Soledad Chávez de Chacón

(La Historia del Rio Abajo is a regular column about Valencia County history, written by members of the Valencia County Historical Society.
The author of this month’s column is a past president of both the Valencia County Historical Society and the Historical Society of New Mexico. He is the author of 15 books on the history of New Mexico, including a new photographic history of New Mexico since statehood entitled, “New Mexico: A Celebration of the Land of Enchantment.”
Information for this column was drawn mainly from newspaper reports and Soledad Chávez de Chacón’s private correspondence.
Opinions expressed in this and all columns of La Historia del Rio Abajo are the author’s only and not necessarily those of the Valencia County Historical Society or any other group or individual.)

New Mexico has the distinction of being the first state to elect an Hispanic woman governor. Inaugurated in 2011, Republican Susana Martinez’s term in office will run until 2015, when she might well seek re-election.
New Mexicans in general, and Hispanic women in particular, are proud of this major achievement. But it is well to remember that long before Gov. Martinez took her oath of office, another Hispanic woman served as the governor of our state.