Las Cruces native Chaparro announces for Commission, District 4

Las Cruces native Irma Susana ‘Susie’ Chaparro, has announced her candidacy for the District 4 seat on the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners.

Chaparro is a certified court interpreter and owner of a local interpreting and trial-consulting firm. She serves as board president of La Casa Inc., a nonprofit agency that operates New Mexico’s largest domestic violence shelter. She also served as vice-chairperson of the Democratic Party of Doña Ana County.

A former Magistrate Judge, Chaparro was the nation’s first judge to include Spanish-speaking jurors on jury panels. While controversial at the time, her decision was upheld by the New Mexico Supreme Court and is now implemented statewide. She created and led the state’s first Domestic Violence and served as a Drug Court judge for many years.

She issued the following statement: “COVID-19 presents this generation with issues we have never faced before. Overnight, we have seen businesses close, and hundreds of people lose their jobs. We will overcome this together, and when we do, we must work on rebuilding the economy in Doña Ana County to minimize the impact of future disruptions. More than ever, we need dedicated and experienced leadership to guide our community as we help businesses reopen and work to create new jobs and build a more resilient economy. As owner of a local business, I understand this critical necessity.

“I will work with my fellow commissioners to ensure that law enforcement officers, firefighters and other first responders are properly equipped to serve to residents throughout the county.

“Moving forward with infrastructure improvements throughout the county and working on increasing use of renewable energy will be additional priorities.”

Chaparro said she is a first-generation American, the daughter of hard-working naturalized citizens who emigrated from Mexico, teaching her the values of family and hard work.