Enchantment State News

Longtime New Mexico State Sen. Richard Martinez (D-Espanola) has a challenger in the spring Democratic primary. 

Rio Arriba County Commissioner Leo Jaramillo (D-Espanola) told the Associated Press on New Year’s Eve that he is mounting an effort to unseat the embattled legislator. Martinez was found guilty of drunk driving earlier this month after an incident in June when he crashed into the back of another car. 

Martinez and two others were injured in the crash. Following his conviction, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called on Martinez to resign. 

Rio Arriba County Commissioner Leo Jaramillo (D-Espanola) | Facebook

“Drunken driving is an intolerable scourge in our state, and our elected leaders must hold themselves to the highest possible standard of behavior,” the governor said in a statement. 

Martinez has served as the chairman of the state Senate Judiciary Committee. When he was found guilty of DWI, his fellow Democrats asked him to step down as chairman, but they stopped short of calling for his resignation. 

“Whether or not Sen. Martinez continues to serve in the Senate will be left for Sen. Martinez and the voters in his district to decide," the party's statement said. 

Jaramillo, a former public school teacher and self-described progressive, said he has been thinking about seeking Martinez’s seat since the senator's arrest last year. 

“I have been energized and encouraged by the large number of Northern New Mexicans from Rio Arriba, Los Alamos and Santa Fe counties who have reached out to me and who have asked me to represent them as their senator,” Jaramillo told the Los Alamos Reporter. “I look forward  to hearing first-hand from people what they believe the major issues are affecting them in their communities and in our state.”

Jaramillo grew up in Espanola Valley and graduated from Espanola Valley High School, the Unversity of New Mexico and the College of Santa Fe. He is currently chief of staff, administrative officer at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he works in staff development, human resources and strategic planning.

As the District 2 Rio Arriba County Commissioner, Jaramillo has worked to find solutions to issues that affect Northern New Mexicans.