SENATE MEMORIAL 61

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2008

INTRODUCED BY

Timothy Z. Jennings

A MEMORIAL

HONORING MARGARET LARRAGOITE'S MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND HER SEVENTEEN YEARS AS CHIEF CLERK OF THE NEW MEXICO SENATE.

     WHEREAS, Margaret Larragoite has long served the citizens of the state of New Mexico, having resigned as the chief of records control in the state bureau of revenue in 1965 to serve as the manager of the Santa Fe office of United States Senator Joseph M. Montoya . . . and this after having worked for the social security administration and the national park service for thirteen years; and

     WHEREAS, although Margaret Larragoite loved her husband, Philip, and her children, Philip, Melissa and Marcella, her love of politics always ran a close second, having been active in Santa Fe party politics, where she served as secretary of the Santa Fe county democratic party, national committeewoman of the young democrats and former president of the national federation of federal employees; and

     WHEREAS, Margaret Larragoite served as assistant chief clerk of the house of representatives in 1961 and 1962; and

     WHEREAS, Margaret Larragoite was a legacy to state government from the staff of the late Democratic United States Senator Joseph M. Montoya, serving as the director of the social services division of the human services department, where she perfected casework and constituent services for which she was famous when she joined the senate; and

     WHEREAS, Margaret Larragoite was elected chief clerk of the senate in 1991 after serving as the first staffer for the interim senate rules committee; and

     WHEREAS, she became New Mexico's first full-time senate chief clerk with full-time staff in 1993; and

     WHEREAS, Margaret Larragoite was responsible for a myriad of tasks, both during the legislative session and during the interim, making sure the operations of the senate were smooth and professional and met the expectations of the members and the public; and

     WHEREAS, Margaret translated her broad experience and knowledge of services to constituents into the development of a first-rate constituent services operation for the New Mexico senate; and

     WHEREAS, during her seventeen years as chief clerk, the senators knew they could count on Margaret to manage the senate's affairs with a firm hand and decisive demeanor; and

     WHEREAS, she remained faithful to the time-honored traditions of the senate and insisted on proper decorum and dignity during all proceedings, but, although she succeeded with her staff, she still had trouble managing the occasional unruly senator; and

     WHEREAS, just the sound of her voice calling the roll in the morning had enough power to quell the din of numerous conversations and bring stray members and staff into the chamber; and

     WHEREAS, Margaret Larragoite worked tirelessly to ensure that special occasions in the senate were celebrated with all due pomp and circumstance; and

     WHEREAS, Margaret has left a lasting impression on the senate and everyone connected to it; and

     WHEREAS, the senate will not be the same without the annual spectacle of mariachis turning around to serenade her with "Margarita";

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Margaret Larragoite be honored for her years of dedicated service to the citizens of the state of New Mexico and to the elected officials for whom she so ably served, especially her last seventeen years as chief clerk of the senate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the senate stand to honor Margaret Larragoite and to pay tribute to her for her contributions to the workings of the senate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to Margaret Larragoite and to her family.

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