State lawmakers passed House Memorial 2 during the 2026 legislative session, leading to formation of the state’s Inspection of Public Records Act Task Force.
Thirteenth District Judge Cindy Mercer of Valencia County issued a preliminary injunction on Wednesday, May 27, blocking Barela from serving as chair amid her primary campaign for reelection to the District 2 seat on the Otero County Commission.
Nonprofits whose primary purpose is raising or spending money to influence elections can qualify as political committees, a designation that triggers stricter donor disclosure requirements.
She attended law school at The University of New Mexico in 2006 and was working on completing her master’s degree in American Indian Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, while serving as the interior secretary.