[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 177 (Thursday, October 26, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1019]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE LONGEST SERVING MAYOR OF LAS CRUCES MAYOR KEN MIYAGISHIMA

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                           HON. GABE VASQUEZ

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 26, 2023

  Mr. VASQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mayor Ken Miyagishima 
on the occasion of his retirement and to recognize his work as a public 
servant who has tirelessly represented Las Cruces as Mayor for 16 
years. The longest serving mayor in the city's history.
  Mayor Miyagishima moved from Mississippi to Las Cruces at the age of 
eight. He attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and 
graduated in 1985. In 1992, at 28, he became the first American of 
Japanese-Mexican descent to be elected to public office in New Mexico 
when he became Commissioner for Dona Ana County.
  In 2001, he was elected to the Las Cruces City Council, serving until 
2007. Mr. Miyagishima was later elected mayor of Las Cruces, becoming 
the first person of Japanese and Mexican descent to be elected mayor. 
Following this election, he became only the second person in Dona Ana 
County's history to have been elected both as Chairman of the Dona Ana 
County Commission and the Mayor of Las Cruces. As Mayor, Ken was an 
advocate for our youth, spearheaded the growth of our city, and brought 
forth generational change to our city.
  Throughout Mayor Miyagishima's more than 30 years of public service, 
he has served with integrity and courage, fought to improve the lives 
of Las Crucens, and elevated our city at the national level. Mayor 
Miyagishima received the 2002 Commander's Award for Public Service from 
the Department of the Army and the 2016 Antonio Villaraigosa Award.
  On behalf of the great people of New Mexico's 2nd Congressional 
District, I thank Mayor Ken Miyagishima for his life of service to Las 
Cruces and Dona Ana County. His work has made his community and New 
Mexico a stronger and more equitable community. We wish him well in his 
next chapter.

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