▁ ▁Education ▁Gonz ales ▁earned ▁his ▁B S ▁from ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁New ▁Mexico ▁and ▁his ▁MA ▁from ▁New ▁Mexico ▁High lands ▁University . ▁ ▁Career ▁Prior ▁to ▁serving ▁in ▁the ▁New ▁Mexico ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives , ▁Gonz ales ▁was ▁an ▁educ ator . ▁ ▁When ▁District ▁ 4 2 ▁Democratic ▁Represent ative ▁Frederick ▁Per al ta ▁left ▁the ▁Legisl ature ▁and ▁left ▁the ▁seat ▁open , ▁Gonz ales ▁ran ▁in ▁the ▁five - way ▁June ▁ 7 , ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁Democratic ▁Primary , ▁winning ▁with ▁ 1 , 5 4 0 ▁votes ▁( 3 6 . 5 %) ▁and ▁won ▁the ▁November ▁ 8 , ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁General ▁election ▁with ▁ 4 , 2 0 5 ▁votes ▁( 6 0 . 3 %) ▁against ▁Republican ▁nom ine e ▁T eles for ▁Gonz ales . ▁ ▁Gonz ales ▁was ▁challeng ed ▁in ▁the ▁June ▁ 4 , ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁Democratic ▁Primary , ▁winning ▁with ▁ 2 , 9 6 9 ▁votes ▁( 6 9 . 6 %) ▁and ▁was ▁uno pp osed ▁for ▁the ▁November ▁ 5 , ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁General ▁election . ▁ ▁Gonz ales ▁was ▁uno pp osed ▁for ▁in ▁his ▁ 1 9 9 8 , ▁ 2 0 0 0 , ▁ 2 0 0 2 , ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁and ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁Democratic ▁Primary ▁campaign s . ▁