DWI Planning Council

Santa Fe County DWI Planning Council
State Mandated (according to DFA LDWI Program guidelines)
Health and Human Services Division 

RESOLUTION (1997-87) ESTABLISHING A DWI PLANNING COUNCIL IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW

Will prepare a comprehensive plan that documents the extent of the County and City’s alcoholism problem, DWI resources and needs regarding DWI, alcoholism and alcohol or other drug abuse issues, including prevention, screening, assessment, treatment and alternative sentencing programs. Upon approval of the plan by the BCC, the Plan will be submitted to the Department of Finance for approval and integration into the statewide alcoholism services plan.

There shall be at least nine members. Shall include members from the local media, emergency medical services, community substance abuse treatment, public health, community traffic safety, law enforcement, courts/judicial, prosecutor/legal and schools. Other possible members include chief elected County and City officials, or their designees; an independent behavioral health service professional; a representative of the business community; a consumer of behavioral health services and representatives of such other stakeholder groups as determined by the BCC.

Committee Members

Allen Steele, Chairman - Dr. Allen Steele's career has been centered in working in the media. He started as a young radio announcer, worked his way up to radio station management of three local radio stations, and followed by executive positions in an international broadcasting organization.
More recently he was a university professor of communication and media and president of a media network.

He is a certificated teacher of English ESL with the Santa Fe Literacy Volunteers. He serves on the Board of The Interfaith Homeless Shelter. Dr. Steele is chair of the Adventist Academy of the Santa Fe School Board. He is secretary of the Zia Vista Homeowner's Association.

Dr. Steele is dedicated to making Santa Fe a safe place for everyone to live.

Glenn Levant - Glenn has lived in Santa Fe County since 2004. Before moving to New Mexico he served 30 years in the Los Angeles Police Department, rising via civil service to the rank of Chief.

In 1983 he was the founding Director of DARE America and DARE International, which grew into the world’s largest anti-drug, alcohol and tobacco education program.

He was named by then L.A. City Mayor, Tom Bradley as the Nation’s first anti-Drug "Czar" He has served on the Santa Fe County DWI Planning Council since Feb. 2012, and hopes to help Santa Fe County and NM reduce the scourge of alcohol and drug related incidents.

Richard De Mella - Richard is a Juvenile Justice Planner with the City of Santa Fe. He has worked for ten years in law enforcement and saw firsthand the connection between substance abuse and criminal activity. He feels a comprehensive strategy can reduce a number of our social ills. Substance abuse and mental health issues need to be addressed across our community, state and nation to make our community a safer place.

Richard has been a member of the council since 2011.

Grace Quintana-Trujillo

Grace is employed with the State of New Mexico, Human Services Department, Child Support Enforcement Division. She is the Constituent Services Liaison.

She has worked in various capacities in local, state and federal government. She has worked in private industry and has worn many hats.

She is a small business owner and has extensive experience building her own varied businesses.

Grace is serving as a member of the Planning Council to help bring stricter sentencing and enforcement of drunken driving laws. Her time with the Council has helped her see the complex issues facing Santa Fe County and focus her efforts to address these DWI related problems.

Lisa Wooldridge - Lisa Wooldridge is an independent behavioral health professional. She came to the Planning Council to offer her expertise and to assist law enforcement in the excellent job they do to prevent DWI.

She knows that DWI impacts our community in such a large degree and it is completely preventable which is why she is devoting her energy and time to the Council. She has been a member since 2011.

Donna Bevacqua-Young - Donna Bevacqua-Young is the first Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor for the State of New Mexico. She is an Assistant Attorney General and works with state and not-for-profit agencies that deal with DWI issues.

She organizes police and prosecutor trainings around the State of New Mexico so that both groups can work as a team in the prosecution and investigation of alcohol and other drug impaired driving cases.

Donna’s primary goal is to help reduce DWI injuries and fatalities in New Mexico and to assist as many prosecutors and police to more effectively prosecute and investigate impaired driving offenses. She has been a Council member in the past and has rejoined the group in 2012.

Tom Starke’s - Tom Starke recently retired from Los Alamos National Laboratory where he worked as a physicist and manager for 30 years. He earned his Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, San Diego.

He is a member of the board of Impact DWI, a non-profit organization that produces the Victim Impact Panels for DWI offenders in Santa Fe County.

Tom is also a member of the Santa Fe Magistrate Drug Court’s Resource Committee and supports the Drug Court Alumni Organization’s Twelve Step Program.

As a citizen lobbyist he works tirelessly to improve DWI laws. He is especially focused on effective use of ignition interlocks to keep drinkers from driving.

His passion and motivation to reduce drunken driving, alcoholism and the misery they cause started at an early age. He was only 8 years old when a drunk driver hit and severely injured him as he was riding his bicycle.

Committee Liaison:
Lupe Sanchez
(505) 992-9840
lasanchez1@santafecountynm.gov