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A lifelong New Mexican, Lawrence was born in Santa Fe and raised in the rural town of Sile, New Mexico. He graduated from Bernalillo High School in 1976. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico, and later added a master’s degree from UNM in Public Administration. Lawrence is a life-long public servant. His journey in public service began working for state government and in 1984 he became the Deputy Secretary of Transportation for the State of New Mexico under Governor Toney Anaya. In 1987 Lawrence joined the staff of Senator Jeff Bingaman in Washington, and in 1990 he returned home to New Mexico and served as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the City of Albuquerque. Lawrence is the longest serving individual to hold this position, serving through 12 years and three different administrations. In that capacity, he was responsible for balancing an over $1B budget. In 2002 Lawrence left the city to become Executive Director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG). Representing Bernalillo, Valencia, Torrance, and Sandoval counties, MRCOG manages regional transportation, agriculture, workforce development, employment growth, land-use, water, and economic development programs. Throughout his career Lawrence has worked hard to build a better New Mexico. His most visible accomplishments are those New Mexico institutions he helped build during his time as CAO of Albuquerque and as Executive Director of MRCOG: expansions of the Albuquerque Airport and Convention Center; development of the Balloon Fiesta Park; educational and family-oriented facilities including the Explora Science Center, the Albuquerque Aquarium and Botanic Gardens, and the Isotopes Baseball Park; and transportation infrastructure, including managing the planning and construction of the award-winning New Mexico Rail Runner Express commuter rail line. Lawrence has a track record of getting things done, but he is most proud of his track record of bringing people together. As CAO of Albuquerque, Lawrence built bridges between different New Mexico constituencies to successfully protect Kirtland Air Force Base when it was threatened by the Base Closure and Realignment Commission. Lawrence also built consensus around new transportation initiatives, a key factor in the success of the New Mexico Rail Runner Express as well as a number of road construction and maintenance programs. Lawrence is committed to building a better New Mexico as your Lieutenant Governor. Lawrence serves on the United Way of New Mexico Board of Directors and the State Parks Advisory Board, and has served the community over the years through participation in the New Mexico Livable Communities Task Force, the New Mexico Stimulus Package Advisory Committee, and the Kirtland AFB Retention Committee and Kirtland AFB Partnership Committee, as well as through Board membership on the Carrie Tingley Hospital and the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Lawrence lives in Los Ranchos with his wife, Kim, and their three children. |
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