| Sheryl Williams Stapleton | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New Mexico House of Representatives from the 19th district |
|
| In office 1995 – present |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1958 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Albuquerque |
| Occupation | Educator |
Sheryl Williams Stapleton (born 1958[1]) is a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives where she represents District 19. A member of the Democratic Party, she is currently the majority whip in the House. She was first elected to office in 1994 and is the first African-American woman elected to the New Mexico legislature.
On December 14, 2011, Williams called the current Governor of New Mexico, Susana Martinez, “the Mexican on the Fourth Floor” while she was talking to State Representative Nora Espinoza during a committee break at the Capitol in Santa Fe. Williams denied she meant the phrase as an ethnic slur.[2] In her apology, Williams also said, "I am a Latina."[3]