City of Las Vegas, New Mexico USA

Mayor Tony E. Marquez, Jr.

BIOGRAPHY

Las Vegas Mayor Tony E. Marquez Jr. is no stranger to public service. A lifelong resident of Las Vegas, Marquez has played an active role in Las Vegas for numerous years. As mayor he continues to engage the community in all aspects of city government as well as strives to improve customer service, governing by citizen involvement, finance, accountability and water and natural gas issues pertaining to the Meadow City.

He was elected mayor in March 2008 on the basis of new leadership, new direction and change. His tenure as mayor has been innovative, precise and exploratory. Untamed waters have been explored and under his leadership he has started new, fresh and groundbreaking initiatives on the basis of improving Las Vegas. Marquez has moved the direction of city government in a positive direction. Throughout this process he strives to ensure that every Las Vegas resident is kept informed of the various changes by operating and open and transparent government. He also engages civic and community conversation when it comes to issues pertaining to city government. Marquez remains by his campaign slogan “beholden to no one, but to the citizens of Las Vegas".

An eleven-year veteran of the city council, Marquez was instrumental in various issues. As a member of the governing body, he helped control city finances and property, acted as a member of a decision making body affecting more than 280 city personnel, provided direction on planning and zoning issues, authorized allocations and expenditure of a city operating budget of more than $40 million. Marquez is no stranger when it comes to making decisions that benefit the residents and not a select group of people.

As a councilor in 2002, he was successful in the development and eventual adoption of the Code of Ethics for Elected Officials and the Governing Body Rules and Procedures. These items are essential tools of professional governance.

Marquez is no stranger to leadership positions. He currently serves as Administration Services Director for the New Mexico State Department of Corrections in Santa Fe. There he is involved in a budget of over $340 million a staff of over 2,500. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson appointed Marquez to serve under his administration upon his election to the Governor’s Seat in 2003.

Prior to his appointment, Marquez served as Area Director for the New Mexico Department of Labor in Las Vegas. As director he directed, managed, administered, motivated, and praised the employees of the local Workforce Development Center which serves as a one-stop service center for job seekers and employees as mandated by the Workforce Investment Act. The knowledge in labor laws, employee performance appraisal and the needs of constituents that he learned in this position play an integral part of his administration as mayor.

Marquez served as Chairman of the New Mexico Region II Housing Authority Board from 1998 to 2002. As Chairman he directed and reviewed the operations and obligations of authority. Under his leadership, the board established and implemented a vision and mission statement in conjunction of the development of a five-year plan. He also served as a Senate Bill Analyst during the 2000 Legislative Session.

He has expertise in local, state and federal governments. From 1990 to 1994, Marquez held the position of Senior Investigator with the United States Office of Federal Investigations, out of the Dallas region and an office in Santa Fe. There he conducted background investigations for positions pertaining to national security, law enforcement, White House Fellowships, NASA, and other agencies. He participated with the United State Department of Justice in the observation of the Mayoral election of New York City, New York in 1992 (Guiliani vs Dinkins). He was also nominated to participate in the 1992 United State Presidential Classroom.

Some of Marquez’ current and past community activities have included: Chairman of the City of Las Vegas Finance Committee, Chairman of the City of Las Vegas Human Resource Task Force, Chairman of the Las Vegas Policy Advisory Committee, Chairman of the Las Vegas Community Development Committee and he has served as Mayor Pro-tem under three different mayors.

Marquez is a member of the National League of Cities (NLC), National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO), International Chief of Police Association (IACP), New Mexico Municipal League (NMML), National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO).

He earned his B.A. in Business Administration from New Mexico Highlands University in 1989 and has worked towards a M.A. in Public Affairs at NMHU.