County Commissioners
Contact
845 N. Motel Blvd.
Las Cruces, NM 88007
Office: (575) 525-5807
Cell number: (575) 644-4055
Fax number: (575) 525-5948
E-mail: kperez@donaanacounty.org
Karen G. Perez, a Democrat, was elected to the District 3 seat on the Doņa Ana County Board of Commissioners in November, 2006. District 3 encompasses a large sector of southeastern Doņa Ana County, including Las Alturas, Telshor, Foothills, and Talavera, the University Hills and Bellamah neighborhoods, the NMSU campus, Mesilla Park, Tortugas, Brazito, San Pablo and Mesquite.
Commissioner Perez is a professional engineer who has worked locally for more than 13 years in the development of water and wastewater infrastructure. Commissioner Perez is a certified Level II Water and Wastewater Operator and is employed as a consulting engineer for a private firm in Las Cruces. Based on her experience in community development, Commissioner Perez has a keen interest in managed growth based on a comprehensive county plan. She has identified the following critical issues:
- Managed growth, supported by investment in proper infrastructure;
- Water resource conservation and management; and
- Targeted, industry-based economic development and workforce training.
A resident of Las Cruces for 17 years, Commissioner Perez has earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees in Civil Engineering from New Mexico State University, and a bachelor's degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Before moving to Las Cruces, Commissioner Perez served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador and Honduras, building potable water and irrigation systems. She speaks fluent Spanish and has lived and worked as an engineer in Peru, Honduras, Western Europe, and Egypt.
In addition to her technical service to the community, Commissioner Perez is on the Board of the Talavera Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association and is the past president of the Mesilla Valley Concert Band. She has also served as vice president of the Soledad Canyon Homeowners Association. She currently plays the piano for the choir at Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral.
Commissioner Perez has been married to her husband, Oscar, for 12 years. They have two sons, Antonio and Daniel, who attend Hillrise Elementary School. Oscar is employed by the Physical Science Laboratory at New Mexico State University.
