State Rep. Joanne Ferrary retired from the New Mexico House on Friday, ending nearly a decade representing northeastern Las Cruces and creating a temporary vacancy months before voters choose her successor.
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Ferrary, a Democrat, previously announced she would not seek reelection and later set July 31 as the effective date of her resignation. She entered the Legislature in 2017 and served five terms representing House District 37.
The Las Cruces-area district straddles Interstate 25 and includes large sections of the city’s northeastern residential neighborhoods, including Sonoma Ranch, along with the Telshor Drive commercial corridor and several shopping centers. It does not include downtown Las Cruces, New Mexico State University or the city’s principal agricultural and industrial areas.
The Doña Ana County Commission will accept applications and appoint someone to serve the remainder of Ferrary’s term, which expires at the end of the year, according to a House Democratic leadership news release.
The release did not provide an application period, deadline or anticipated date for the appointment.
The appointment will cover only the remainder of Ferrary’s current term. Democrat Lori Martinez and Republican Isabella Solis are seeking the House District 37 seat in the Nov. 3 general election for the two-year term beginning in January.
Martinez, a nonprofit executive and social worker, defeated attorney Matilda “Tilli” Villalobos in the June Democratic primary, receiving 1,851 votes to Villalobos’ 1,254. Solis was unopposed for the Republican nomination and received 1,099 votes.
Ferrary chaired the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee and served on the House Health and Human Services Committee. She also held several interim committee assignments involving health care, environmental policy and the justice system.
House Speaker Javier Martínez described Ferrary as an empathetic and values-driven legislator whose work addressed elder abuse, animal cruelty, special education and services for domestic violence survivors.
“Her work has given voice to the voiceless and vulnerable,” Martínez said in a release. “We will greatly miss having our friend and colleague in the House, and we send her our best wishes for a wonderful and fulfilling retirement.”
Ferrary’s departure leaves House District 37 without a sitting representative until county commissioners make an appointment. The appointee could seek the temporary position regardless of whether they are running in November, but appointment to the vacancy would not determine who holds the seat next year.