Heather Benavidez, candidate for APS School Board District 4 is a dedicated and passionate advocate for education and is dedicated to ensuring children have a safe and equitable learning environment.  Heather is a product of public schools. Growing up in Belen, Heather attended public schools through high school. 

As a special needs advocate, she promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and has been a proud public servant for 20 years, serving in both local and state government. Her service began in the Thirteenth Judicial District Court where she held many positions, culminating in the development and management of the Foreclosure Settlement Facilitation Pilot Program to help New Mexicans facing foreclosure save their homes. She served as Chief of Staff for the New Mexico State Treasurer’s Office and collaborated directly with the Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer to manage thirty employees, each with decades of investment, management, financial and banking experience, and expertise. Her tenure in the New Mexico State Treasurer’s Office was enriched by advocacy work, including providing financial literacy education to youth transitioning out of the foster care system, creating and managing ABLE New Mexico accounts for individuals living with disabilities, and assisting with the development of a retirement savings account program for employees of small businesses and the self-employed. She was proud to sit on the boards of both the New Mexico Renewable Energy Transmission Authority and the New Mexico Small Business Investment Corporation.