SENATE MEMORIAL 25

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2021

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

RECOGNIZING AND HONORING ROBERTO A. MONDRAGON FOR HIS POLITICAL ACTIVISM AND HIS DEDICATION TO PRESERVING AND MAINTAINING HISPANIC HERITAGE IN NEW MEXICO.

 

     WHEREAS, Roberto A. Mondragon is a well-known and highly respected public figure in New Mexico, with deep roots in New Mexico's cultural and political life, spanning careers as a politician, musician and activist; and

     WHEREAS, Roberto is a veteran radio host, singer-songwriter and former politician who is dedicated to maintaining Hispanic heritage; and

     WHEREAS, Roberto was born on July 27, 1940, grew up in the tiny village of La Loma and has always retained his roots in northern New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, Roberto began his political career serving as a Democratic state representative for Bernalillo county from 1967 to 1970; and

     WHEREAS, Roberto served twice as lieutenant governor under former governor Bruce King; and

     WHEREAS, Roberto was New Mexico's youngest lieutenant governor when he was elected and served from 1971 to 1975, followed by a second stint as lieutenant governor from 1979 to 1983; and

     WHEREAS, Roberto, described as an "old-fashioned populist", took on the role of ombudsman in an effort to advance causes to which he was committed: 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 was the green party nominee for governor; and

     WHEREAS, in 2005, Roberto was tapped 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 addition to his political activism, Roberto is also an accomplished musician and musical artist; and

     WHEREAS, Roberto's first job out of high school was as a radio announcer on KABQ-AM, which was then a Spanish-language radio station in Albuquerque; and

     WHEREAS, Roberto recorded two albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Que Cante Mondragón and Amigo; and

     WHEREAS, one of his early recordings is Mi Carrito Paseado, a humorous "Spanglish" homage to a less-than-reliable automobile; and

     WHEREAS, O Fair New Mexico, the official state song of New Mexico, was adopted by the New Mexico legislature in 1917; and

     WHEREAS, 2021 is the fiftieth anniversary of Roberto's well-known recording of the Spanish-language version of the state song, Asi Es Nuevo Mexico, adopted by the New Mexico legislature in 1971; and

     WHEREAS, Roberto broadcasts Aspectos Culturales, a bilingual Spanish and English weekly radio show, where he deals with various aspects of Hispanic culture in New Mexico, including language, values, beliefs, history, folklore and other relevant topics; and

     WHEREAS, Roberto also honors the recently deceased by researching, producing and announcing obituaries aired on two northern New Mexico radio stations; and

     WHEREAS, Roberto's empathy and compassion for the deceased and their families is conveyed by Roberto's gentle, deep voice, recognizable throughout northern New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, Roberto also previously published a bilingual magazine, Amigos, which was distributed to schools, libraries and senior centers throughout New Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Roberto A. Mondragon be recognized and honored for his dedication to the preservation and maintenance of Hispanic heritage in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the fiftieth anniversary of Roberto's well-known recording of the Spanish language version of the state song, Asi Es Nuevo Mexico, be celebrated; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to Roberto A. Mondragon.

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