HOUSE MEMORIAL 105

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Brian Egolf and Carl Trujillo and Jim R. Trujillo and Debbie A. Rodella

A MEMORIAL

HONORING STEPHEN R. ARIAS AND RECOGNIZING HIS VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NEW MEXICO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE STATE.

     WHEREAS, Stephen Arias' tenure as the chief clerk of the New Mexico house of representatives is remembered fondly by many legislators and staff who worked beside him; and

     WHEREAS, an interest in politics came naturally to Stephen, whose father, Ray, was a prominent figure in political, business and fraternal organizations; and

     WHEREAS, Stephen was a graduate of St. Michael's high school and attended north Texas state university and the university of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, Stephen's legislative experience began in 1966 at the New Mexico house of representatives when the state capitol was located in the Bataan memorial building, located across Don Gaspar avenue from the current state capitol; and

     WHEREAS, Stephen started out as a page and his early assignments included reading clerk, pay clerk and purchasing director, as well as checking hats and coats in the cloak room for three hours every day; and

     WHEREAS, Stephen later advanced to the position of assistant chief clerk; and

     WHEREAS, the house chief clerk worked only during the legislative session, much like a session employee, and it was not until 1994 that the chief clerk position became year-round employment; and

     WHEREAS, from 1983 to 1989, Stephen served as executive assistant and district director for United States Congressman Bill Richardson; and

     WHEREAS, in 1982, at age thirty-seven and as a seventeen-year veteran of the house of representatives, Stephen was elected by the Democratic house majority as chief clerk to succeed Al Romero; and

     WHEREAS, Stephen administered and operated the business of the house of representatives by following advice given to him by the previous chief clerk to "treat every legislator the same regardless of whether they are a freshman or the most veteran committee chair"; and

     WHEREAS, as chief clerk, Stephen was in charge of the entire house of representatives' budget, hiring and training staff, tracking legislation, directing communication among the house, senate and governor's office and issuing checks, including to lawmakers in the house of representatives; and

     WHEREAS, Stephen also brought the house of representatives into the modern age, transitioning from IBM typewriters to computers; and

     WHEREAS, Stephen's job duties also included the responsibility for approximately two hundred seventy session employees for the house of representatives and the provision of constituent liaison services; and

     WHEREAS, Stephen retired as chief clerk of the house of representatives in 2014 after forty-five years of service; and

     WHEREAS, Stephen served thirty-two years as the longest-elected chief clerk in New Mexico and, at the time of his retirement, was the third-longest serving legislative clerk in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, Stephen has been a member of the American society of legislative clerks and secretaries since 1983 and served as the chair of most of the society's committees, including three terms on the international communication and development committee, three terms on the executive committee and ten years on the Mason's manual revision commission, which updated the Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure; and

     WHEREAS, in 1994, after the North American Free Trade Agreement was signed, Stephen received permission to invite and host legislative clerks from the border states of Mexico, with the chief clerks of Texas, Arizona and California as presenters; and

     WHEREAS, as a result of the meeting, the asociacion nacional de oficiales mayores de los congresos de los estados y distrito federal was established with Stephen as one of the founding members, and Stephen currently serves as an honorary board member; and

     WHEREAS, Stephen was the recipient of the 2012 national conference of state legislatures legislative staff achievement award presented to the individual from each staff professional association who has demonstrated excellence in supporting the work of a state legislature and strengthening the legislative institution; and

     WHEREAS, Steven was born in Santa Fe to the late Irene and Ray Arias; and

     WHEREAS, Stephen is married to Victoria Arias; and

     WHEREAS, Stephen has two sisters, Adrienne Arias and her husband, Peter Heitzeberg, and Alexis and her husband, Max Byfuglin; and

     WHEREAS, Stephen has two sons, Stephen Ray Arias II and his wife, Carla, and Santiago and his partner, Amilya; and a daughter, Kimberly Gabaldon and her husband, Miguel Gabaldon, Jr.; and

     WHEREAS, Victoria has a son, Paul Oliver and his wife, Vanessa; and a daughter Michelle and her husband, Rick Rodriguez; and

     WHEREAS, Stephen and Victoria are grandparents to Micaela, Cristiana, Antonio, Arron, Gracen, Tristan, Cael, Ricky Jr. and Luke;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Stephen R. Arias be recognized for his long and valuable contribution to the New Mexico house of representatives and the state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to Stephen R. Arias.

- 5 -