Monica Youngblood

Monica Christina Youngblood, is an American politician and a former member of the New Mexico House of Representatives. She represented District 68 (northwest Albuquerque)[1] from January 15, 2013 to 2019.

Monica Youngblood
Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives
from the 68th district
In office
January 15, 2013 – 2019
Preceded byThomas Garcia
Succeeded byKaren C. Bash
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceAlbuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Websitemynmstaterep.com

During her three terms in the state legislature, she was known for being tough on crime, sponsoring legislation to bring back the death penalty[2] and supporting tougher penalties for people suspected of driving under the influence.[3] In 2018, she was convicted of aggravated driving under the influence. She lost her re-election bid shortly after.

Elections
  • 2012 Youngblood ran for the New Mexico House of Representatives: District 68. A seat that incumbent Democratic State Representative Thomas Garcia left open to run for the New Mexico Senate. Youngblood ran in the four-way June 5, 2012 Republican primary and won with 763 votes, (44.7%).[4] Then won the November 6, 2012 general election with 6,908 votes (55%) against Democratic nominee Eloise Gift.[5]
  • On November 6, 2018, Youngblood lost re-election to Democratic challenger Karen Bash.[6]

Drunk driving arrest

Youngblood was arrested on May 20, 2018 at a sobriety checkpoint under suspicion of driving under the influence. According to police, Youngblood smelled of alcohol and her speech was slurred. She was placed under arrest after performing poorly on field sobriety tests and refusing to take a breathalyzer test.[7]

Youngblood made several statements regarding her position as a legislator to the arresting officers. She was recorded on tape telling police, "I literally fight for you guys." According to the New Mexico Governmental Conduct Act, it is a criminal offense for public officials to use their offices to obtain personal benefits. The state attorney general, Hector Balderas, announced that his office would investigate whether Youngblood illegally used her official position in an attempt to influence police during her arrest.[8]

As a legislator, she had been a vocal supporter of harsher DUI penalties.[3][8] She also introduced legislation to bring Lyft and Uber to New Mexico, due to the drunk driving problem in the state.[7]

Youngblood maintained her innocence and requested a jury trial, which was denied by the judge. After a bench trial which lasted nearly four hours, she was found guilty of aggravated drunken driving. She was represented in court by Paul Kennedy, a former justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court.[9] She was sentenced to the mandatory minimum of 48 hours in jail (with credit for one day served), in addition to mandatory use of an ignition interlock for one year, attendance at DUI school, completion of 24 hours of community service and payment of court costs and fees.[10]

References
  1. "Monica Youngblood's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  2. Oxford, Andrew; Nott, Robert (January 7, 2018). "New Mexico Republicans to resume effort to bring back death penalty". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  3. Hudetz, Mary (September 25, 2018). "New Mexico Lawmaker Found Guilty of DWI in Albuquerque". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  4. "Canvass of Returns of Primary Election Held on June 5, 2012 – State of New Mexico" (PDF). Santa Fe, New Mexico: Secretary of State of New Mexico. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 15, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  5. "Canvass of Returns of General Election Held on November 6, 2012 – State of New Mexico" (PDF). Santa Fe, New Mexico: Secretary of State of New Mexico. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 4, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  6. Panas, Joshua (November 7, 2018). "Voters reject Monica Youngblood after DWI conviction". KOB 4. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  7. Nguyen, Jeannie (May 21, 2018). "New Mexico State Representative arrested for DWI". KRQE. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  8. Oxford, Andrew (May 23, 2018). "AG to examine if Youngblood used position to sway officer in arrest". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  9. Oxford, Andrew (September 25, 2018). "Judge convicts Rep. Monica Youngblood of aggravated DWI". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  10. Barnitz, Katy (October 3, 2018). "Youngblood sentenced to day in jail for DWI". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved April 15, 2019.


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