Current:Home > ScamsLongtime New Mexico state Sen. Garcia dies at age 87; champion of children, families, history-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Longtime New Mexico state Sen. Garcia dies at age 87; champion of children, families, history
View Date:2024-12-23 16:50:01
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Mary Jane Garcia, a former state senator who served 24 years in the New Mexico Legislature, where she was known as a champion of historic preservation, families and children, has died. She was 87.
Garcia, a Democrat who served as majority whip during one stretch, represented District 36, including Doña Ana County and Las Cruces, from 1988 to 2012.
She died peacefully while surrounded by her family on Friday after entering hospice care in December, the county said in a statement on behalf of her family.
“Her community service extended across many areas of advocacy to include at-risk youth programs, animal rights, border health issues, education, historic preservation projects, human trafficking, subdivision, and welfare reform,” the county said.
In recent years, she had been observed participating in cleanup days, clearing trash at the village’s historic cemetery, the county said.
State Sen. Jeff Steinborn, a fellow Democrat who now holds the District 36 seat, said Garcia was “a tremendous cultural and historic preservationist who worked for decades to preserve the history of her beloved community, the Village of Doña Ana, and cared deeply for her constituents.”
“New Mexico has lost one of its great public servants,” he said in a statement.
A businesswoman, Garcia had been a co-owner of Billy the Kid’s Gift Shop in Mesilla and the Victoria’s Lounge bar in Las Cruces. From 1966 until 1972, she served as an administrative assistant for the U.S. military and a medical volunteer in Saigon during the Vietnam War.
She earned degrees in anthropology from New Mexico State University and published, as her master’s thesis, the first document history of the village of her birth.
veryGood! (54613)
Related
- FBI raids New York City apartment of Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan, reports say
- Taylor Swift 'Eras Tour' bodyguard fights in Israel-Hamas war
- RHONY Reunion: Ubah Hassan Accuses These Costars of Not Wanting Jenna Lyons on the Show
- Tesla recall: Nearly 55,000 new-model vehicles affected by brake safety issue
- Get $103 Worth of Tatcha Skincare for $43.98 + 70% Off Flash Deals on Elemis, Josie Maran & More
- A 5.2 magnitude earthquake in Nepal damages dozens of homes and causes a landslide
- The Swiss are electing their parliament. Polls show right-wing populists, Socialists may fare well
- Lionel Messi's first MLS season ends quietly as Inter Miami loses 1-0 to Charlotte FC
- 4 charged in Detroit street shooting that left 2 dead, 5 wounded
- Iowa woman who made fake cancer claims on social media must pay restitution but stays out of prison
Ranking
- 3 Iraqis tortured at Abu Ghraib win $42M judgement against defense contractor
- John Legend says he sees his father in himself as his family grows: I'm definitely my dad's son
- ACTORS STRIKE PHOTOS: See images from the 100 days film and TV actors have been picketing
- Israel strikes Gaza, Syria and West Bank as war against Hamas threatens to ignite other fronts
- Should Georgia bench Carson Beck with CFP at stake against Tennessee? That's not happening
- Iran sentences 2 journalists for collaborating with US. Both covered Mahsa Amini’s death
- A car bombing at a Somali military facility kills 6 people, including 4 soldiers, police say
- Opinion: Did he really say that?
Recommendation
-
Round 2 in the Trump-vs-Mexico matchup looks ominous for Mexico
-
Should USC and Ohio State be worried? Bold predictions for Week 8 in college football
-
Man United, England soccer great Bobby Charlton dies at 86
-
Millions of rural Americans rely on private wells. Few regularly test their water.
-
Olivia Culpo Celebrates Christian McCaffrey's NFL Comeback Alongside Mother-in-Law
-
Synagogue president found stabbed to death outside home
-
Tesla recall: Nearly 55,000 new-model vehicles affected by brake safety issue
-
These Sweet Photos of Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny's Romance Will Have You Saying I Like It