LOCATION FOR ROBERTO MONDRAGON MEMORIAL

SM024

SENATE MEMORIAL 24

57
th legislature
- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
second session
, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION AND THE STATE PARKS DIVISION OF THE ENERGY,
MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY AND
RECOMMEND A PUBLIC LOCATION TO COMMEMORATE THE LIFE AND WORK OF
ROBERTO A. MONDRAGON FOR HIS POLITICAL ACTIVISM AND HIS
DEDICATION TO PRESERVING AND MAINTAINING HISPANIC CULTURAL
HERITAGE IN NEW MEXICO.

WHEREAS, Roberto A. Mondragon, a well-known and highly
respected public figure with deep roots in the cultural and
political life of northern New Mexico, and who served two terms
as lieutenant governor of the state, died on January 7, 2026 in
Espanola at age eighty-five; and

WHEREAS, Roberto Mondragon was born on July 27, 1940 in
Anton Chico, and grew up in the nearby small community of La
Loma in Guadalupe county, and he always retained his roots in
northern New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, Roberto Mondragon's humble beginnings shaped the
values he carried throughout his life: hard work, humility,
faith in people and an unshakable belief that leadership should
serve everyday families; and

WHEREAS, Roberto Mondragon began his political career
serving as a Democratic state representative for Bernalillo
county from 1967 to 1970, and served twice as lieutenant
governor under former governor Bruce King, first from 1971 to
1975 and again from 1979 to 1983; and

WHEREAS, in the two terms that he served as lieutenant
governor, Roberto Mondragon became one of the most prominent
Hispanic elected officials in the region. Across decades of
public service, he championed workers and working families,
rural communities, youth opportunity and dignity for elders.
He was deeply committed to land grant-merced justice in New
Mexico, and he worked to support land grant-merced heirs and
community land grants-mercedes to protect communal lands and
rights promised under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo; and

WHEREAS, Roberto Mondragon was often described as an "old-fashioned populist", who took on the role of ombudsman in an
effort to advance the causes to which he was committed,
including services for the aged, juvenile justice, migrant
worker welfare and Hispanic civil rights; and

WHEREAS, from 1975 to 1978, Roberto was the director of
the commission on aging and from 1983 to 1985 was the director
of the state housing authority; and

WHEREAS, in 1994, Roberto Mondragon was the Green party
nominee for governor, and in 2005, he was chosen to help guide
the state with one of its most crucial issues, water, as the
special water projects coordinator for the office of the state
engineer; and

WHEREAS, in his life outside of politics, Roberto
Mondragon was a storyteller, musician, radio host and cultural
ambassador. Through his recordings, community performances and
bilingual broadcasting, he celebrated the language, humor and
heritage of New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, Roberto Mondragon also co-owned and operated the
nonprofit Aspectos Culturales with his business partner,
Georgia Roybal, and they worked together creating culturally
based bilingual learning materials for students across New
Mexico;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE
OF NEW MEXICO that the general services department, the
department of transportation and the state parks division of
the energy, minerals and natural resources department each be
requested to identify and recommend to the legislative finance
committee a location, such as a state park, campground,
roadway, landscaped area in front of a state building or other
appropriate location, to commemorate the life and work of
Roberto A. Mondragon for his dedication as an activist for the
causes of common people, and for the preservation and
maintenance of Hispanic culture and heritage in New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to the legislative finance committee, the general
services department, the department of transportation and the
state parks division of the energy, minerals and natural
resources department.

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