NMCentennialBlueBook

Diane Denish (D) joins him in leading the state for the next four years as the state's first female
Lieutenant Governor.
Former Governor Gary E. Johnson climbs Mt. Everest.
Our National Guard units, both Army and Air Guards, are serving in the country's war against
terrorism in Iraq.
The land and thousands of trees, particularly pinon, have been devastated due to major drought
conditions and bark beetle infestations in the state's mountainous regions.
*2004
February 4 is the state's first opportunity to participate in an early Democratic Caucus for
Presidential Candidates. Senator John Kerry, Massachusetts, receives the majority of the votes.
New Mexico has 5 delegates to the Electoral College. Prior to the Caucus, New Mexico had held
a Democratic Primary in June of election years, which is too late to be of any significance.
**Despite the fact the state only has 5 electoral delegates, we were still in a key position for both
parties. Both candidates visit our state numerous times to woo voters. President George Bush
takes the state by 6,000 votes. This undoubtedly made the state important in the 2008 presidential
election.
**Sandoval County’s Republican County Clerk Victoria Dunlap issues more than 60 marriage
licenses to gay and lesbian couples. Later AG Patricia Madrid's declares the situation illegal.
**President Ronald Reagan, our 40th president, dies in June at the age of 93. The stately funeral
brought people together despite their partisan divisions.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat dies in November at age 75.
**New Mexico benefits significantly from high crude oil and natural gas prices. This leads to
unprecedented levels of revenue for the oil and gas extraction industry in the state.
**Former President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Manny Aragón resigns from the Senate to become
the President of New Mexico Highlands University.
Former Speaker of the House, Raymond Sánchez, after a defeat in his district, is named to the
University of New Mexico Board of Regents, where he joins two other former legislators, Mel
Eaves and Jamie Koch.
**In early 2004 three county sheriffs initiated actions to reopen the murder case of Billy the Kid and
Sheriff Pat Garrett. Steps were taken to also exhume the body of Billy’s mother from her grave
in Silver City for the purpose of matching the DNA with her son’s in order to prove that indeed
he is buried in his Ft. Sumner grave. Much furor arose in Lincoln, Ft. Sumner and Silver City
considering these towns all benefit from tourism revenues based on the adventures of this legendary
figure. An authority on the Lincoln County War, Frederick William Nolan, is brought in from his
home in England to testify.
**The National Museum of the American Indian opens in Washington, D.C. in September and
numerous New Mexico Native Americans participate in the planning of the facility and some
creations from our artists are on display in the building.
**Other major changes in the House of Representative occur when human services advocate, J.
Paul Taylor, and long-time budget maven, Max Coll, both retire. This leaves not only a major
historical knowledge void but marks the loss of two strong shepherds in these areas. Between the
two they served for a combined 49 years. Another legislator, Rep. Ray Ruíz, dies of an asbestosrelated
illness.
**Major battles over land use on Otero Mesa involve the Governor, the State Land Office, the
Bureau of Land Management, Oil and Gas primaries and environmental groups. Other land use
battles involved the Valle Vidal and Valle Caldera.
**The first International Folk Festival takes place in Santa Fe.
**Jémez Pueblo makes the first request for off-reservation tribal gaming in the state, with a proposal
to build a casino in Anthony. The Navajo Tribal Council approves gaming for five chapters.
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