NM House of Representatives, District 42 Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales By Patricia Chambers The Taos News, May 15, 2008 State Representative Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales has a special place in his heart for Taos County schools. The former Taos County School District superintendent played a major role in obtaining branch status for the University of New Mexico-Taos and said he has co-sponsored legislation bringing $70 million to education in the state during the past 10 years. Gonzales is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination to the state District 42 House of Representatives in the June 3 primary election. Gonzales, 58, resides in Eagle Nest and can easily run through a list of the needs of Taos County. “For the (Taos) county commissioners, the priority issue is the judicial complex,” Gonzales said. “Things need to fall into place to build what they need.” Federal funding for road construction has been shrinking every year and it is becoming more and more difficult for communities to provide the necessary match to build state and local roads, Gonzales said. “We are going to have to be more creative,” he said. One alternative to pouring money into road construction is public transportation, Gonzales said. “I support rural transportation 100 percent,” he said. The state representative, who has served in the Legislature since 1995, said water issues will continue to be important to Northern New Mexico, especially to the acequia associations. “Colorado wants to keep its water and it’s going to be more and more difficult to ensure that we have enough water,” Gonzales said. An advocate of workforce housing, Gonzales warns that rising utility costs may threaten public housing in Taos County. “The landlords are required to pay utilities and many of them are dropping out because of rising costs,” he said. Gonzales has offered a solution to assist the nearly 400,000 New Mexico’s without health insurance. He introduced the Health Security Act in the last session of the state legislature that would create a singlepayer health care system directed by a state commission. Gov. Bill Richardson did not support the health cooperative concept proposed by Gonzales and introduced in the state Senate by state Sen. Carlos Cisneros. The governor is likely to call a special session this summer to deal with the health-care crisis. Gonzales and Cisneros hope that the bill will be the first step toward solving the problem. “It has the support of more than 150 organizations,” he said. Gonzales said his partnership with legislators such as Cisneros, Nick Salazar, Debbie Rodella and Phil Griego has come together to allocate state funds for Northern New Mexico projects. With the help of the Taos County delegation, Gonzales has brought funding for the National Guard Armory, the Harwood Museum, road funding and Taos Community Auditorium, as well as the establishment of Eagle Nest Lake as a state park. For Gonzales, the work involved in serving in New Mexico’s citizen Legislature is not done for money. New Mexico pays its legislators a $144 per diem and 50 cents per mile for travel on legislative business. “It’s time consuming, but being of service to my community is the thing that is important to me,” Gonzales said.  Representative Bobby Gonzales
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