Ken Miyagishima

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters". Kenneth Daniel Gallegos Miyagishima (born May 15, 1963) is an American businessman and politician who served as the mayor of Las Cruces, New Mexico from 2007 to 2023.[1] Miyagishima was the first New Mexican of Japanese descent to hold public office and the longest serving mayor of the city.[2] [3]

Early life and education

Miyagishima was born in Biloxi, Mississippi. He is of both Mexican and Japanese descent. He has lived in Las Cruces, New Mexico since 1971. He attended public schools and in 1985 graduated from New Mexico State University with degrees in finance and real estate.[3]

Career

Miyagishima ran for a position in the New Mexico House of Representatives in 1990 against Republican Lee Rawson. He received 48% of the vote.[2]

In 1992, he was elected to the office of Doña Ana County Commissioner, position 4, becoming New Mexico's first American of Japanese descent to be elected to public office.[4] From 1998 through 2000, he was voted "Best County Commissioner" in a local newspaper readers' poll. In 2002, he received the Commander's Award for Public Service from the United States Department of the Army. Miyagishima won re-election to the city council in 2005.

Miyagishima was elected as the mayor of Las Cruces in 2007 and was reelected in 2011, 2015, and 2019.[5][6][7][8] He is also the second person in Doña Ana County to have been elected both chairman of the Doña Ana County Commission and mayor of Las Cruces.

In August 2013, Miyagishima unsuccessfully applied to become Doña Ana County Manager.[9]

In office, Miyagishima was known as a pro-business Democrat, occasionally clashing with a more progressive city council.[2] In the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Miyagishima was one of several mayors to pledge support for former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.[10] After Bloomberg dropped out of the race, Miyagishima endorsed Joe Biden.[11]

He was opposed to cannabis legalization and bail reform during his time as mayor. He did support a humanitarian response to migrants settling in the city.[2]

Miyagishima announced in 2022 that he would not seek a fifth term as mayor.[12] He was succeeded by fellow Democrat Eric Enriquez.[13][14]

During his tenure as mayor, Miyagishima oversaw the building of city hall, the convention center, and an Aquatic Center. The city prioritized downtown revitalization. In reflecting on his term of office, he express he was most proud of raising graduation rates.[5]

Personal life

Ken is married to Rosario Miyagishima (née Rodriguez), and they have four children.[15]

See also

References

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External links

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