A photograph in last week’s Rio Grande SUN deserves a second look. The cutline under the photo correctly identified the principal individual as Rio Arriba Democratic chairman Emilio Narnajo, but if you are a follower of local politics, it was a wonderful trip down memory lane.
The picture is from the campaign of 1956, more than 50 years ago. It was the last election in which the political strong man would lose any significant county office to Republicans until late in his career, four decades later. As we are all aware, Naranjo died Nov. 20.
Examine first the posters behind the men standing behind Naranjo, left to right.
Murry Morgan was a candidate for state land commissioner. Morgan was a longtime Democrat involved in state politics and was elected to the land commissioner’s office that year.
John Block, former Española mayor, was asking voters to re-elect him state corporation commissioner. Which they did. A second Block poster is at far right. The Blocks are still represented on the ballot, witness the election of Jerome Block, in our last election. John won his second term.
Next is Sen. Estes Kefauver, Democratic candidate for vice president, then John Simms, asking voters for a second term as New Mexico governor and finally Adlai Stevenson, the 1956 Democratic candidate for president.
The Stevenson-Kefauver ticket lost nationally to Republicans Dwight Eisenhower and his VP running mate Richard Nixon. Simms was defeated for a second term by Republican Edwin Mechem, one of the last Republicans to carry Rio Arriba County.
The five men huddled behind the seated Naranjo, well left to right:
Albert Amador, former county school superintendent seeking a return to the office in 1956. He was defeated by Republican Seledon Martinez, but in subsequent elections Albert went on to serve in the state senate and state house of representatives from Rio Arriba;
Ruben Maestas, relative newcomer to Rio Arriba politics in 1956, was elected sheriff, defeating Republican Luis Suazo with a big majority. He continued to lead the Democratic ticket when he ran for a second term and later served as Española police chief.
Benito Lopez was a newcomer, being appointed to the county commission by the governor in 1956 following a shake-up in the courthouse in Tierra Amarilla. He was elected to the job that same year in his first run for public office.
Finally, Joe G. (Guadalupe) Salazar was elected county clerk in his first run for office. He was a member of the Salazar family, which has played an important role in local politics for years.
Of the six men pictured, Naranjo was the sole survivor until his death Nov. 20.