Rep. Jeannette Wallace presenting her last bill, with a container of candy she shared with others sitting on her desk in front of her. (Photo by Tom Taylor)
Jeannette Wallace kept candy on her desk to share with others. She spent this year’s legislative session working tirelessly in spite of the fact that she was lugging an oxygen tank around the Roundhouse. And she wore bright-colored tennis shoes that caught everyone’s attention.
The state representative from Los Alamos died Friday, The Associated Press reported. She was 77. Funeral services are pending, but a service will likely be held Thursday.
Asked to talk about Wallace, many of her colleagues mentioned things like her “heart of gold,” a quote from Rep. David Chavez, R-Los Lunas, and her “tenacity in trying to do her job for her district,” a quote from Minority Leader Tom Taylor, R-Farmington.
Others talked about the shoes, which Chavez gave Wallace during the session.
“The shoes! Rep. David Chavez purchased a great pair… for the distinguished gentlelady from Los Alamos during the session, and she wore them,” Rep. Alonzo Baldonado, R-Los Lunas, wrote in an e-mail to NMPolitics.net.
Chavez said he was wearing a pair of orange and red running shoes one day and Wallace told him she liked them and wanted a pair. Chavez bought her running shoes that were mostly yellow.
“I said she had to wear them for the rest of the session, and she did – she wore them every day,” Chavez said.
Wallace struggled through the session, which ended last month, and was even hospitalized briefly in mid-February. The Los Alamos Monitor reported that she had fluid in her lungs.
The newspaper reported in a separate article that Wallace “succumbed to various illnesses.” The representative, who had served since 1991, will lie in state at the Roundhouse, the Monitor reported.
Rep. Jeannette Wallace with Rep. David Chavez during this year’s session. She is wearing running shoes Chavez gave her – shoes she wore every day for the remainder of the session. (Courtesy photo)
‘A loss for all of us’
Wallace, a Republican, was liked and respected by colleagues from across the political spectrum. She and House Speaker Ben Luján, D-Nambé, had a close relationship.
From the Monitor:
“Lujan described Wallace during an interview Saturday as not only ‘a great legislator but a great friend.’ ‘Los Alamos lost a great representative because while she was very cognizant of the needs of the state of New Mexico, she always made sure the needs of Los Alamos were taken care of… the entire Legislature is deeply saddened by her loss and we will miss her very much,’ Lujan said.”
Javier Gonzales, chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, tweeted that New Mexico “lost a great public servant.” Rep. Dennis Kintigh, R-Roswell, told NMPolitics.net that Wallace was “a very gracious lady.” Rep. Conrad James, R-Albuquerque, called her “a valuable and knowledgeable member of our caucus,” and said she “was a big help to me on the House Appropriations and Finance Committee.”
Gov. Susana Martinez said Wallace will be “deeply missed.”
“Jeannette dedicated two decades of her life to serving New Mexico in the state Legislature,” Martinez said. “She was a tireless advocate for the people of Los Alamos, Sandoval, and Santa Fe Counties – committed to public service even as her health was fading over the past few months. … Representative Wallace’s passing is a loss for all of us who have had the pleasure to work with her.”