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 From the Editor in Chief
Our cover says it all: change, like a river’s rushing tide, is inevitable. As we embark on another year of change for Las Cruces, it is hard to not ask the question: when it comes to growth – smart growth or otherwise – will we ever be satisfied with our current situation? Will we ever reach a point where residents and politicians alike will just sit back, exhale proudly and say, “There. Everything is perfect.” If you’ve seen the river recently, it’s apparent that even the mighty Rio Grande isn’t immune from change.
It’s highly unlikely, in fact I would venture to guess that if we polled everyone in Dona Ana County, they would all unanimously say it would never happen. As we send this edition of Living in Las Cruces to the printer, we are faced with several changes ahead: the voters in District 6 just went to the polls to elect Sharon Thomas to City Council after Ken Miyagishima vacated his seat to serve as mayor (read more on the Mayor’s outlook for Las Cruces in his letter to the city, page 26). Senator Pete Domenici has announced his retirement from the senate, and, just as I type these comments, New Mexico is still undecided as to whether it favors Obama or Clinton for the Democratic ticket.
Perhaps the most prominent reminder of change was the passing of prominent long-time El Paso County Sheriff Leo Samaniego, who died of cancer earlier this year. Known as “a lawman’s lawman”, Samaniego embodied all that we strive to be in our lifetimes: people of integrity, honor and service to our community. I know I speak for all of us at Mountain Dreams Publishing when I say that the Sheriff will be deeply missed, and we were happy to have known him better through his insight that he contributed in our Fall 2006 edition. Vaya con Dios, Sheriff.
K E L LY J A M E S O N
 From the Editor
When we set out to create this edition of Living in Las Cruces, we wanted to include topics that were innovative and thought-provoking. We wanted to produce content that would encourage our readers to be active participants not only in their personal, everyday lives but within the community we live.
Our “take the driver seat” approach overflowed into almost every aspect of the publication. We brought to the table topics like building “green,” becoming your own boss, ways you can be healthier, recycling and so much more. We sat down with the newly elected city officials and asked them how the voice of people really gets heard. We took a closer look at how Las Cruces has embraced and endangered our most important resource in our feature story on the Rio Grande River.
In all of these topics lay the foundation to changing the community we live in, making it better and becoming citizens that can make a difference. I hope you will enjoy this edition and take with you the resources that will build more than a place to live...but a community.
A N E L A B O R R E G O
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