Piland re-elected Sandoval County Democratic Party Chair

Alexandria "Alex" Piland will remain head of the Democratic Party in Sandoval County for another two years.

Piland, of Rio Rancho, was re-elected as Democratic Party of Sandoval County chair last month, according to a news release.

During her first term, Piland helped increase donations to Democratic candidates, oversaw the creation of new ward boundaries, and improved communication externally and internally, the news release states. She also organized First Friday and Second Saturday lunches, as well as special events in Bernalillo, Corrales, Cuba and Rio Rancho.

"I will continue to put an emphasis on raising necessary funds, on recruiting quality candidates for municipal and county election, and improving reaching out to more and more Sandoval County Democrats, Piland said in a statement.

Piland brings 20 years of organizing experience to the position, having previously served as a educator, union organizer and activist. A graduate of Emerge New Mexico in 2019, Piland served two terms as president of the Sandoval County Federation of Democratic Women.

In support of the party's efforts in Sandoval County, Greg Bennett and Aleta "Tweety" Suarzo were elected vice chairs.

Bennett has a PhD in biomedical sciences with nearly 30 years experience securing securing federal grants for specific projects. He has also volunteered for the Medical Reserve Corp, where he was involved in planning and logistics of mass casualty events and environmental disasters.

Tweety, from Acomoa and Laguna pueblos, is a retired Albuquerque Public Schools administrator who also did a stint at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute. In 2018, she was elected chairperson of the Native American Democratic Caucus of New Mexico through 2021.

In other action, Doug Clark of Corrales was reappointed as the county party's treasurer, Ilean Galloway of Rio Rancho was picked as assistant treasurer, and Judy Gordon of Bernalillo was named secretary.