Heather's Background

Heather’s Career of Fighting for New Mexico

Heather Balas has dedicated her entire career to fighting to make government work better for us. With over 30 years of experience in public policy, Heather has worked with leading institutions and organizations to learn from voters what they need – on education, healthcare, the economy, natural resources, and a government they can trust.

A fifth-generation New Mexican, Heather was born and raised in the agricultural community of Portales, where her family raised peanuts. It was there that she learned how to work hard everyday. Her first jobs were for the family farm, where – especially during harvest season – the need to get the crop in "before the dew set" meant working long hours late into the night. She watched her family run a small business, and she understands the struggles New Mexicans face.
These lived experiences taught Heather the importance of fighting for her community. That’s why she dedicated her career to making government work better for us:

  • Heather served over a decade as President and Executive Director of New Mexico First, a statewide public policy organization dedicated to advancing positive change in NM, co-founded by former US Senators Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici.

  • Heather was tapped by the NM-based Thornburg Foundation, which works to solve systemic problems that impact people and communities, to lead investments in good government.

  • Today, Heather's career focuses on state and federal reforms to strengthen American democracy against threats and misinformation. As Vice President of the Election Reformers Network, she works every day to advance a fair, trusted democratic process in America. This includes equitable redistricting reform in New Mexico.

  • Heather is also a Senior Consultant to the Carter Center, a nonprofit advancing human rights, which helps improve the lives of millions by "waging peace, fighting disease, and building hope."

  • As a Policy Consultant to the Commission on Presidential Debates, Heather worked in the election years of 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2020.

New Mexico Reforms

Heather’s work over the years has involved in-depth policy efforts to strengthen democracy and government ethics, equitable education, water supplies, health care access, and economic development. Heather successfully contributed to important reforms that strengthened New Mexico, including:

  • Establishment of the State Ethics Commission
  • Expansion of renewable energy tax credits
  • Passage of the Hispanic Education Act
  • Strengthening water policy, including expanded water plannings and drought risk mitigation
  • Passage of the NM Forest and Watershed Restoration Act
  • Improving access to healthcare providers in under-served communities
  • Protecting New Mexico's signature green and red chile industry
  • Promoting small businesses

Home

Family is the foundation of Heather’s life. Married 28 years to Joe Wellborn, the couple have two college-age children, Devon and Grant (plus a rescue dog, Beau). The family has lived in Senate District 9 for 20 years. For fun, Joe and Heather are active singers in the Albuquerque Civic Chorus. They are also blessed to support, and receive support from, a large extended family.

Heather has the experience we need right now. We can count on her to fight for us. Heather will move New Mexico forward.

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A few details of note...

Education
  • Master’s degree in communication, University of Maryland
  • Policy Leadership Credential, Harvard University’s Kennedy School
  • Bachelor’s degree in journalism, hometown school of Eastern New Mexico University

Selected Honors
  • New Mexico Woman of Influence Award, 2020
  • Spirit of Bipartisanship Award, 2019
  • New Mexico Power Broker, 2012
  • Forty Under Forty Award, 2009

Civic Service
  • Corrales Planning & Zoning Commission (current)
  • New Mexico First board of directors (current)
  • Santa Fe Data Platform advisory board (current)
  • Albuquerque Civic Chorus board of directors (current)
  • Trainer in consensus-facilitation techniques, aimed at giving the public greater voice in public policy
  • League of Women Voters of New Mexico board of directors
  • National Council on Election Integrity, lead staffer 
  • New America election research advisory board
  • New Mexico Ethics in Business award committee
  • NM Nonprofit Landscape steering committee
  • NM STEM advisory committee
  • Corrales International School governing council

Early Service
Heather joined the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) after college, with her service placement in a 24-hour shelter for runaway and homeless youth. That work took her to Washington, DC, where she advocated for youth shelters nationally. Heather also worked with the Kaiser Family Foundation, advancing sound health policy for America.