Latest news with #SonyaSmith
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Former New Mexico Department of Veterans Services Cabinet secretary to run for secretary of state
Sonya Smith made history in 2020 as the first African American to lead the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services. She could do it again as the first African American to serve as New Mexico's secretary of state. The former Cabinet secretary said Tuesday she will be seeking the Democratic nomination to become the state's top election officer, making her the third Democrat to jump into the 2026 race to succeed Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who is term-limited. "This is more than just an election opportunity for me," Smith, 58, said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "I believe wholeheartedly that I have the skillset, the leadership and the experience to make sure that not only are we protecting our right to vote but that we continue with innovative ways and strategies to keep that integrity intact." Smith, who plans to formally announce her candidacy Thursday in Albuquerque, joins Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin and Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark in seeking the Democratic nomination. So far, no Republicans or candidates from any other party have announced they are entering the race. Although she doesn't have elections administration experience, Smith said she's confident she can do the job. "What I know is that while I may not know everything right now, I have the capacity to learn very quickly," Smith said, adding she's also a good listener. "I know that that is top of mind to people, you know? 'Well, what is it that she's bringing to the table?' I may not have all the answers right now, but what I do have is the ability to get things done. My record as Cabinet secretary shows that," she said. Smith served as Veterans Services secretary from October 2020 to November 2022 when she stepped down to take care of her ailing mother in Virginia. Smith's mother died in February. During her tenure, she supported the enactment of an income tax exemption for armed forces retirees and oversaw the launch of a transportation program for veterans in rural New Mexico. She also increased the number of Veterans Services officers, reinstated a veterans program for women and established a full-time department tribal liaison to better support Native American veterans. Her confirmation wasn't without controversy. While most confirmation hearings draw little attention, hers sparked outcry when a high-ranking Republican asked Smith questions some said were laced with an undercurrent of racism. "Do you expect that in your time here, in seven years, that you've been immersed in this culture enough in this state that you feel comfortable entering a position?' then-Senate Minority Leader Greg Baca of Belen asked Smith. Baca noted a small percentage of the state's population is African American while nearly half is Hispanic or a Hispanic mix. "Do you feel like you are comfortable adequately representing both cultures — white, Native, Hispanics?" he asked Smith. "Are you asking do I feel comfortable representing the Department of Veterans Services as a Black woman? Is that what you are asking?" Smith asked Baca, who later apologized for what he characterized as an "insensitive line of questioning." Smith said Tuesday she's been considering running for secretary of state since serving as a Cabinet secretary. "I believe strongly in our voice and our votes being our voice," she said. "This is just not business as usual for us, and we see that all across country. ... Just like I protected our rights and freedoms when I served in the Air Force, that's the same vigor that I'm going to have in making sure that our vote, which is our voice, is protected." Before serving as Cabinet secretary, Smith worked as a special projects coordinator for the New Mexico Department of Health, helping guide the agency's COVID-19 testing team. Prior to that, she served as director of compliance at Southwest Care Center in Santa Fe and as clinical compliance manager at the University of New Mexico Medical Group, where she is working again as a health care administrator. A veteran of the Gulf War, Smith served as a medical technician in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm as a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserve. She has a bachelor's degree in health services management from Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Va., as well as a master's in health care compliance from Argosy University and a master's in health care administration from the University of Phoenix.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Former NM Veteran's Department cabinet secretary seeks Secretary of State seat
Courtesy of Sonya Smith Sonya Smith, a veteran and former New Mexico cabinet member, will officially announce her 2026 run for New Mexico Secretary of State later this week. The secretary of state operates the state's elections, keeps official records for the state government and is third in succession behind the governor and lieutenant governor. Term limits bar current Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, finishing her second consecutive term, from running again. Smith will be the third candidate seeking the Democratic nomination in the June 2, 2026 primary election, alongside Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda Lopez Askin and Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark. As yet, no Republican candidates have announced runs for the office. Trump administration efforts to change election rules, such as requiring proof of citizenship and changes to mail-in ballots, motivated Smith's campaign, she told Source NM. 'The biggest threat to elections is people feeling safe and secure and that their right to vote is protected,' Smith said. 'Our vote is our voice, and what we're facing right now is the elimination of that.' Smith received a bachelor's in health services management from Norfolk State University and a master's degree in health care compliance from Argosy University. She served as a combat medic with the United States Air Force Reserve in the first Gulf War, and worked in state health care before joining the New Mexico Department of Health, guiding the agency's COVID-19 testing team. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Smith to lead the New Mexico Veteran's Department as its cabinet secretary in October 2020. She stepped down in November 2022, citing the need to care for her mother in her home state of Virginia. Smith returned to New Mexico after her mother's death a few months ago. Smith said her experience in election administrations is limited to 'just being a voter,' but said her work in the Lujan Grisham administration gave her the necessary leadership skills required, including relationships to pass stronger legislation. 'I believe that my experience as a former cabinet secretary with statewide experience is just as valuable as having clerking experience,' Smith said. According to the latest campaign finance records, Smith reported no donations or campaign expenses. She'll formally announce her candidacy at an event Thursday. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
