ROYBAL FORMALLY ANNOUNCES
COUNTY COMMISSION BID AT
POJOAQUE RALLY:
Issues Pledge Challenge to Other Candidates
COUNTY COMMISSION BID AT
POJOAQUE RALLY:
Issues Pledge Challenge to Other Candidates
Well known northern New Mexico educator and high school basketball coach Lenny Roybal said Thursday he’s taking his game to a new court with the announcement he would seek the Democratic nomination for Santa Fe County Commissioner, District 1, in the June 2010 primary.
Roybal spoke to a campaign kick-off rally at the Poeh Center in Pojoaque.
Roybal laid out a campaign theme of ‘paying attention" to the northern Santa Fe County communities and immediately issued a challenge to everyone seeking the office to join him in a pledge to not use the commissioner post as a "stepping stone" and "never run for another office while accepting a salary from the taxpayers of Santa Fe County."
Roybal, noting he’d "not just listen, but pay attention" to the communities, said there would be a lot of different ways he’d accomplish that.
"They'll be regular town hall and community meetings. I'll be holding community office hours in coffee shops and peoples’ homes. You'll see me outside our northern community schools during drop-off and pickup hours available to talk with busy parents," Roybal said.
"There's going to be total family involvement as I ask my wife and daughter to keep up with our email, a website, a blog, maybe even some Facebook feedback ! I'll at least still be able to handle the phones on my own though, and I guarantee I will ALWAYS return phone calls," Roybal said.
A long time teacher, coach and school administrator, Roybal said other candidates may enter the race who may see the office of County Commissioner as a "stepping stone in the political office path."
"I pledge I will never run for another office while accepting a salary from the taxpayers of Santa Fe County and I hope all others who enter this race will do the same," Roybal said.
"I see it as a culmination in public service," Roybal told the crowd of supporters in Pojoaque.
"Some may see County Commission as a way to start. For me, it's not a start, it's the completion."
"My political roadmap to the future starts and ends in northern Santa Fe County -- along the roads that link Santa Fe and Tesuque, and Nambe, and Cuyamungue, and Pojoaque and Cundiyo, La Puebla, Santa Cruz and Espanola," Roybal said.
He also said with a commitment like his, county residents would not have to be concerned about ulterior motives entering into his decision process.
"No other ambition... none of my decisions ... will ever be influenced by how they might affect some other political future, or some other political campaign" he said. " I’ll pay attention to the communities and the people who live there... and it will be what we decide together is the best for Santa Fe County and the life we live here."
" I’m not looking for other opportunities, THIS , county commissioner representing our neighbors and our communities, is the opportunity and the obligation I’m looking for and eager to accept. "
Roybal offered a general outline of the issues he expected to talk with voters about over the coming weeks and preservation of " property tax fairness and joining with Speaker of the House Ben Lujan in reaffirming that people’s long -time family homes won’t be unjustly taxed or over-appraised because of their location," was among the major concerns.
A recent court decision has placed that existing law in doubt. Roybal said he was eager to be part of the city-county-legislative team working to ensure the law continues.
Roybal also told the gathering:
-- We’ll talk together about the condition of our roads and highways.
-- We'll talk about creating a council of communities.
-- We'll talk about borders – not immigration borders, but Santa Fe County's borders with Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Sandoval, Bernalillo counties and how we can work together on behalf of the border villages and communities and cooperate for roads, safety, and a dozen other efforts.
-- We’ll talk together about a public safety commitment with our sheriff’s department and fire department.
-- We’ll talk together about using incentives and Industrial Revenue Bonds to help support the businesses that can provide the employment opportunities for the future.
-- We’ll talk together about the water and growth policies that will affect everyone in the county regardless of the size of the community or it’s distance from the Capital city.
-- We’ll talk together about how the 150,000 people of SF county can work together.
-- We’ll talk together about partnerships with the school to maximize opportunities to use buildings and resources year round.
-- We’ll talk together about partnerships with our state legislators to prioritize needs and where money will come from in a stressed economy.
-- We’ll talk together about the condition of our roads and highways.
-- We'll talk about creating a council of communities.
-- We'll talk about borders – not immigration borders, but Santa Fe County's borders with Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Sandoval, Bernalillo counties and how we can work together on behalf of the border villages and communities and cooperate for roads, safety, and a dozen other efforts.
-- We’ll talk together about a public safety commitment with our sheriff’s department and fire department.
-- We’ll talk together about using incentives and Industrial Revenue Bonds to help support the businesses that can provide the employment opportunities for the future.
-- We’ll talk together about the water and growth policies that will affect everyone in the county regardless of the size of the community or it’s distance from the Capital city.
-- We’ll talk together about how the 150,000 people of SF county can work together.
-- We’ll talk together about partnerships with the school to maximize opportunities to use buildings and resources year round.
-- We’ll talk together about partnerships with our state legislators to prioritize needs and where money will come from in a stressed economy.
Roybal has a storied history of success in northern New Mexico, as a teacher, administrator, but mostly as a basketball coach having shown unprecedented accomplishment at Espanola Valley High School, taking the College of Santa Fe to the national championship finals before they eliminated athletics, and winning a state championship at Santa Fe High.
He is currently head boys basketball coach at Santa Fe High.
Lenny Roybal was born in Nambe and his personal and professional path have been rooted in northern New Mexico and Santa Fe County ever since.
Lenny was educated in Santa Fe schools: Wood Gormley Elementary, Harrington Junior High, Santa Fe High. He would take his competitive spirit first to Pueblo Junior College where he played on the national Championship Basketball Team and then to graduation from The College of Santa Fe (where he later coached its basketball team to the National Championship tournament). Lenny received his Masters Degree from NM Highlands University.
Lenny has been a teacher, head coach, or administrator at The College of Santa Fe, Santa Fe High, Espanola Valley High, Young Junior High, Carlos Vigil Middle School, Young Junior High. He was President of the National Education Association while with the Espanola Schools in the late 1990's.
Lenny is married to Ymelda Roybal and they have one daughter, Carmelita, and two sons, Dax and Dominic. They live in Cuarteles.
LENNY ON FRONT PAGE OF NEW MEXICAN
FROM OCTOBER 13
Santa Fe New Mexican, The (NM)
October 13
By Phaedra Haywood
The New Mexican
Game on: Santa Fe High School basketball coach Lenny Roybal has officially announced his candidacy for the District 1 Santa Fe County Commission seat.
Roybal has named his campaign effort "TeamLenny2010" and cites his experience as a coach and educator as his greatest strength.
"All of my life I've been known as a fierce competitor, both in athletics and in my support of Democrat candidates for public office," Roybal said in a statement he provided. "But my strongest belief and my first commitment has always been to be part of a team."
Roybal, 69, was born in Nambé and attended public schools in Santa Fe. He graduated from Santa Fe High School and has a bachelor's degree in physical education from the College of Santa Fe and a master's degree in coaching from New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas.
He has worked as a teacher, coach and administrator -- sometimes concurrently -- at the College of Santa Fe, Santa Fe High School, EspaZola Valley High, B.F. Young Junior High and Carlos Vigil Middle School.
He served as president of the National Education Association of EspaZola while working at EspaZola Valley High School in the late 1990s, according to his release, but he has held no other public offices.
The married father of three children -- two grown and one in high school -- now lives in Cuarteles, a small settlement on N.M. 76 between EspaZola and Chimayó.
In his announcement, Roybal said he is committed to "pay attention to our Northern Santa Fe County communities -- not just listen, pay attention."
Roybal was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in 2000 and again in 2006. He pleaded no contest to the charge in 2000 and performed community service. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of reckless driving in 2006 and paid a $300 fine.
Roybal said both arrests occurred after routine traffic stops. He said he "made a study" of his life after the 2006 arrest and resolved to change his lifestyle. Roybal said he has since cut down on drinking. "Now I never drink more than one or two beers or a glass of wine or something with dinner," Roybal said.
The primary election is June 1, and the district is heavily Democratic, so the primary race winner usually assumes the seat.
The District 1 race is shaping up to be a crowed one.
Commissioner Harry Montoya cannot run again because of term limits. But Roybal will have to contend with Montoya's protégé, Jon Paul Romero, who was the first to announce his intentions to campaign to for the seat. Several others -- including former County Commissioner Paul Duran and Public Regulation Commission Chairman Daniel Mayfield -- also have hinted they'll run.
District 1 includes a small portion of EspaZola and the northern settlements of La Puebla, Pojoaque, Nambé, Cuyamunge, Tesuque and Rio en Medio, in addition to part of the northeast side of the city of Santa Fe.
Roybal plans to kick off his campaign at 5 p.m. Thursday in the parking lot outside the Poeh Center in Pojoaque. The event is open to the public and will include hot-dog grilling and other refreshments.
Contact Phaedra Haywood at 986-3068 or phaywood@sfnewmexican.com.
October 13
By Phaedra Haywood
The New Mexican
Game on: Santa Fe High School basketball coach Lenny Roybal has officially announced his candidacy for the District 1 Santa Fe County Commission seat.
Roybal has named his campaign effort "TeamLenny2010" and cites his experience as a coach and educator as his greatest strength.
"All of my life I've been known as a fierce competitor, both in athletics and in my support of Democrat candidates for public office," Roybal said in a statement he provided. "But my strongest belief and my first commitment has always been to be part of a team."
Roybal, 69, was born in Nambé and attended public schools in Santa Fe. He graduated from Santa Fe High School and has a bachelor's degree in physical education from the College of Santa Fe and a master's degree in coaching from New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas.
He has worked as a teacher, coach and administrator -- sometimes concurrently -- at the College of Santa Fe, Santa Fe High School, EspaZola Valley High, B.F. Young Junior High and Carlos Vigil Middle School.
He served as president of the National Education Association of EspaZola while working at EspaZola Valley High School in the late 1990s, according to his release, but he has held no other public offices.
The married father of three children -- two grown and one in high school -- now lives in Cuarteles, a small settlement on N.M. 76 between EspaZola and Chimayó.
In his announcement, Roybal said he is committed to "pay attention to our Northern Santa Fe County communities -- not just listen, pay attention."
Roybal was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in 2000 and again in 2006. He pleaded no contest to the charge in 2000 and performed community service. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of reckless driving in 2006 and paid a $300 fine.
Roybal said both arrests occurred after routine traffic stops. He said he "made a study" of his life after the 2006 arrest and resolved to change his lifestyle. Roybal said he has since cut down on drinking. "Now I never drink more than one or two beers or a glass of wine or something with dinner," Roybal said.
The primary election is June 1, and the district is heavily Democratic, so the primary race winner usually assumes the seat.
The District 1 race is shaping up to be a crowed one.
Commissioner Harry Montoya cannot run again because of term limits. But Roybal will have to contend with Montoya's protégé, Jon Paul Romero, who was the first to announce his intentions to campaign to for the seat. Several others -- including former County Commissioner Paul Duran and Public Regulation Commission Chairman Daniel Mayfield -- also have hinted they'll run.
District 1 includes a small portion of EspaZola and the northern settlements of La Puebla, Pojoaque, Nambé, Cuyamunge, Tesuque and Rio en Medio, in addition to part of the northeast side of the city of Santa Fe.
Roybal plans to kick off his campaign at 5 p.m. Thursday in the parking lot outside the Poeh Center in Pojoaque. The event is open to the public and will include hot-dog grilling and other refreshments.
Contact Phaedra Haywood at 986-3068 or phaywood@sfnewmexican.com.
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