There were lots of kind words last week for Stephanie Maez, who announced her resignation from the New Mexico House of Representatives to focus on her family after her son’s arrest on a murder charge.
Courtesy photo
Stephanie Maez
“She made an excellent decision,” Mike Johnson of Santa Fe wrote during a discussion NMPolitcs.net facilitated last week on Facebook. “Best for her and her constituents.”
Ralph Arellanes Jr. agreed.
“She is absolutely right in this decision,” he wrote. “Her focus should be on her family at this point.”
Maez’s son Donovan, 18, was arrested in August and charged with murder in the summer drive-by shooting of 17-year-old Jaydon Chavez-Silver. Donovan Maez has pleaded not guilty.
Stephanie Maez, a Democrat, told the Albuquerque Journal she planned to run for election to the Albuquerque-area District 21 House seat for the first time next year. She was appointed to the seat last year after then-Rep. Mimi Stewart vacated it to take a Senate seat.
“Yes, she did the right thing! Our prayers are with you,” George Creamer of Magdalena wrote about Maez’s resignation.
“Prayers for all involved and impacted by this,” Tom Mullins of Farmington wrote. “Healing is necessary and God has a plan for us all.”
Maez’s resignation takes effect Nov. 5. It’s up to the Bernalillo County Commission to appoint a replacement.