I was incredibly disheartened to read a campaign flyer making disparaging comments about NM Senate District 9 candidate Cindy Nava. I have known Cindy for 20 years as she began her work in the political arena and worked with her professionally at Transform Education New Mexico (TENM) where I held the position for three years, and I am blown away by comments that she is somehow less qualified than her opponent.
As an educator with four decades of experience in education, I feel a strong need to speak to Cindy Nava’s work and advocacy that spans 20 years, from education to housing to immigration and more. Cindy has been directly involved in equity in education, especially with students at the heart of the Martinez/Yazzie lawsuit, dating back to her key role in promoting the Hispanic Education Act. When it came time to hire an Executive Director for Transform Education NM (TENM), Cindy was the perfect person to lead the organization. As Executive Director, she engaged directly with the Public Education Department and education advocates to seek remedies for Martinez/Yazzie and to serve our most marginalized students. She secured grant funding to ensure our organization could continue to fight for our most vulnerable students and their families.
I was a project manager at TENM when Cindy made a very difficult decision to leave her Executive Director position at TENM to serve our great country under the Biden Administration. Cindy has often said that gaining her U.S. citizenship was one of the best days of her life. For someone so dedicated to our country, the opportunity for a political appointment by the White House was something she could never have even dreamed of. After she accepted the opportunity and was appointed as Senior Policy Advisor for the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, I had the opportunity to visit Cindy. She was at the pinnacle of her professional journey. But coming back to New Mexico was always something Cindy promised to do. She is a true New Mexican and loves her state and the people of New Mexico.
Cindy made yet another difficult decision to leave that position and return to New Mexico, returning to many uncertainties, but ready and dedicated to serving her beloved state of Nuevo México.
I have had the opportunity to walk the halls of the Roundhouse with Cindy, and it is obvious that legislators across the board have the highest respect for the policy work she has been engaged in. When you are endorsed by great education champions such as Speaker Javier Martínez and Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, we should all pay attention, as these endorsements from such prominent legislators who know the importance of education in our beloved state speak volumes. Cindy is also endorsed by Senator Brenda McKenna because Senator McKenna wants to leave her district with a candidate who will serve the community with excellence. I’m proud to join these leaders in supporting Cindy Nava for New Mexico State Senate District 9.
Letter to the Editor: Setting the Record Straight About Cindy Nava
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Patrick Davis
Submitted by Dr. Patricia Jiménez-Latham
Let’s set the record straight.
I was incredibly disheartened to read a campaign flyer making disparaging comments about NM Senate District 9 candidate Cindy Nava. I have known Cindy for 20 years as she began her work in the political arena and worked with her professionally at Transform Education New Mexico (TENM) where I held the position for three years, and I am blown away by comments that she is somehow less qualified than her opponent.
As an educator with four decades of experience in education, I feel a strong need to speak to Cindy Nava’s work and advocacy that spans 20 years, from education to housing to immigration and more. Cindy has been directly involved in equity in education, especially with students at the heart of the Martinez/Yazzie lawsuit, dating back to her key role in promoting the Hispanic Education Act. When it came time to hire an Executive Director for Transform Education NM (TENM), Cindy was the perfect person to lead the organization. As Executive Director, she engaged directly with the Public Education Department and education advocates to seek remedies for Martinez/Yazzie and to serve our most marginalized students. She secured grant funding to ensure our organization could continue to fight for our most vulnerable students and their families.
I was a project manager at TENM when Cindy made a very difficult decision to leave her Executive Director position at TENM to serve our great country under the Biden Administration. Cindy has often said that gaining her U.S. citizenship was one of the best days of her life. For someone so dedicated to our country, the opportunity for a political appointment by the White House was something she could never have even dreamed of. After she accepted the opportunity and was appointed as Senior Policy Advisor for the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, I had the opportunity to visit Cindy. She was at the pinnacle of her professional journey. But coming back to New Mexico was always something Cindy promised to do. She is a true New Mexican and loves her state and the people of New Mexico.
Cindy made yet another difficult decision to leave that position and return to New Mexico, returning to many uncertainties, but ready and dedicated to serving her beloved state of Nuevo México.
I have had the opportunity to walk the halls of the Roundhouse with Cindy, and it is obvious that legislators across the board have the highest respect for the policy work she has been engaged in. When you are endorsed by great education champions such as Speaker Javier Martínez and Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, we should all pay attention, as these endorsements from such prominent legislators who know the importance of education in our beloved state speak volumes. Cindy is also endorsed by Senator Brenda McKenna because Senator McKenna wants to leave her district with a candidate who will serve the community with excellence. I’m proud to join these leaders in supporting Cindy Nava for New Mexico State Senate District 9.