Joseph Sanchez discusses his reasons for seeking public office during an interview recently at Blue Window Bistro in downtown Los Alamos. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com

Joseph Louis Sanchez is a 12th generation Northern New Mexican from Alcalde. He is running for a seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives, Dist. 40.

“My work ethic was instilled at a young age,” he said. “I grew up helping my father with his contracting business, raising cattle, cleaning the acequia every spring, and growing hay and alfalfa. Those childhood years are serving me well today.”

Sanchez earned his MS and BS in Engineering from the University of New Mexico and his MBA from New Mexico State University. He works for the Los Alamos National Laboratory where he serves as an engineer, supporting the execution of more than $1 billion worth of utility and construction projects. Previously, he served as the CEO of the largest electric utility cooperative in the state.

“I was blessed to be brought up in a family that appreciates New Mexican music,” he said. “To this day, I play the saxophone in my family band Los Blue Ventures.”

In 2018, Sanchez was elected to the House seat in Dist. 40.

“As Representative, I have introduced dozens of bills advocating for Northern New Mexico, fought for millions in critical funding and projects, and served as vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee,” he said. “My proudest moment as a leader in the legislature was fighting for a homeless shelter for the Española Valley. When I return to the Roundhouse, I will bring with me the strong work ethic instilled as a child and use my legislative experience to fight for our land, water, and people. I will be a voice for rural New Mexico.”

During his previous service in the legislature, Sanchez:

• Helped pass the silver alert legislation to help locate individuals with dementia and Alzheimer’s when they go missing.
• Passed legislation to help locate missing persons in general.
• Passed legislation to fund agricultural internships
• Co-sponsored the state budget bill as Vice-Chairman of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee.
• Allocated hundreds of thousands of dollars towards acequia and water infrastructure projects
• Helped obtain over $60 million in funding for roads, specifically on HW 68 from Velarde to Española, and also within the city of Española and other areas.
• Obtained funding for rural fire stations and equipment.
• Obtained funding for rural senior centers.
• Helped obtain over $3 million for a rural health clinic in Colfax County.
• Obtained the reoccurring operational seed money for the homeless shelter in Española.
• Helped obtain the funding for an ambulance for Mora County and its housing structure among other equipment.
• Helped push for funding for Veteran Support Officers.

If elected, Sanchez said that he intends to:

• Fight for commonsense policies that support the oil and gas industry while working with them on a reasonable transition to renewables, and promote New Mexico as a hydrogen hub;
• Support the rollout of rural Broadband to expand access throughout the entire state to help attract the high-tech jobs of the future;
• Strengthen the 80-year relationship with Los Alamos National Laboratory; and
• Fight for land grants and land grant communities, and advocate for the priories of Indian Country.