Senator Mary Kay Papen

SENATOR MARY KAY PAPEN

Senate Pro Tempore Mary Kay Papen (D-38-Dona Ana) has served in the New Mexico Legislature since 2001, representing parts of Dona Ana County. According to Senator Papen, her drive to become a public official comes from her parents instilling in her the need to give back to her community. Beyond her elected position, her community involvement includes volunteering as a board member for La Casa Domestic Violence Shelter, St. Luke’s Health Clinic, the First Step Clinic for Prenatal and Pediatric Care and the Border Book Festival.

In 2010, Senator Papen became the Senate President Pro Tempore for the State Senate. During the legislative session, she chairs the Senate Committee’s Committee and serves as a member of the Corporations and Indian Affairs Committees. During the interim she co-chairs the Legislative Jobs Council and the Legislative Council; she is also a member of 14 other interim committees. As a state senator, she has championed many important pieces of legislation including mental health insurance benefits, Katie’s Law, affordable housing reform, as well as legislation dealing with water, economic development, horse racing regulation, public health and education.

Senator Papen was awarded the APA Practice Organization’s Legislator of the Year award in 2012 in recognition of her legislative accomplishments to support behavioral health access and awareness, and promote greater public well-being. Other awards she has received include the New Mexico Senate Milagro Award, America’s Outstanding Women in 1967, the Las Cruces Hispano Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year” in 1995, the New Mexico Community Foundation Luminaria Award in 1997, the Governor’s Award for Outstanding New Mexico Women in 2000, the New Mexico Alliance for the Mentally Ill “Outstanding Legislator” in 2003, and the 2010 NAMI – Domenici Family Award.

Now a retired car dealership owner and racecar driver in Europe, Senator Papen enjoys spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren when she’s not busy tending to state business.

Credit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mary-Kay-Papen/451180548246485?sk=info

 

SENATOR TIMOTHY KELLER

Senate Majority Whip, Timothy Keller, who became a recent member of the Senate Leadership in 2012, was first elected as a state senator in 2008 at the age of 29. His term began the next year and he hit the ground running, proving that he was efficient, hardworking, innovative and eager to serve his constituents. He ran for a second term once again in 2012 to represent District 17 of Albuquerque and was re-elected. District 17 includes East Central Albuquerque and the International District areas around Expo NM and Kirtland Air Force Base.  Sen. Keller has been an ardent champion of the diversity of his district and its’ the revitalization efforts.  District 17 is the state’s most diverse district where 27 languagues are spoken and is the only area in New Mexico with a vibrant Asian and African refugee communities.

Before Keller became a legislator, he studied out of state and received his degrees from Notre Dame and Harvard. He later returned home to New Mexico, where he worked as an investment banker with Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette focusing on energy technology corporate finance. As an entrepreneur, he moved to Cambodia and spent three years co-founding Data Digital Divide (DDD), a social enterprise which extends help to land mine victims and other disadvantaged people.

It was only a matter of time before this natural leader decided to run for public office. “I grew up here and was fortunate enough to receive a good education and professional experience background but ever since my time at St. Pius X high school, I have felt a vocational calling to give back to our state.  I used to use my vacation time to volunteer up in the Senate and dreamed of one day being a part of the chamber,” said Keller.

For this year’s legislative session, Keller will be sponsoring several bills focusing on education, healthcare, water and land issues, and government reform.

Sen. Keller is a member of several committees, including: Legislative Council, Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy, the Science, Technology and Telecommunications, Economic and Rural Development, Investments and Pensions Oversight, Land Grant, Military and Veterans Affairs, NM Finance Authority Oversight, Legislative Finance, Corporations and Transportation, and Public Affairs.

He’s also sat on several boards including: the Open Hands Foundation, Road Runner Food Bank Capital Campaign, the Asian American Association and Albuquerque Southeast Team for Entrepreneur Development.

Sen. Keller says he’s really enjoyed being a part of the Senate Leadership and said he was thankful to have Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez teach him about the process in learning to manage the floor.

When Sen. Keller isn’t working as a business economist or making important decisions at the legislature, he’s busy raising his 5 month old daughter Maya with his wife, Elizabeth Kistin from Corrales. The two say they both enjoy being new parents.