SENATE MEMORIAL 67

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

HONORING REPRESENTATIVE TOMÁS E. SALAZAR AND RECOGNIZING HIS SIGNIFICANT SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP TO NEW MEXICO.

 

     WHEREAS, after four terms and eight years as a state representative for District 70, Tomás E. Salazar, a Democrat, is retiring at the end of 2020; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Salazar was first elected to the house of representatives in 2012 in a district that covers parts of San Miguel, Santa Fe and Torrance counties; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Salazar ran a highly effective campaign and first won the District 70 seat in 2012, faced opposition in 2014 and ran unopposed in the 2016 and 2018 elections; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Salazar focused his campaign on what he considered urgent issues that mattered to his constituents, such as education, water supply and economic development; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Salazar is a former New Mexico highlands university professor who earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from New Mexico highlands university in 1965, a master's degree in mathematics from the university of Montana in 1969 and a Ph.D. in mathematics from the university of New Mexico in 1976; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Salazar retired after holding various positions at New Mexico highlands university, including dean of the college of arts and sciences, as well as positions at the university of New Mexico, Sandia national laboratories and elsewhere; and

     WHEREAS, respected as a savvy numbers cruncher, Representative Salazar put his expertise to work on the house appropriations and finance committee, of which he was a member from 2013 through the 2020 legislative session; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Salazar also was a proud member of the higher education committee in 2019 and member of the house education committee from 2013 through the 2020 legislative session and a member of the house enrolling and engrossing committee from 2013 to 2014; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Salazar was a member of the house special investigatory committee on the consideration of an impeachment process from 2015 to 2016; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Salazar was very active on the investments and pensions oversight committee, serving as an advisory member from 2015 to 2016, the committee chair from 2017 to 2018 and as a member in 2019; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Salazar was an advisory member on the New Mexico finance authority oversight committee from 2015 to 2018 and served as chair in 2019; and

     WHEREAS, other interim committees on which Representative Salazar served were the land grant committee, the legislative education study committee, the legislative finance committee, the revenue stabilization and tax policy committee and the water and natural resources committee; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Salazar has served as an integral leader of the New Mexico association of educational retirees, AARP-New Mexico, the volunteer engagement advisory council of AARP and habitat for humanity-Las Vegas; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Salazar was a lifelong member of the national education association; and

     WHEREAS, from the beginning of his legislative career, Representative Salazar's approach was to get local entities to join forces across the region to approach issues from a region-based standpoint, rather than as individuals; and

     WHEREAS, as an educator, Representative Salazar is passionate about increasing the opportunity for accessible, quality public education in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Salazar has focused on establishing policy and infrastructure to ensure sustainable water quantities for safe domestic and agricultural use and has favored a policy to protect the environment while balancing the concerns of extractive industries; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Salazar is highly regarded by his legislative colleagues, staff and the public; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Salazar is respectful of differing opinions and is always willing to discuss issues with those holding differing viewpoints; and

     WHEREAS, Representative Salazar brought a wealth of expertise to the legislature, leaving a stellar reputation behind;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Representative Tomás E. Salazar be honored for his significant service and leadership to New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to Tomás E. Salazar.

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