ABOUT

Barbara with her family by their home in Albuquerque’s Westside.

Barbara Baca grew up on the sandy bluffs overlooking the Rio Grande on Albuquerque’s Westside where education, hard work and giving back to the community were values instilled by her parents.

Barbara Baca is a 14th generation New Mexican who grew up on Albuquerque’s Westside—in a home built by her parents 1954. 

Barbara’s early love of the outdoors—exploring and playing in the Bosque with her siblings as a child—led to a career in park management, outdoor recreation and conservation.

After college, Barbara started her career with the Albuquerque Open Space Program in 1983. She worked collaboratively with Open Space volunteers and community advocates to develop the Rio Grande Valley State Park Management Plan to protect the Bosque.  She was the co-author of the Northwest Mesa Escarpment Plan, working with both open space advocates and developers.  This plan led to the creation of Petroglyph National Monument. Barbara also served as the Social Services Division Manager for the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Department of Senior Affairs from 2001-2009. In 2014, she retired after serving for 5 years as the Director of the Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department.  She was elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, At Large position, in 2019.

Barbara’s father was Patrick J. Baca, a WWII veteran, an educator, and public-school principal who also represented the Westside and North Valley as an Albuquerque City Councilor (1974-1989) and Bernalillo County Commissioner (1990-1994). In 2015, the City of Albuquerque dedicated a public library in his honor. Her mother, Marie Baca, was an elementary school teacher and assistant principal who worked for APS for over 20 years.

Barbara has been married to Joseph Chandler for 27 years and they have two children, Patrick who graduated from UNM in 2021 and Aliana who will graduate from UNM in 2022.

A Record of Experience

  • Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Board Member At Large, 2018-present

  • Director, City Parks & Recreation Department, City of Albuquerque, 2009-2014

  • Open Space Planner, Division Manager for Recreation and Conservation & Social Services, City of Albuquerque, 1983-2014

  • Senior Social Services Division Manager, Albuquerque/Bernalillo County, 2001-2009

  • Outdoor Recreation Planner, National Park Service, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program under the Clinton Administration, 1991-1993

  • Former President of the Pat Hurley Neighborhood Association, 2008-2009

  • Former Member of the Board of Directors National Recreation and Park Association 2012-2015

  • Former Member of the Board of Directors American Red Cross of NM, 1987

  • Ward Chair, Bernalillo County Democratic Party, 16C, 2019-present

  • Member of the Board of Directors NM Volunteers for the Outdoors, 1984-1987

  • Master of Science in Recreation Administration, University of Colorado, Boulder, 1983

  • Bachelor of Arts, Recreation, from University of New Mexico, 1982

  • West Mesa High School, Valedictorian, 1978

  • Personal: Married to Joe Chandler, two children, Patrick and Aliana