The Famous
Majorities …
Once the County Democratic Party was organized and running as a well-oiled machine, Rio Arriba and Naranjo became respected for the big Democratic majority it could turn out election day for the candidates Naranjo chose to support.
The following is from the Rio Grande SUN of March 13, 1975, reporting on a Naranjo testimonial dinner which drew an estimated 600 persons:
A speaker said “I do not forget 1960. President Kennedy was losing the state of New Mexico. Again by the famous Rio Arriba Democratic majority coming in, giving Kennedy the much-needed state. As the winning ballots arrived, the President was to have said, ‘Thank God and thank the people of Rio Arriba.’”
As U.S. Marshal …
Naranjo served as U. S. Marshal for New Mexico, a political plum in any state, from Nov. 1, 1963, until January, 1969. His appointment came from President Lyndon Johnson but his friendship with the Kennedy family dated back to JFK’s first run and probably influenced the appointment.
During his term, since the job was non-political, Naranjo resigned as party chairman and sheriff, and in his stead his son Benny was named sheriff by the county commissioners, a job Naranjo had just been elected to when his marshal appointment came through. Benny was chosen party chairman.
It was during this period, in June 1967, that the Tierra Amarilla courthouse raid occurred. Naranjo had always been at odds with the Alianza which caused him no end of problems before and after the raid.
In 1969, with Republicans winning the White House, he resigned as marshal and returned to Rio Arriba to resume as chairman and sheriff. In 1976, he become a “special investigator” for the district attorney. A month later, January 1977, he became a law enforcement advisor for the County. Just a month later, Rio Arriba’s state senator, Matias Chacon, a longtime Naranjo opponent, died of heart failure during the legislative session. The County commission appointed Naranjo to fill the vacancy and his 20-year career as state senator was launched.
The Big Roast …
Naranjo was lured out of “retirement” in November 1999, for a political “roast” that drew politicians and fans from throughout Northern New Mexico, incuding Bill Richardson, Secretary of Energy under President Clinton who came all the way from Washington, D.C. These were some of the tributes enjoyed by the nearly 200 in attendance:
Sen. Jeff Bingaman hailed Naranjo as “One of the great Democrats and one of the great public servants of the state. I’m running for office next year and the first thing I’m going to do is sit down and ask his help.”
Bill Richardson, Secretary of Energy, currently New Mexico governor: Admitting he didn’t have Naranjo’s support in his first run for Congress, Richardson said he was fascinated by the loyalty of “an entire population to a single man. Emilio knew every Rio Arriba voter on a first name basis. Whatever Emilio did, it was always for something that had a cause.”
The ’96 Primary …
Naranjo and his political slate were never without serious opposition in the Democratic primaries, but seldom did any of his candidates lose. Thus the 19-vote victory of Art Rodarte of Ojo Caliente over Naranjo in the 1996 Democratic primary fight for Naranjo’s senate seat stunned political observers who were unaware of the political situation in Rio Arriba.
His defeat may have come as a surprise to many, but Naranjo himself had predicted a close race. The reapportionment of 1990, as required by federal law, saw the New Mexico legislature make some startling changes in the boundaries of Naranjo’s district. Some Los Alamos and Sandoval county precincts were added and looking at his new Los Alamos precincts, Naranjo is quoted as saying something to the effect that “They (the legislature) did me in.”
Indeed, while Naranjo carried Rio Arriba by a small margin, he lost in Los Alamos 105 to 16, a margin sufficient to nominate Rodarte.
Rodarte served one term and Naranjo loyalist Magistrate Richard Martinez defeated Rodarte in the 2000 primary and has served as state senator since — with the approval of the late Naranjo.