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Senate Rules advances two nominees to New Mexico Highlands University Board of Regents
Summary
The Senate Rules Committee voted to advance Gary John Tripp and Elaine Luna to full‑senate confirmation for appointments to the New Mexico Highlands University Board of Regents, after supporters described their ties to northern New Mexico and higher‑education experience.
The Senate Rules Committee voted to move forward two nominees — Gary John Tripp and Elaine Luna — to full Senate confirmation for seats on the New Mexico Highlands University Board of Regents. The committee recorded seven votes in favor of each nominee, advancing both appointments to the full Senate later in the morning.
Both nominees received organized support at the hearing from local educators, health‑care leaders and former colleagues who described long ties to Highlands and service to rural New Mexico. "He is ultimately and very much so dedicated to the future of New Mexico," Senator Campos said in opening remarks while introducing Gary Tripp.
Tripp, who said he grew up in Las Vegas, N.M., described a career that included teaching and coaching in Moriarty, serving as a high‑school principal in Rio Rancho and a decade at the New Mexico Activities Association. "I would humbly serve to the best of my ability the students that would be attending New Mexico Highlands University," Tripp told the committee.
Supporters emphasized Tripp's work on student‑athlete safety and scholarship fundraising during his NMAA tenure. Dr. Frank Sanchez, who said he has known Tripp for more than 50 years, called him a connector who "listens very carefully" and follows up on commitments.
Elaine Luna, whose background includes work at New Mexico Highlands University, Luna Community College and leadership on health‑care and community foundation boards in Las Vegas, N.M., also advanced. Luna described her personal path from northern New Mexico to higher education and a career in medical social work. "Every day at the university was a learning experience," she told the committee.
Speakers from area hospitals, Luna Community College and the Las Vegas Community Foundation spoke in organized support of Luna, citing her experience with rural workforce development, student support and disaster recovery efforts following wildfires and floods.
Motions to advance each nominee were made and followed by roll call votes. The committee chair announced both nominees would go to the full Senate for confirmation later in the day.
The committee record shows the formal action taken was to move both appointments forward for full Senate confirmation; no final Senate confirmation votes were recorded in the committee hearing.
Looking ahead, the nominees will appear on the full Senate calendar for a confirmation vote. The committee did not take additional steps such as imposing meeting frequency requirements on the Board of Regents; nominees discussed interest in increasing meeting frequency to strengthen fiduciary oversight if appointed.
