Ron Griggs will not seek reelection to New Mexico senate

Republican Senator Ron Griggs announced he would would retire from New Mexico politics rather than seek reelection to the District 34 seat he's held since 2012.

Griggs, 71, said in a letter announcing his retirement that it was time for the next generation to take over.

"It is time for new blood, new eyes, new ideas, and new directions," Griggs wrote.

Griggs first began his political career in 1999 when he filled a vacant seat on the Alamogordo City Commission previously held by his father. In 2012 he ran for the New Mexico senate, a position he's held since.

In his retirement letter Griggs described the extent of his work throughout New Mexico which included cities such as Alamogordo and Carlsbad.

Griggs was able to acquire grants for the New Mexico Museum of Space History, New Mexico State University-Alamogordo and for Alamogordo and Otero County for various projects. Griggs said via grants city and county vehicles were updated, and additional funds were contributed to "quality-of-life projects" at the Alamogordo Zoo, the golf course, the baseball and the soccer field.

"I never thought I was elected to follow just one playbook, but to find solutions for all New Mexicans," he wrote in his letter.

Roads in Carlsbad benefitted from capital outlay funds Griggs said, and the City of Carlsbad via the same funding improved the Riverwalk Conference Center, the Community Recreation Center and the gym floor at Carlsbad High School.

"I provided both Cloudcroft and Timberon with dollars to repair, upgrade and develop their water and wastewater systems. The new fire station in Timberon was built with state dollars I allocated to that project," he wrote in his letter.

Griggs said he would complete his term which ends in 2024, and planned to spend time with his family during retirement.

"I want to continue to represent you in the State Senate. I also want to spend more time with Joan and our family," he said. "Thank all of you for your vote, your confidence in me, your words of encouragement, and your concern for me and my family. You are the part of this job I will miss the most."

New Mexico Rep. Jim Townsend announced his candidacy to fill Griggs seat. Townsend, a Republican who represents District 54, was elected to the House January 2015 and is currently serving as Committeeman to the National Republican Party.

"I want to take my experience in standing up to radical and often unproductive initiatives in the House and bring it to the Senate where I can more effectively help to block bad Democrat legislation, particularly the kind that threatens jobs in the Southeast," Townsend said in his announcement.

No other persons have publicly voiced candidacy for Grigg's seat.

Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter at @Juan36Corr.

This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: Ron Griggs retires after 12 years in New Mexico senate