Senate won't be the same

March 4, 2012

Senate won't be the same

Regardless of what happens in November, the New Mexico Senate will be a much different body next year.

Last week, Cynthia Nava became the sixth senator, and second committee chairwoman, to announce that she would not seek re-election. Democrats Dede Feldman and Eric Griego; and Republicans Clinton Harden, Vernon Asbill and Mark Boitano had previously announced they also would not be running for another term. Together, they represent 75 years of experience in the Senate.

And, with Rod Adair and Bill Burt running against each other because of redistricting, there will be one more veteran legislator not returning. Burt is actually the newest member of the Senate, appointed to fill the seat vacated by Dianna Duran when she was elected secretary of state, but Adair has served since 1997.

Nava's announcement didn't come as a shock. She had stepped down last year as superintendent of the Gadsden Independent School District, and has recently married former Environment Secretary Ron Curry. But her loss will leave a void, especially on education issues.

For more than a decade, Nava and Rep. Rick Miera of Albuquerque have led the Legislature's education committees. I have always questioned what seemed to be a conflict of interest, with Nava taking a leading role in writing the education budget every year, while at the same time collecting her paycheck from the Gadsden school district. But, that's just how things are done with our "citizen Legislature."

And, despite my misgivings, I can't think of one incident where Nava put her personal interests ahead of what was best for the state. She was always a passionate advocate for education, and I'm certain will continue to be in the future, but never, it seemed to me, for selfish reasons.

Asbill, a teacher, coach, principal and superintendent before he retired and ran for the Senate, was just as passionate about supporting and improving New Mexico's schools. He was a strong advocate within the Republican caucus, where education budgets and proposals often met a more chilly reception.

Because Asbill was from Carlsbad — home of the Current Argus, one of the newspapers in our chain — he was one of the legislators I covered closely while I was in Santa Fe. A gregarious man with a flat-top haircut from the 1950s, a hearty laugh and a vice-like handshake, I never once felt like Asbill was giving me spin or PR.

While Nava was a leader on education issues, Feldman, who was the chairwoman of the Senate Public Affairs Committee and the interim Health and Human Services Committee, often led the charge on health-care reform. In a state that accepts change slowly, that assured more defeats than victories (she also carried the failed bill this year seeking to allow a ban on fireworks during times of high fire danger). But Feldman pushed ahead with good humor.

Last year, during the redistricting battle, our Santa Fe reporter Milan Simonich overheard Sen. John Ryan discuss the prospects of having to face Feldman in an election under the new Senate districts. "She's old," Ryan said, puffing up his chances.

When word got back to Feldman she planned her gentle revenge. Later that session she was wheeled onto the Senate floor wearing a white wig with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders.

"I have never been more humbled," Ryan said in apologizing.

Change is inevitable. New people will be elected to office in November, and they will bring with them new ideas and a fresh perspective. All of which is as it should be.

"I think people have to know when it's time to get out," Nava said.

All true. But the six senators stepping down this year have added a lot to the Senate, and they will be missed.

Walter Rubel is managing editor of the Sun-News. He can be reached at wrubel@lcsun-news.com or follow @WalterRubel on Twitter.