SENATE MEMORIAL 29

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

INTRODUCED BY

Jacob R. Candelaria and Pete Campos

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

HONORING KEN SANCHEZ AND RECOGNIZING HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO ALBUQUERQUE'S WESTSIDE AND TO NEW MEXICO.

 

     WHEREAS, Ken Sanchez, a lifelong resident of Albuquerque, spent over forty years on the Westside until his death on January 1, 2020; and

     WHEREAS, Ken was a graduate of the West Mesa high school class of 1974; and

     WHEREAS, Ken operated the Gilbert Sanchez tax accounting firm on west Central avenue in Albuquerque and was also the president of Ken Sanchez and associates realty; and

     WHEREAS, Ken had the honor of serving the public as a Bernalillo county commissioner from 1995 to 2002 and as an Albuquerque city councilor for district 1 from 2005 until his sudden passing; and

     WHEREAS, Ken served as Albuquerque city council president in 2010, 2014 and 2018; and

     WHEREAS, Ken also served the city by working toward a balanced and responsible budget as chair of the committee-of-the-whole in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2011; and

     WHEREAS, Ken was also appointed chair of Albuquerque's finance and government committee in 2012; and

     WHEREAS, in addition to other boards and committees, Ken was appointed to the Albuquerque Bernalillo county water utility authority and was elected chair in 2012; and

     WHEREAS, Ken was committed to improving the lives of Albuquerque's Westside residents and the city as a whole and worked tirelessly with city residents and the Albuquerque police department to address public safety needs; and

      WHEREAS, among his many efforts, Ken worked with the community, the city council, mayors, governors, legislators, other elected officials and local businesses to bring much-needed economic retail development to the Westside, offering more jobs and places for people to shop near their homes; and

     WHEREAS, Ken worked with the Westside community and legislators on a number of projects, including fire station 7, the Patrick J. Baca library, the university of New Mexico family health clinic, the Central and Unser transit center, the nuevo Atrisco development and the Unser crossing project; and

     WHEREAS, other projects Ken supported include improvements at the Taylor Ranch library, the Joan Jones community center at Pat Hurley park, the renovated West Mesa community center and the Nusenda community stadium; and

     WHEREAS, Ken worked to bring the Jennifer Riordan spark kindness sports complex to serve the growing population of the Westside; and

     WHEREAS, Ken cared about parks and places for families to spend time and worked on infrastructure needs as well as recreational needs throughout the city; and

     WHEREAS, Ken contributed to beautification and driver and pedestrian safety on the Westside with median landscaping and traffic calming measures on Unser boulevard, Ladera drive and a number of residential streets in district 1; and

     WHEREAS, Ken supported public improvement districts, including the lower petroglyphs public improvement district, as well as a medical campus for the underserved areas of the Westside; and

     WHEREAS, Ken enjoyed spending time with people over salsa and chips with a cold iced tea; and

     WHEREAS, Ken lived to watch his granddaughter play basketball and enjoyed seeing his grandson starting to master the game; and

     WHEREAS, Ken enjoyed spending time with his partner, Cynthia, in their backyard; and

     WHEREAS, Ken's love was basketball, although he enjoyed watching, following and talking about all sports; and

     WHEREAS, Ken lived life to the fullest and enjoyed every moment he was given; and

     WHEREAS, Ken looked at the positive side of life and welcomed everyone as his friend; and

     WHEREAS, Ken genuinely cared about others, his city and his state; and

     WHEREAS, Ken is survived by his daughter, Jaclyn Sanchez-Zamora, and her husband, Juaquin; his son, Christian Arias Sanchez; his brother, Steven Arias; his partner, Cynthia Martinez, and her daughter, Ashley; and an extended family; and

     WHEREAS, Ken touched the lives of many people through his work as a public servant and the pride with which he served his community;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Ken Sanchez be recognized for his outstanding service to Albuquerque's Westside and to New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the family of Ken Sanchez.

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