Lisa Torraco

Lisa A. Torraco^[2] (born April 30, 1962) is an attorney and a Republican member of the New Mexico Senate representing District 18 since January 15, 2013.

Education and Professional Life

Lisa Torraco earned her BA in economics from the University of New Mexico in 1988 and her JD from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1991. At graduation she was honored with the top Women lawyers award. She began her legal career as a prosecutor at the Second Judicial District Attorney's office and gained respect as a young prosecutor, and was awarded New Prosecutor of the Year in 1993.

Lisa Torraco founded Torraco law in 2006 after finishing ten years teaching at the University of New Mexico School of Law in the District Attorney Clinical law program.^[3] Torraco practices law throughout the state of New Mexico in both state and federal court.

Elections and Political Life

• 2012 When District 18 Republican Senator Mark Boitano retired and left the seat open, Torraco ran in the June 5, 2012 Republican Primary, winning with 2,045 votes (61%)^[4] and won the November 6, 2012 General election with 12,092 votes (51.8%) against Democratic nominee Bill Tallman.^[5]
• A leader in Criminal Justice, Torraco quickly rose to leadership position, being the only conservative Republican to hold a committee Chair position on the Criminal Justice Reform Subcommittee. Senator Torraco's vision for public policy is that reflects the need to keep public safety and implement cost saving measures.^[6] She is a New Mexico voice for the “Right on Crime” movement that unites conservatives in seeking to use the limited resources in both the law enforcement and corrections systems to maximize the benefit of the taxpayer dollars. As co-chair Senator Torraco prioritized the prosecution of violent and repeat offenders, the protection of victims, reducing and eliminating over criminalization, and reforming offenders.
• Torraco's work in the New Mexico State Senate emphasized working across party lines.
• Torraco's work in the New Mexico State Senate gained her notoriety and earned her a reputation as a risk taker and often politically courageous.
• Torraco's work in voter reforms earned her accolades from both sides of the aisle, streamlining voter registration and voter access for military and overseas voters.^[7]
• Torraco's term ends in 2016. Torraco was defeated in the 2016 election by the Democratic nominee Bill Tallman.

References

External links

• Official page at the New Mexico Legislature
• http://watchdog.org/152189/nm-trying-to-get-to-and-justice-for-all/
• http://nmpoliticalreport.com/2626/breastfeeding-act-helps-troubled-women-and-newborns-begin-anew-by-jessica-king-opinion/
• http://krwg.org/post/common-cause-online-voter-registration-new-mexico-real-progress#.VSv7McgeyUs.twitter
• https://www.abqjournal.com/298750/bipartisan-new-mexico-group-is-thinking-outside-the-box-on-crime.html
• http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/legislature/defense-attorney-group-leader-warns-lawmakers-against-tough-on-crime/article_7b375d2a-0ad7-5942-8267-e3d08cad50de.html
• Campaign site
• http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/legislature/bills-may-reform-state-s-criminal-justice-system/article_cf1afe51-bf34-5d9a-9769-6cdfa3d2c5af.html
• http://ij.org/press-release/new-mexico-state-senators-sue-to-end-illegal-civil-forfeiture-programs/
• http://www.errorsofenchantment.com/2015/11/18/the-institute-for-justice-sues-the-city-of-albuquerque-over-civil-asset-forfeiture/
• http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/nov/1/new-mexico-lawmaker-seeks-to-pump-more-into-balloo/

• Profile at Project Vote Smart
• Lisa Torraco at Ballotpedia
• Lisa Torraco at the National Institute on Money in State Politics