Mad is a different kind of Democrat, with a new approach to politics. Hers is a strong, independent voice for Southern New Mexico’s middle and working class, for ranchers and sportsmen, and for veterans. She will work across the aisle to protect Social Security and Medicare, and spur economic growth and job creation.
Born into a large working-class family in 1961, her father worked as an auto mechanic, and the family took in foster children to help care for kids in need. Mad spent her early years in the Denver area, then the family moved to the countryside where they kept a small farm and raised livestock. She was active in 4-H, and later served as an adult 4-H leader. She spent many hours out on Open Range riding Springer, the paint horse she broke as a young teen, and where she developed her intense regard for maintaining wild lands.
Mad’s family spent many vacations in the mountains, plains, and deserts of Colorado and New Mexico, and her parents and sister moved to Socorro, NM in 1997. Mad resided in Socorro during the early 2000’s, and upon her husband’s retirement from the US Coast Guard, they returned to New Mexico. Her upbringing allows her to not simply relate to southern New Mexico’s ‘hardworking people’ but to be one of them.
In her early twenties, Mad enlisted in the US Coast Guard, and served at USCG TRACEN Petaluma as Military Police, then went on to become a Radioman. As a Veteran, and a military spouse, she understands the importance of the uniformed services to the country, and the responsibilities of the country to its Veterans.
Taking advantage of the GI Bill, she received an Associates and a Bachelor’s degree in Individual Studies — History with a concentration in Middle East Terrorism — at Columbia College’s military facility branch on Treasure Island Naval Station, San Francisco. She then attained a Master’s degree in History at San Francisco State University, specializing in Labor History, and went on to earn a PhD in History at University of Maine. She was the first person in her family to pursue, and achieve, advanced degrees.
Mad has spent the last 18 years as an online History Instructor at Rowan College at Burlington County, a community college situated in New Jersey. She has also taught in the classroom at various colleges and universities, including Central New Mexico Community College (formerly Albuquerque TVI). She has been active in Church, School and Community activities in the many locations where she’s resided during 30 years as a military spouse.