History was made Tuesday at the Roosevelt County Courthouse as Republican Fabian Muñoz was sworn in as Roosevelt County Commissioner for District 1.
According to Roosevelt County Clerk Mandi Park, Munoz is the first Republican ever elected to that commission district, even though all the other commission seats have been Republican for decades.
Muñoz defeated Democrat Jake Lopez with a 56 percent margin in the November primary. Democrat Jake Lopez or Jake’s son Dennis Lopez had held the seat for the last four decades. Dennis Lopez is leaving the seat because of term limits.
As 9th Judicial District Judge Donna Mower directed the ceremony, the Roosevelt County Commissioners room was packed with Muñoz’ extended family and friends.
“This is one of the fun things I get to do,” said Mower as she began the ceremony with Muñoz. “Because this is the future of our county.” She followed by swearing in new Roosevelt County Treasurer Victoria Ramos, County Clerk Park, starting her second term, and 9th Judicial District Attorney Quentin Ray along with his appointed Assistant District Attorneys and Investigator.
District 2 County Commissioner Malin Parker, who won a three-way race in the June primary and was uncontested in November, wasn’t present Tuesday6 but had received his oath previously, according to Park.
At age 29 in a few weeks, Muñoz is also one of the youngest commissioners elected in Roosevelt County. He grew up on the north side of Portales, where his parents Ben and Maria Muñoz lived in the neighborhood of North Avenue I and Ivy Street.
He grew up working agriculture related jobs, including driving a truck and working at area grain elevators. Today he’s a wind turbine technician.
“I was born & raised here and it looked like wanted lots of change was needed and they hadn’t been getting it,” Muñoz said. “I grew up here and I want things to be better for my family.”
In attendance at the ceremony was his fiancé Brianna and their blended family of five children from age 5-12. His mother and dad, siblings and cousins also attended. Another historic twist to the day was his aunt on his mother’s side of the family, along with cousins visiting from Cuauhtemoc, in the Mexican state of Chihuaha. The family began planning the trip two years ago in order to obtain the proper visas to visit family here. Quite possibly the first time international visitors have been present for such a ceremony in Roosevelt County.
Muñoz justifies his decision to run as a Republican by saying that conservative views are more in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church and he points out that the Mexican nationality as a whole is very conservative and family oriented.
He says his campaign strategy was to visit with those he knew as well as local businesses. He said it was also important to participate in forums and interviews and attend Republican meetings and events.
“My goal is to be as transparent as I possibly can and let them (constituents) know what’s going on so that they can understand it,” Munoz said. “I’m going to do my best for the people.”
