Chavez won election to the commission on November 4, 2014. She was sworn in to the District 1 seat on January 16 2015, which had been vacant since M. Andrew Garrison resigned from the board in December 2012. She declined to seek re-election in 2016.

Chavez served in the New Mexico House of Representatives, representing District 13 from 2009 to 2013.

Committee assignments

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Chavez served on the following committees:

• Health and Government Affairs Committee, New Mexico House of Representatives
• Labor and Human Resources Committee, New Mexico House of Representatives, Vice Chair

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Chavez served on the following committees:

• Enrolling and Engrossing - A Committee, New Mexico House of Representatives
• Health and Government Affairs Committee, New Mexico House of Representatives
• Labor and Human Resources Committee, New Mexico House of Representatives