Who is the Redistricting Committee?

Adrienne Chavez was born and raised in South Valley and attended Atrisco Elementary, Armijo Elementary, Ernie Pyle Middle School and graduated from Rio Grande High School. Adrienne received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a specialization in Counseling, from the College of Santa Fe. Currently, she serves as an Information Technology Senior Security Analyst with a local hospital. In her downtime, Adrienne enjoys spending time with her husband, children and family.

Frank Baca is a life-long resident of Albuquerque. He has lived in the South Valley (District 1) most of his life, having attended APS public schools from 1st to 12th grade and having graduated from Rio Grande High School. An attorney, Frank is retired from active practice but is still very involved in community activities.

Carolyn Stith graduated from Highland High School, served 26 years in the United States Air Force, and is currently finishing her Doctor of Education for Organizational Leadership with emphasis on Organizational Development. She has two children who graduated from Albuquerque Public Schools. One attended CNM and one graduated from University of New Mexico. Local small business owner, she is an international professional coach that provides leadership and team assessment, coaching and training to enhance organizational performance and safety culture.

Joshua Neal was born and raised in the Albuquerque metro. Joshua’s parents were foster parents who adopted several children from the New Mexico foster care system. He graduated from Los Lunas High School and from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Joshua is currently employed as a Civil Engineer at Bohannan Huston Inc, specializing in urban development and planning.

Amanda Aragon is a resident of Albuquerque's Sawmill neighborhood. She attended and graduated from New Mexico public schools including Sierra Vista and Corrales elementary schools and Taylor Middle School. She is a first-generation college graduate with experience in both public and private sectors.

Michael Chavez is a Hispanic male who lives downtown and works on education issues. He grew up in Albuquerque and has been active in Santa Fe and in New Mexico Democratic party politics. Michael is a registered lobbyist, working to advocate on behalf of several New Mexico education organizations and charter schools. Michael chaired the prior APS board redistricting effort in 2011-12.

Bernadette Hardy is the coordinator for the International District Healthy Community Coalition and a parent of a Highland High School student.

Kimberly Obregon is a native New Mexican from the Canyon area of the Jemez Valley. She holds a Master's Degree in Education from Lewis and Clark College and has more than 20 years of experience in education. In recent years, she has committed herself to community work, specifically in the International District of Albuquerque where she lives and has volunteered since 2016, worked as a Community School Coordinator, and during the pandemic opened a flower shop in order to plant meaningfully in the neighborhood, providing a food and supply distribution point for neighborhood families. She currently works with New Mexico Black Leadership Council within the Highland Cluster, developing programs in partnership with other organizations to build leadership skills in youth through arts integration. She has eight children who all attended APS schools and currently has four children at Emerson Elementary School and one at Highland High School.

Deanna Armijo, a native of Albuquerque's Westside (District 5), has resided in the district for a majority of her life. She holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Business Administration from the University of New Mexico. Currently, she is a Business Management Professional at Sandia National Laboratories and has previously been employed at PNM Resources. 

Matthew Garcia-Sierra is a lifelong resident of Albuquerque’s westside community, and graduated from West Mesa High School in 2007. Matthew was raised in a single-mother household with his four siblings, who also graduated from APS schools. Matthew attended the University of New Mexico for undergraduate and graduate studies. Currently, Matthew owns and operates a small consulting business and is the Communications Director for the New Mexico House of Representatives Minority Caucus.

Angi Gonzales Carver has been an active advocate on many fronts in Albuquerque and the nation. Her titles are many but mother is the one that makes her most proud. She became active in her children Adrian and Dani’s PTA more than 20 years ago. But she did not stop there. As president of the New Mexico PTA, she advocated on behalf of all children of New Mexico. She and her husband, in partnership, own a construction business for more than 30 years. Forty years ago, Angi co-founded the organization Las Mujeres. She, in alliance with other leaders, established an avenue for Hispanic women and their families to advocate for themselves. Angi is deeply committed to improving Albuquerque and its public schools for children and their families, but especially for those who have been left behind.

Letha Oman is a retired APS principal and teacher, serving in a variety of areas of the city. She is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) working with children in the foster system in Bernalillo County. She has been a training coordinator for families of children with disabilities, providing training for families in working with schools and advocating for their children. Letha is proudly owned by Percy, her labradoodle. In addition, she is an avid fan of THE Ohio State University. Go Bucks!

Scott Darnell graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Arts and Harvard Kennedy School of Government with a Master’s of Public Policy. He oversees policy development and programs, including Leadership Albuquerque and Albuquerque Reads for the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. He is a husband and father to two boys, ages 7 and 9.

Jeremiah Ritchie is responsible for managing the corporate governance department and coordinating outside counsel for New Mexico Mutual. In addition, he oversees and directs corporate compliance, internal audit, legislative and regulatory relations, and fraud investigations. Prior work includes more than five years with the New Mexico Office of the Governor, serving first as director of boards and commissions, then as assistant general counsel and then as deputy chief of staff. Jeremiah holds a Juris Doctor degree from Brigham Young University’s J. Reuben Clark Law School and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of New Mexico.