Lela Holmes

Lela Holmes has a lifetime of dedicated service to the Democratic Party. She has served at all County, State and Federal levels in various leadership positions. Currently, serving as:

• Federal Political Coordinator for the National Association of Realtor to Senator Ben Ray Lujan.
• Vice- President of the New Mexico Federation of Democratic Women (For the 2nd Term)
• President of San Juan County Federation. (For the 3rd Term)
• President of the Bonnie Dallas Senior Center (For the past 4 years)
• Board Member of the Domestic Violence Family Crisis Center (For the past 30+ years)
• Committee Member for the NM Association of Realtors Political Action Committee (For the past 15+ years)
• Board Member for the Theater Ensemble Arts community theater (For the 30+ years)

Lela’s past political contributions landed her in many strategic leadership positions again at county, state and federal levels. Working on campaigns has been a constant every year endeavor, starting in 1962 in Bernalillo County while typing up files for Judge Joe Angel’s election. The candidates she’s supported and lent her organizational skills to reads like the past 60 years of who’s who of New Mexico Democratic Leadership. Most notable were the campaigns for Congressman Harold Runnels, Governor Jerry Apadoca, Governor Tony Anaya, Governor Bruce King, Congressman and then Governor Bill Richardson, Attorney General then Senator Jeff Bingiman, and Congressman then Senator Ben Ray Lujan, Lt Governor Diane Dinesh, Congressman then Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Then it was serving her county as a State Central Committee member starting in ‘66 with being the first Anglo committee member to be elected to represent San Migel County under the then Chair Tiny Martinez. Since moving to Farmington in ‘68 Lela has been elected as County Chair 3 terms, Vice County Chair 5 terms, County Treasurer 2 terms. Lela has also been elected out as a State Central Committee (SCC) delegate representing San Juan County consistently over the past 60 years. Getting elected as a national delegate to 2 National Democratic Conventions in 2008 for Hillary Clinton and 2012 for Barack Obama laid a great foundation for receiving the San Juan County’s Tsunami 2018 Award for Outstanding support to her local County Democratic Party.

Lela has been an active Realtor for over 50 years with local, state and national awards for outstanding service to her community and to the clients she serves. Promoting political activism, community volunteerism, ethical standards and professionalism has earned her local and state Relator of the Year recognition several times including a National Realtor recognition in Boston in 2015.

Her commitment to civic engagement and volunteerism has led to leadership roles with many nonprofit and community organizations, including:

• ECHO – Economic Council Helping Others (10+ years)
• Farmington City Planning & Zoning Commission (5+ years)
• Family Crisis Center Board (from its founding through 30+ years)
• Local Community Theater Board (30+ years)
• San Juan College Advisory Board (8 years)

Her extensive volunteer work has been recognized by multiple Farmington mayors, who have honored her with numerous community service and volunteer appreciation awards.

“I grateful for the opportunity to utilize my public speaking skills and organizational skills to further the objectives for the National Federation of Democratic Women”