SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The superintendent of the Santa Fe Public Schools district has ended her bid for a state Senate seat a week after announcing her candidacy.
Veronica Garcia said Thursday she doesn’t have time to run the school district and campaign.
Garcia had planned to run as a Democrat for the Albuquerque-area seat held by Republic Sen. Mark Moores where she lives. District 21 leans Republican.
She told The Santa Few New Mexican she had been inspired to run by a state district judge’s ruling that said vulnerable students are denied the right to an education because schools are underfunded. She says she wanted an opportunity to respond as a lawmaker.
Garcia’s contract as superintendent in Santa Fe ends in June 2021.
She served as state education secretary under former Gov. Bill Richardson.
