of the City of Las Cruces.
Ferrary, a Democrat, cited her commitment to the people of her district as a key factor in her decision to run.
“For too long we’ve settled for less in southern New Mexico,” Ferrary said. “This is a great place to live and work, with wonderful opportunities to build a healthy and prosperous community. We just need to invest in ourselves and our future.”
Key among those investments are early childhood learning programs, public education, access to health care, and the elimination of barriers to personal growth and achievement.
“Too many of our residents are held back by low wages, poor educational outcomes, and a feeling of despair about their futures,” Ferrary said. “Unfortunately, some legislators have bought into that despair, and have settled for scoring political points rather than meaningful accomplishment. We can do so much better for the people of our state.”
Ferrary has a long record of public service, including on the Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Las Cruces. She has worked at two recent legislative sessions on behalf of raising the state minimum wage and reforming mortgage foreclosure practices. She has been a statewide leader in fighting drunk driving and underage drinking, and has advocated for better treatment of animals as a co-chair of the local Coalition for Pets and People.
Ferrary has sought the District 37 seat before, losing to incumbent Terry McMillan in two close races.
“When I first ran for this seat I was a newcomer to the political process,” Ferrary said. “Now the people in my district know who I am, and the energy and commitment that I will bring to the legislature. Southern New Mexico has everything we need to become a great place for all of us. I’m eager to contribute to that process as state representative.”