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Santa Fe, N.M. — Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine E. Clark has been elected Chair of the Legislative, Policy, Administrative Rule, & Best Practices Committee, one of two new statewide committees formed this year by the New Mexico County Clerks’ Affiliate.

The creation of the Legislative Committee and the IPRA (Inspection of Public Records Act) Committee marks a significant step forward in supporting New Mexico’s county clerks with the legal, policy, and administrative challenges they face — including the increasing complexity of election law and transparency demands.

“Serving as Chair of the Legislative Committee is an opportunity to build lasting, bipartisan solutions for Clerks statewide,” said Clerk Clark. “We’ve seen what’s possible with momentum like the recent passage of SB 290, and I’m committed to helping us move forward together with clarity and purpose.”

The Legislative, Policy, Administrative Rule, & Best Practices Committee, chaired by Clerk Clark, reflects her growing leadership role. She is charged with shaping legislative priorities for the upcoming session, advising on administrative rules, and sharing policy best practices across counties.

Committee Roster:

Katharine E. Clark – Chair

Shannan Hemphill – Vice Chair

Robert Serrano

Tessa Jo Mascarenas

Alyssa Kuhn

Joey Dominguez

Annie Hogland

The IPRA Committee was formed in response to a growing number of requests for public records, which have placed a heavy administrative burden on counties across the state. This committee will work to draft uniform IPRA response guidelines that counties may choose to adopt.

IPRA Committee Roster:

Caroline Zamora – Chair

Cara Cooke – Vice Chair

Annie Hogland

Alyssa Esquibel

Devian Fields

Both committees have received bipartisan support and include representation from various counties. They will meet monthly and report to the County Clerks’ Affiliate Executive Committee.

The committees also hope to be invited to participate in interim legislative sessions, where they can provide input ahead of the regular session and help bring forward well-informed, consensus-driven policy recommendations. These committee meetings are where the groundwork is laid, helping identify challenges early and breaking down barriers before bills reach the floor.

“These committees reflect the next chapter in clerk leadership across New Mexico,” said Affiliate Chair Rosangela Ortiz. “We hope they will help shift some of the burden off individual Clerk’s Offices by providing shared guidance and support — especially as clerks continue to do incredibly important work with limited time and resources.”

For more information, contact the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office at 505-986-6280.

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