11-23-2023 12:22am

Senator Ron Griggs Not Seeking Re-election in 2024

Chris Edwards Editor

On September 6th, 2023 AlamogordoTownNews.com reported that Jim Townsend had announced his candidacy for the position that Senator Griggs held and that Senator Griggs may not run for reelection. At the time the story read…

“The municipal elections set for November 7th, 2023 have barely begun, and some New Mexico political leaders are already jumping ahead and planning for the 2024 General Election. It's well known that Yvette Herrell is seeking a rematch in New Mexico's Congressional District 2 against incumbent first term congressman Gabe Vasquez. But now comes an announcement that could impact Otero County significantly and move a seat of power from Alamogordo and transition it to Artesia.

Well regarded moderate Alamogordo homeboy, Senator Ron Griggs, does not appear to be running for another term in the New Mexico Senate for District 34. Ron Griggs has represented Otero County as a Senator since 2012 and not run into any serious opposition during any prior election. He was elected to the seat in the November 6, 2012. Griggs was previously Mayor of Alamogordo and owner of the Alamogordo Title Company. He was elected to the seat in the November 6, 2012 general election but was appointed by Governor Susana Martinez to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Vernon Asbill days before the term ended. Griggs has always operated on a platform with an emphasizes on job creation and his success in obtaining capital funding for roads, public infrastructure, and other projects in his district.

Senator Griggs responded in a social media reply;

“ Chris -
The article states that I am uninterested in running for another term in the State Senate. That is not correct. We have important local elections coming up. The immediate focus should be on those elections.
I am honored to represent the citizens of Senate District 34. Any decision I make will be based on the needs of the citizens of this district.
Right now Otero County has two Senators for the first time in history. That is very positive and has been important in protecting the interests of Otero County. However, the district covers more than just this County. I am a big supporter of the people and businesses that make their homes in Eddy County. I have great friends in Carlsbad, in Artesia, and throughout Eddy County.
I am an effective voice for this district. I will continue to be.
Ron Griggs
NM State Senator
District 34”

Senator Griggs posted a Thanksgiving message on social media on Wednesday 11-22-23 and announced he would NOT be running for reelection…

”I hope everyone is getting ready for the Thanksgiving holiday and looking forward to family, food, and fun. We will spend our holiday with, Reid, Crystal, Madison, and James (Reid's family) while Erin and her crew enjoy the holiday in Tennessee. I am adding a letter I just finished drafting somewhat detailing my decision to not seek re-election to the State Senate next year. It is a bit bittersweet for me but it is time to do other stuff. I wish I could have done more but the numbers favor the other side. Thank all of you for your support. I still have one more session and I have some stuff close to being ready to introduce and I am hopeful we can get it passed. We'll see.

My political career started when I was elected to the Alamogordo City Commission in August of 1999 to fill the seat vacated upon the death of my father, Jim Griggs. I was re-elected three times, serving twelve and a half years. In 2012, I successfully ran for the New Mexico State Senate. I was sworn in on December 12, 2012, and have represented Senate District 34 since then.

During my tenure in the Senate, most of the legislation I worked on focused on the economy, especially the economy of our rural communities. I worked for years to change liquor laws and that work ultimately allowed more small restaurants to sell spirits. I sponsored legislation that allows large scale economic development projects to see lower taxes on their construction costs, and initiated legislation that allows communities to use their local economic development tax to attract retail projects. Airports across New Mexico can receive state assistance to attract regional air carriers and the brine well is no longer a danger to the citizens of Carlsbad. Counties have access to state dollars to assist them in the construction or remodeling of district court facilities, non-profits can rent out their facility to other non-profits more often, and prescribed burns cannot be started when a red flag warning is in effect. I either sponsored these bills, co-sponsored them, or influenced their development and drafting.
I also introduced other important bills that did not pass. Bills such as the Adjunct Instructor Act and a bill to provide small oil and gas operators a tax credit to help bring their wells into compliance with New Mexico rules. I also introduced a memorial to study how best to return federally controlled land to New Mexico. I even sponsored a bill to allow customers to bring their own wine into a restaurant paying a corkage fee to have it opened. I did not shy away from these and other controversial issues. I never thought I was elected to follow just one playbook, but to find solutions for all New Mexicans.

I helped the communities in District 34 with many capital projects. Roads and infrastructure received most of the capital dollars I had to allocate but I also sent funds to Carlsbad for their Riverwalk Conference Center, their Community Recreation Center, the new gym floor for Carlsbad High School, and I funded projects and programs at Living Desert State Park. I funded recreation improvements in Cloudcroft along with vehicles and equipment for them. The big green activity bus was funded through my capital allocation. I provided both Cloudcroft and Timberon with dollars to repair, upgrade and develop their water and wastewater systems. The new fire station in Timberon was built with state dollars I allocated to that project.

Here in Alamogordo, I provided funds to the New Mexico Museum of Space History, funds to New Mexico State University Alamogordo, funds to purchase vehicles and equipment for both the City and the County, funds for improvement projects and programs at Oliver Lee State Park, and in recent years, funds to help with quality-of-life projects at the golf course, the zoo, and the baseball and soccer fields. Alamogordo too, has a new activity bus your legislative delegation funded. NMSU-A will soon start a new nursing program funded in large part by your delegation. And, if you take a short drive to Sunspot, Senator Burt and I provided funds and other assistance to NMSU to help keep that facility open. Helping with these and other opportunities are the most positive and enjoyable things I participate in as your state Senator. And one last thing, although state legislation was not involved, I was a part of the reason White Sands is no longer a National Monument but is now a National Park.

I am proud to represent you. It is an honor like no other. It is exhilarating to be engaged in development of legislation to better New Mexico and to argue against legislation that will damage this district and our state. I just turned 71 in October, so another term is certainly doable and, in many ways, desirable.

I want to continue to represent you in the State Senate. I also want to spend more time with Joan and our family. It is time for new blood, new eyes, new ideas, and new directions. I will finish my term and retire from the State Senate at the end of 2024. Thank all of you for your vote, your confidence in me, your words of encouragement, and your concern for me and my family. You are the part of this job I will miss the most.

Senator Ron Griggs”