CAMPAIGN NEWS
Henry Roybal has announced his candidacy for the Santa Fe County Commission District 1 seat he previously held for eight years before he termed out. He served as chair and vice chair for the commission three different times for a total of six of those years.
A life-long resident of District 1 Roybal has been married to Marlene Naranjo Roybal for 34 years and the couple has raised their four children there.
“Our family has been in the Pojoaque Valley for more than 13 generations. We proudly continue to practice the local traditions of ranching, planting and harvesting our own crops. We love our culturally rich and diverse area with its Pueblo and Hispanic traditions,” he said.
Roybal brings a unique depth of experience, leadership, and commitment to public service to the campaign. During his previous eight years on the commission, he was known for being responsive, empathetic and respectful to his constituents, many of whom continue to reachout to him on issues that concern them.
“I have always gone the extra mile for my constituents and worked collaboratively with County staff and other government entities to find real solutions and deliver results for Santa Fe County. From Santa Cruz in Española to Santa Fe and communities in between, residents continue to reach out to me for guidance and assistance and I still respond. Public service does not end with a title – it’s a lifelong commitment,” Roybal said.
During his first eight years as County Commissioner, he was was proud to help deliver many important projects for District 1, including the Pojoaque Valley Sports Complex; full restoration of the Abadon Lopez Senior Center; renovations to the La Puebla Fire Station to house full-time firefighters for improved rural emergency response in Santa Cruz and Chimayó; the Estrella del Norte Boys & Girls Club; renovations to the Nambé Community Center, including a pickleball court; improvements to the El Rancho Community Senior Center; renovations to the Benny J. Chavez Senior Center in Chimayó; the acquisition of $2 million for fiber infrastructure along State Road 76; and the development of trail systems throughout the district as well as many other meaningful projects.
While on the commission, Roybal was elected by his peers twice to serve as the Santa Fe County representative on the executive board for the New Mexico Association of Counties. He also served as the lead certified elected official on the Northern New Mexico Work Force Development Board. and chair and vice chair of the Buckman Direct Diversion Board. Other agencies he belonged to included the Metropolitan Planning Organization, which facilitates transportation decision making, the Solid Waste Management agency, and the Santa Fe County Investment Committee .
Roybal graduated from Pojoaque Valley High School and earned his degrees at Northern New Mexico College. His professional background includes civil and mechanical design, including construction subcontract management of mechanical and civil projects for Los Alamos National Laboratory. He currently works on management of capital improvement projects such as streets, bridges, parking lots, trails, storm sewers, and surface drainage for Los Alamos County from planning and design through construction, including scheduling and funding.
Roybal has been deeply connected in this community outside the political arena. He and Marlene have served as foster parents for many years, which has given him firsthand understanding of the problems facing families and children in Santa Fe County. In his younger days, he coached and was president of Pojoaque Little League, president of the Young American Football League. He also coached football at Pojoaque Valley Junior High and High Schools.
“I am exceptionally qualified and ready to once again serve District 1 as County Commissioner. I am committed to being a strong, informed voice for our communities and providing the representation that District 1 deserves,” he said.