SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Republican Gov. Susana Martinez has appointed Curry County rancher Pat Woods to fill a vacant Senate seat representing eastern New Mexico.
Woods is to be sworn into office Friday in Clovis at the Curry County Courthouse. He succeeds Republican Clint Harden, who didn't seek re-election and resigned from office earlier this month.
Woods is opposed in the general election for the Senate seat and defeated a candidate backed by Martinez in the GOP primary election.
Harden has served in the Senate since 2002, and supported Woods in the primary election.
The boards of county commissioners of each county in the district recommended Woods for appointment by the governor.
Woods gains an advantage in seniority over other new senators, which will help him in landing committee assignments.
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