Angela Garcia

Provide a short bio of yourself and tell us how you got into public service?

I grew up in Albuquerque in a neighborhood that was known as the War Zone. My parents worked so hard to make life as good as possible for my brother and me, but the fact is, we grew up poor. We saw a lot of violence, drugs, and gang activity in our neighborhood.

We moved to Las Cruces when I was in elementary school. Las Cruces changed everything for our family. With my parents’ support, I graduated from Organ Mountain High School and became the first in my family to graduate from college.

I am now the owner and CEO of Toy Box Early Learning Centers.  We have had the joy of teaching thousands of children over the years. We also provide about 80 jobs for amazing women in our community who share my passion for working with children. I decided to run for county commission to make sure all of Doña Ana’s children and families have the opportunity to succeed.

Project Jupiter has become one of the biggest economic development conversations in southern New Mexico. What do you see as the potential benefits and risks of the project for Doña Ana County, and what do you think the county should do at this point with the project?

The biggest benefit of Project Jupiter is the promise of good paying, union jobs for New Mexicans — should they materialize. We have a lot to do to ensure Project Jupiter meets its obligations.

Specifically, I would do the following the county commission: Make sure (1) The jobs to build and run Project Jupiter are union jobs with a prevailing wage; (2) As many of the promised jobs go to New Mexico residents by partnering with our local colleges and apprenticeship programs to create the career paths needed to get New Mexicans ready to fill those roles; (3) Project Jupiter must meet or beat the renewable energy targets outlined in the Energy Transition Act (50% clean energy in 2030 and 80% in 2040); (4) We must create certainty from Project Jupiter on their source of water so we know, legally, that they will not harm Dona Ana’s access to clean water. Throughout, we have to do a much better job of soliciting, receiving, and listening to community input.

Juvenile crime and youth violence have become growing concerns across the county and the city of Las Cruces. What do you believe are the root causes of the problem, and what role should county government play in prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation?

We have an epidemic of violence right now. Kids are killing kids. On the county commission, I will ensure our law enforcement personnel and first responders are fully funded with modern equipment and training; create more positive opportunities for youth—more sports, more arts, more recreation; provide real support for young kids and their families who are heading down the wrong path; make sure there are real consequences for repeat, violent offenders; and educate the community about the need for increased parent accountability.

Many residents say they feel growth is happening faster than infrastructure can keep up — including roads, housing, water resources and emergency services. How should the county balance economic development with protecting quality of life and long-term sustainability?

The county is growing but we cannot let one part of the county leapfrog other areas when it comes to infrastructure and services. I believe we need to have minimum standards — higher than they are right now — for every part of the county for roads, affordable housing, water, emergency services, and healthcare (The county has one of the only county-level Departments of Health in the state). Existing residents must be served first before the County expands outward.

County government often operates with less visibility than city or state government, yet it makes major decisions involving taxes, public health, law enforcement and land use. What is one area where you believe the county commission needs to improve, and what would you do differently if elected?

I am so proud of the work I have done to build a grassroots, inclusive, and participatory movement for early childhood education not just here in Southern New Mexico but across the state. Together, we have created the Early Education Trust Fund, universal childcare, and more.

I will do the same on the county commission. Government decisions should always be made with the voices of those who are most impacted having a seat at the table. I also believe the county must work hand-in-hand with Las Cruces, surrounding towns, and the state legislature.

I am blessed to have been endorsed by House Speaker Javier Martinez, Lt. Governor Howie Morales; State Representatives Doreen Gallegos, Nathan Small, and Ray Lara; State Senator Bill Soules, Mayor Pro Tem John Munoz of Las Cruces and more because of my track record of working across local and state government.

Doña Ana County includes urban neighborhoods, rural communities and agricultural areas that often have very different priorities. How would you approach representing the entire county, especially when the interests of Las Cruces and smaller communities conflict?

While priorities may differ across different parts of the county, everyone’s voice should be heard equally. I would approach governing with the same principles I have used throughout my career — to start by listening to the needs and hopes of each community and engaging them in the solution that is most appropriate and impactful for their own area. There are no better experts on workable solutions than the residents who live in a community.