City Council Members: Ward 3

Karla Niemeier

Karla was born and raised in Abilene, Texas, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Abilene Christian University. She fell in love with Carlsbad during her teenage years when she visited to spend time with family.


As an adult, Karla moved to New London, Connecticut, where she adapted to the colder climate and worked at an orthodontic office. She enjoyed the small-town festivals and the beach, but despite her fondness for Connecticut and the friendships she made, she decided it was too far from her family. She relocated to Amarillo, Texas, where her two children, Parker and Hollyann, were born. During this time, Karla was a stay-at-home mom and also worked at her church's Mother’s Day Out program, teaching the two-year-old class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Sunday School for children from birth to four years old.


In 1998, Karla moved to Carlsbad to be closer to the family she cherished from her teenage years. She continued as a stay-at-home mom while teaching the two-year-old class at First United Methodist Church on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Sunday School at Sunset Church of Christ.


As her children entered school, Karla began to focus more on her career while continuing her community involvement. She volunteered on the boards of her children’s Little League team, high school swim team and choir booster club. This involvement allowed her to stay deeply connected to her children’s activities and contribute to their extracurricular development.


Karla brings over 20 years of experience in public relations, with roles in workforce development, economic development, and public and government affairs. She currently serves as the Director of Development and Communications at CARC Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping children and adults with developmental disabilities lead active and productive lives.


In addition to her professional role, Karla is the immediate past president of the Rotary Club of Carlsbad, volunteers for Inspired by Science, and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs committee.


In her leisure time, Karla enjoys riding her scooter around town with her husband Bill, boating on the Pecos River with him, and paddle boarding with friends and family. You can often find her at various local events promoting Carlsbad and its community.

Mary Garwood

Mary Garwood is a proud Carlsbad community member, joining at age 9, having moved from Evansville, Indiana, when her dad was hired in 1990 as an elevator mechanic at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, where he worked for 22 years. Mary brings over 16 years of experience in sustainable practices/environmental education outreach and municipal solid waste/recycling management experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from New Mexico State University and a Sustainable Resource Management Certification from Penn State Altoona/New Mexico Recycling Coalition.

Before taking on her current role as CEHMM’s Public Relations Manager in April 2023, Mary served as the Keep Carlsbad Beautiful program director for the City of Carlsbad for eight years. Prior to that, she oversaw operations for Carlsbad’s recycling centers, CARC, INC. Rainbow Recycling, and Document Destruction Services for eight years there as well. Currently, she also serves on the State of New Mexico’s Clean and Beautiful Advisory Committee, Carlsbad Main Street Board, Pearl of the Pecos Arts and Culture District Committee, Carlsbad Rotary Club, the City of Carlsbad Arbor Day Tree Board and is the Executive Treasurer of the Carlsbad Anti-Drug/Gang Coalition.

Mary has a huge passion for serving the residents and visitors of Carlsbad and volunteers to assist in some shape or form with many community events. She knows firsthand that one caring person can make a huge difference when they put their mind to it and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, even literally, as she continues to oversee the planning of the annual Pecos River cleanup event, River blitz. In line with this, she looks to improve solid waste management operations and support code enforcement/beautification efforts during her time on the city council.

In her spare time, Mary and her family enjoy traveling and attending concerts when possible. She is the mother of two, Clarissa and Reazon.

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