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Patricia Madrid (D-N.M., 1st District)
Blazing a Trail for Latina Leaders
October 10, 2006
New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid says she is running for Congress "to be part of the solution." And indeed Madrid's career clearly shows her dedication to being a problem solver and a trailblazer.
A graduate of the University of New Mexico, receiving both her bachelor's and law degree from that institution, Madrid was first elected to public office in 1978. She served as the state's first female district court judge, an achievement which marked only the beginning of her remarkable career.
In 1998 Madrid became attorney general, the top elected executive law enforcement position in the state. Madrid is the first woman attorney general in her state's history (one of four in the country) and the nation's first Latina attorney general. Once again, she is seeking to shatter a glass ceiling to become her state's first Latina member of Congress.
As attorney general, Madrid established a unit to train law enforcement officials to deal compassionately with domestic violence cases and prosecute sex crimes. Her Internet Crimes Against Children task force prosecutes sexual predators. In court, she has defended women's access to reproductive care.
Attorney General Madrid's opponent is right-wing Republican Heather Wilson. Wilson is closely allied with George W. Bush, is a supporter of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, opposes women's access to abortion, and she supported tax cuts for the wealthiest people in the U.S. According to the Library of Congress, Wilson voted with Tom DeLay 89 percent of the time, aligning herself securely with the White House and its cronies.
Wilson has already received nearly one million dollars in donations from "Big Oil" and the pharmaceutical industry. She has also received campaign assistance from Vice President Dick Cheney, and disgraced figures like Jack Abramoff, Duke Cunningham, Tom DeLay, Bob Ney and Mark Foley.
In contrast, Madrid has relentlessly fought predatory lenders and is an advocate for senior citizens victimized by fraud. A defender of the environment, Madrid has strongly protected New Mexico's public lands and water. She favors affordable healthcare, effective welfare, and renewable energy.
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