SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 10

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Michael S. Sanchez

A JOINT MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF FORMER GOVERNOR DAVID CARGO AND APPROVING THE PLACEMENT OF A BRONZE PORTRAIT BUST OF HIM IN THE STATE CAPITOL.

     WHEREAS, David Cargo served as New Mexico's governor for two terms, from 1967 through 1970, was sworn in as the youngest governor in the state's history and served at a difficult time that included the June 1967 raid on the Tierra Amarilla courthouse; and

     WHEREAS, during his governorship, Cargo created the country's first film office and the state's human rights commission and was instrumental in the state's passage of the White Cane Law, landmark legislation for the blind; and

     WHEREAS, Governor Cargo had a healthy agenda of concerns that included establishing a code of legislative ethics, lobbyist regulations, congressional districting, statewide kindergartens and a state clean air act, all of which have since been instituted; and

     WHEREAS, as well as overseeing the creation of the film office, Cargo appeared in several films, playing a newspaper reporter in The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (1969); a state trooper in Bunny O'Hare (1971), a comedy starring Bette Davis; and Corporal Benton in the western The Gatling Gun (1973); and

     WHEREAS, Cargo described himself as a "fiscal conservative" who left office with a surplus of between twenty-three million dollars and twenty-five million dollars in the state's general fund; and

     WHEREAS, after serving the state as governor, Cargo continued to have wide-ranging influence; and, as a reflection of his deep love of books and reading, he helped many rural communities build libraries; and

     WHEREAS, Cargo, the appreciative owner of more than sixty clocks, not counting his pocket and wrist watches, said that he had "a thing about utilizing time productively"; and

     WHEREAS, the spirit of independence that he displayed while serving as governor of New Mexico earned him the nickname "Lonesome Dave", and he stated that "it's cheaper going alone. You don't have to buy hamburgers for everyone"; and

     WHEREAS, after serving as governor, Cargo continued to pursue various political positions, becoming chairman of the board at what was then the Albuquerque Technical-Vocational Institute and a member of the city's labor management relations board, and he continued his work as an attorney specializing in environmental and foreign trade issues; and

     WHEREAS, more than forty years ago, Cargo said that "persons in public office should occupy a position of trust and not of special privilege"; and

     WHEREAS, highly accomplished portrait sculptor Storm Townsend has created a bronze bust of Governor David Cargo; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico legislative council policies require that the placement of such a bust be approved by a two-thirds' vote in each house upon the recommendation of the capitol recognition subcommittee; and

     WHEREAS, the subcommittee met on January 17, 2011 and approved the placement of the bust in the office of the governor, while reserving the right to group the bust with similar tributes to other governors at a later date;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the bronze portrait bust of Governor David Cargo be displayed in the state capitol.

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