A farewell to Valencia County

I worked in Valencia County from October 2006 to November 2024. I lived in Los Lunas from January 2007 to December 2025, at all times in the same home.

And now it’s over.

As I move on, there are people I’d like to remember and thank, and places I’ll always remember and miss.

I worked in the DA’s office for Valencia County from 2006-2008, prosecuting heavy-duty crimes like murder, sex assault, and child abuse. From 2008-2014, I worked for the 13th Judicial District as a staff attorney, a Jack-of-all-trades helping out the local district court. Most notably, I put on mediation dockets and free legal clinics, two excellent programs, since discontinued.

For 10 years, 2014-2024, I served as a domestic violence special commissioner and hearing officer, issuing protection orders, handling child support cases and doing other family-related matters. I like to think I served honorably and well.

Some of those about to be mentioned are still in the same role, some have moved on to other jobs or retired and some have passed on altogether.

From my days in the DA’s office, I’d like to thank the DA himself, Lemuel Martinez, who hired me. Benny Naranjo, Ron Lopez, Steve Scott and Aaron Jordan taught me how to do criminal cases in New Mexico. Sandy Lewis was a superb assistant.

I worked for the 13th Judicial District for 16 1/2 years, a fourth of my life. Thanks to the chief court administrator who hired me, Greg Ireland. My original staff attorney colleague was Crystal Hyer; no other attorney was more important in shaping my New Mexico legal career.

Other fine attorney colleagues were Karl Reifsteck and Beth Collard. I had the privilege of working with treatment courts, and respected those in the trenches helping folks with their problems — Cynthia Ferrari, Van Rocco, Shane Lovato and DJ Renteria.

Among the judges I worked with, Judge John Pope, Judge Cindy Mercer and Commissioner Charles Sanchez stand out. Mediators, such as Andy Salas and Diane Grover, solved many cases and made everyone else’s jobs easier.

Interpreter Peter Katel literally helped me understand others and became a good friend. Court clerks Alonzo Garcia and Toinette Garcia were and are amazing. Maricela Salcido was my assistant for about three years, and the best assistant I’ve had in my 35-year legal career.

March 17, 2020, was my most memorable day at the Los Lunas courthouse. I had a heart attack in my courtroom. An ambulance whisked me away. Sgt. Curtis Espinoza, Deputy Hoss and other security deputies may have saved my life that day.

I practiced with and against many fine attorneys. Many appeared before me. Some became good friends. You know who you are, but I’ll mention Greg Gaudette, Bryan Collopy, Joe Allred and Peter Ortega.

This column would not be complete without a shout-out to Valencia Shelter Services, which went from a small operation bursting the seams of a house to a much larger operation taking up the wing of a big office building. Stephanie Wood has been there throughout, is now the executive director, and is the kind of visionary who makes good things happen. She’s been ably assisted by Brisa Sotelo and others over the years.

Turning to matters outside the work world, let me start with the humble family home, the only place my son has ever lived. The Nims family will miss it. We’ll miss that gloriously big backyard, which, over the years, has been a weed patch, all-purpose playground, sports field and dog park.

On my dark street, I’ll miss the way our luminarias proclaimed their brightness on Christmas Eve. I’ll miss the nearby ditchbanks, great for walking ourselves and our dog, Buddy.

I’ll miss my neighborhood. For a long time, Gene Sais was our patron. He’s passed and still missed. His family remains in the neighborhood. Roy and Patty were great next door neighbors.

I’ll miss Belen: the Harvey House (especially when it had the model railroads and the Bugg Lights), the BNSF railyard and the BHS natatorium. I’ll miss St. Mary’s School. My son went there from kindergarten to fifth grade.

I’ll miss Tomé Hill, El Cerro de Los Lunas and the trails through the bosque. There are a surprising number of places to walk and hike here. I’ll miss the rare times the Rio Grande was at flood stage and turned the bosque into a swampy wonderland.

We attended San Clemente Catholic Church regularly. My father-in-law served as deacon there for a while. It’s there I met Jose Montoya and his mom, Grace. Jose has gone from a kid to an advanced college degree to college athletics administrator. Not too shabby.

I haven’t seen Ralph Chavez lately, but he was a great catechism teacher colleague.

I’ll miss Main Street Fitness, the Starlight Cinema, the Rail Runner rides from here. I’ll miss a real local newspaper, the News-Bulletin. I miss establishments now gone — the Luna Mansion, Benny’s II and Henrietta’s. I’ll miss establishments still going — Teofilo’s, Pete’s, TJ’s, the Range Cafe, Manny’s Fine Pastries. I might have to visit just to get the Toledo cake at Teofilo’s.

I’ll miss our dog sitters, first, Melba and now Miranda, though I might hold on to Miranda.

Is there anything in particular I won’t miss? The Main Street bottleneck and related traffic issues come to mind. Some of the electoral politics, not to mention judicial politics at the courthouse, weren’t to my liking. But wherever I go, there will be cars and people, and thus the likelihood of similar problems.

Valencia County, thanks for being my family’s home for 19 years. Don’t know if we made it any better, but here’s hoping we didn’t leave it any worse.