Georgene Louis
Georgene Louis | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives from the 26th district | |
| In office January 15, 2013 – January 1, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Al Park |
| Succeeded by | Eleanor Chavez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1978 (age 45–46) Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of New Mexico (BA, JD) |
| Website | Government website |
Georgene Louis is an American attorney and politician who served as a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives for the 26th district from 2013 to 2023.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Louis was born and raised in the Acoma Pueblo. She earned a bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico.[2]
Career
[edit]Louis has worked in the field of tribal law. She participated in a seven-month candidate training called Emerge New Mexico.[3] Five of its alumni were elected to office in New Mexico in 2012.[3] In 2015, Louis was one of five Native American legislators serving in the New Mexico House of Representatives.[2]
Louis represented District 26, which includes part of West Albuquerque and is predominantly Latino. The district has a population of around 30,000 people, of whom 4% are Native American.[2]
She was the chair of the House State Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs committees and was also a member of the Judiciary and Rules & Order of Business Committees.[4] She was re-elected to a fifth term in 2020.
Louis is the general counsel of the Pueblo of Tesuque. On January 4, 2021, Louis announced her candidacy for the 2021 New Mexico's 1st congressional district special election.[5] At the Democratic committee selection, she lost to fellow representative Melanie Stansbury.[6][7]
After completing her existing term as representative for District 26, Louis elected not to run for re-election.[8][9]
Personal life
[edit]Louis had her daughter, Jonisha, when she was a sophomore in high school.[10] Louis and her daughter live in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[11]
On February 14, 2022, Louis was booked into a Santa Fe County jail on an Aggravated DWI charge, in addition to being charged with "speeding, driving without insurance and failing to show proof of registration."[12][13]
On April 4, 2022, New Mexico's State Ethics Commission ruled that Louis broke the New Mexico's Governmental Conduct Act by informing the arresting officer that she was a Legislator, and showing him her Government vehicle plates and that this was an attempt to obtain preferential treatment from a police officer. She agreed to pay $250, equivalent to a civil fine, in order to prevent answering the charge in court.[14]
Honors
[edit]- Inaugural Achievement Award, Indian Law Section, State Bar of New Mexico, 2013 (cite for this and following entries[15])
- Emerging Democratic Woman of the Year, Emerge New Mexico, 2013
- Toll Fellow, Council of State Governments, 2013
- 40 Under Forty Honoree, Albuquerque Business First, 2013
- Award Nominee, American Council of Young Political Leaders, 2013
References
[edit]- ^ "Official Website". Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Georgene Louis, State Representative, House District 26, New Mexico House of Representatives" Archived August 14, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Meet Native America blog, August 21, 2015, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian; accessed June 28, 2016
- ^ a b Kim Baca, "Native Women Aim to Make Waves in NM Political Arena", Indian Country Today, October 21, 2014; accessed June 28, 2016
- ^ "Representative Georgene Louis - (D)". New Mexico Legislature. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- ^ Chief, Dan Boyd | Journal Capitol Bureau (January 4, 2021). "ABQ lawmaker joins three others in bid for Haaland's seat". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- ^ Democrats, New Mexico (March 31, 2021). "DPNM Announces Runoff in SCC Vote to Determine Democratic Nominee in CD-1". New Mexico Democrats.
- ^ Writer, Ryan Boetel | Journal Staff (March 31, 2021). "Stansbury chosen as Democratic nominee for special election". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
- ^ Jonathan Fjeld (March 24, 2022). "Lapel video: New Mexico legislator arrested for DWI". KOB. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ "New Mexico lawmaker settles ethics complaint over conduct at DWI stop". Las Cruces Sun News.
- ^ "Meet Native America: Georgene Louis, State Representative for House District 26, New Mexico State Legislature". blog.nmai.si.edu. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- ^ "Members". NMHDCC. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- ^ Jonathan Fjeld (March 24, 2022). "Lapel video: New Mexico legislator arrested for DWI". KOB. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
- ^ "Cops & Cons". Youtube. February 17, 2022.
- ^ "New Mexico lawmaker settles ethics complaint over conduct at DWI stop". Las Cruces Sun News.
- ^ Bio: "Georgene Louis", Project Vote Smart, 2016; accessed June 28, 2016
External links
[edit]- Government website
- Campaign website Archived January 28, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
- 1978 births
- 21st-century American women politicians
- Candidates in the 2021 United States elections
- Living people
- Democratic Party members of the New Mexico House of Representatives
- Native American state legislators in New Mexico
- Native American women in politics
- University of New Mexico alumni
- Women state legislators in New Mexico
- People from Acoma Pueblo
- 21st-century Native American women
- 21st-century Native American politicians
- 21st-century members of the New Mexico Legislature