Background
Sanchez, Raymond G. was born on September 22, 1941 in Albuquerque. Son of Gillie and Priscilla Sanchez.
Sanchez, Raymond G. was born on September 22, 1941 in Albuquerque. Son of Gillie and Priscilla Sanchez.
He attended the University of New Mexico where he obtained a Bachelor in Government (1964), and then a Juris Doctor from the School of Law (1967).
Sanchez was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives for district 15, North Valley: Bernalillo, in 1971. He held office until 2000. Sanchez and Walter K. Martinez were leaders of the liberal "Mama Lucy Gang".
This group controlled the house and prevented conservative "Cowboy Democrats" from the ranching areas in the south of the state from controlling the main committees.
Sanchez was speaker of the house for sixteen years. In 2000 Raymond Sanchez failed to be reelected to the house, losing to the newcomer John Sánchez, a Republican.
The defeat may have been partly due to voters being confused by the names. After leaving office Sanchez returned to practicing the law, mainly working on government relations and personal injury.
Sanchez became a president of the regents of the University of New Mexico.
In the 2010s Sanchez was working as a lobbyist at the New Mexico legislature for clients such as Virgin Galactic. In 2013 as lobbyist for two Albuquerque cab companies Sanchez was critical of a bill that would open up competition in the industry.
In the 1982 election the liberal Democrats formed a solid majority of the forty seven Democrat members, and Sanchez was elected speaker without opposition from the Cowboys.
Board directors New Mexico Amigos, New Mexico Diamond Jubilee/United States Constitutional Bicentennial Commission, New Mexico First, Albuquerque Committee Foreign Relations, N. Valley Neighborhood Association. Board regents University New Mexico. Member National Association Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (board directors), Alameda Optimist Club (board directors, charter member), University New Mexico School Law Alumni Association (board directors), Elks Club, Sigma Xi.
1 child, Raymond Michael.