Valencia County House candidates outline records, priorities and past setbacks

With 32 candidates filed for Valencia County’s June 2 primary and absentee voting already underway since May 5, the House races have turned into a test of who can turn personal history into power for local schools, roads, public safety and health. The stakes are sharpened by the fact that counties sit on the front lines of essential services, and one response in the questionnaire said Valencia County still lacks a legislator on the House finance committee.

One candidate, a graphic designer and visual communications specialist, used the profile to lay out a resume built on data work, graphing, cartography, training manuals and curriculum books in multiple languages. That candidate also acknowledged a DUI conviction from about 20 years ago, while stressing there have been no other violations before or since. The policy pitch focused on economic security for working families, safe communities, equality, protecting freedoms and democracy, and handling public problems with fairness and pragmatism. In a race where voters are being asked to judge trust as much as ideology, the candidate’s answer tried to show that a past mistake does not define a public life.

Brian G. Baca, the District 8 representative from Valencia County, used the questionnaire to lean on his work as a Belen High School physics teacher and Staters sponsor, and on his service in the Legislature since 2022. Baca said a bankruptcy years ago followed a home sale that fell through, and he framed that setback as part of a broader record of resilience rather than a reason to step aside. His emphasis stayed close to the classroom and the county line, with a call to keep fighting for Valencia County, work with city and county officials, advocate for teachers, and keep students at the center of the discussion.

That local lens matters because Valencia County’s House delegation already includes Tanya Mirabal Moya in District 7 and Baca in District 8, and District 8’s map stretches across major communities such as Los Lunas and Belen. The House Appropriations & Finance Committee, chaired by Nathan Small, holds major influence over state spending, including money that reaches county services. With the 2026 regular session running from January 20 through March 11 and many non-emergency bills taking effect May 20, the timing of the questionnaire underscored how quickly decisions in Santa Fe can reach Valencia County households.