Ingle re-elected as minority floor leader

SANTA FE — Sen. Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, was re-elected Monday by Republican senators to continue as the minority floor leader of the New Mexico State Senate, according to a press release.

Ingle was first elected by his fellow Republican senators as their floor leader in 2001 and has retained that position since that time.

The Republican caucus also re-elected Sen. Bill Payne, R-Albuquerque, as the senate minority whip and Sen. Steve Neville, R-Farmington, as the senate minority caucus chair, the release said.

According to the release, when the 2017 legislative session convenes on Jan. 17, there will be 16 Republican state senators and 26 Democrat state senators taking the oath of office.

During the legislative session, Ingle serves on the following standing committees: Senate Committees’ Committee, Indian and Cultural Affairs and Committee on Compacts.