Leticia Duarte-Benavidez represents District 5 on the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners. She is a lifelong native of Doña Ana County, who retired from Doña Ana County as a grant administrator to run for the District 5 commission seat in 2008, taking office on Jan. 1, 2009. She has a deep understanding of county issues from her perspective as a long-time employee, and she said she will bring her knowledge of the organization’s strengths and challenges to the job of Commissioner.

Prior to mandatory redistricting in 2012, District 5 encompassed most of Downtown Las Cruces. It now encompasses a portion of northwestern Las Cruces and extends north to the Sierra County line, taking in all or part of the communities of Doña Ana, Radium Springs, Leasburg, Hatch, Salem and Garfield.