Grant County Clerk Named To State Senate

SANTA FE (AP) – Grant County Clerk Henry “Howie” Morales will fill a Senate seat left vacant by the death of Democratic Sen. Ben Altamirano.

Gov. Bill Richardson appointed Morales to the position on Wednesday. Altamirano, the longest-serving member of the state Legislature, died last month at his home in Silver City at age 77.

Morales will represent a Senate district encompassing parts of Catron, Grant, and Socorro counties. The 35-year-old Silver City Democrat has been county clerk since 2005.

He also teaches government and leadership at Western New Mexico University. Morales earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from from Western New Mexico University and a doctorate degree in curriculum and instruction from New Mexico State University.

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