Contact: Erika Martinez
(505) 986-4819
Erika.Martinez@nmlegis.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2014
Senators Bill Soules and Clemente Sanchez Chosen for 2014 Western Legislative Academy
Santa Fe, NM – The Council of State Governments West (CSG West), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization serving legislators in 13 Western states, has selected New Mexico State Senators William (Bill) Soules (D-37-Dona Ana) and Clemente Sanchez (D-30-Cibola, Socorro, McKinley & Valencia) as participants in its prestigious training institute for lawmakers in their first four years of service. The purpose of the Western Legislative Academy is to build excellence and effectiveness in state legislators in the Western region. The Western Legislative Academy will convene November 17-20, 2014 in Colorado Springs, Colorado for three and a half days.
Admission to the Western Legislative Academy is very competitive and is based on commitment to public service, desire to improve personal legislative effectiveness and interest in improving the legislative process. Out of 89 applicants from throughout the West, 39 legislators were selected as members of the Western Legislative Academy Class of 2014.
“I am honored to be picked to participate in such an enlightening, and influential training event,” said Sen. Soules. “Initiatives such as these, benefit not only those in office, but the constituents they serve. As a state official, I believe it is upon me to take advantage of applying for opportunities such as this to continue to develop my skills on many levels, and I am grateful I was chosen to partake in this educational experience. I am excited to implement what I will learn into the everyday duties as a senator.”
Academy participants will take part in intensive training in subjects such as legislative institutions, ethics, communications, negotiations, time management and leadership. Faculty is drawn from academia, former military and the private sector. A highlight of the training is an afternoon at the US Air Force Academy working on personal assessments and team building.
CSG West is the Western region of the national Council of State Governments, which is based in Lexington, Kentucky. Regional offices of CSG are located in Sacramento, Chicago, Atlanta and New York.
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*An earlier version of this story did not include Senator Clemente Sanchez.