LOS LUNAS — Los Lunas Village Administrator Gregory Martin was recently awarded the first ever Excellence in Local Government Award from Leadership New Mexico.
“I was completely surprised,” said Martin. “I didn’t know the award existed and had no idea I would have the honor of being selected for the first award of this type.”
Photo courtesy of Marcos Castillo
Los Lunas Village Administrator Greg Martin celebrates being awarded the Excellence in Local Government award with his wife, Chelsey.
Leadership New Mexico is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 1995. According to its website, the mission is to identify current and emerging leaders throughout New Mexico, enhance their leadership skills and deepen their knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing our state.
Martin said what he finds exceptionally beneficial about the organization is the leadership and personal development skills and experiences the programs provide to help him become a better person and leader.
“Martin has been through two of our programs. In 2015, he went through our local government leadership program about major issues affecting our state,” said Diego Espinoza, president of LNM. “In 2023, he graduated in our core executive leadership program.”
Espinoza said the board of directors went through the nomination process and Martin was the unanimous choice because of his contributions and involvement with LNM.
“There’s lots of cool, innovative things going down in Los Lunas and we appreciate his leadership,” said Espinoza.
Martin, who has more than 23 years of local government management experience, became the Los Lunas village administrator in 2012. Through this role, he helps oversee the operation and management of the village and implements policy set in place by the village council and mayor.
Prior to working in Los Lunas, he served as city manager of St. Johns, Ariz., assistant town manager of Strasburg, Va., and assistant city manager of Monticello, Utah.
Martin holds a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish translation, both from Brigham Young University.
While Martin was surprised to receive the award, Los Lunas Mayor Charles Griego said he was not.
“It’s well deserved. He is a hardworking, dedicated public servant who has high ethical standards,” said Griego. “He’s very dedicated to the village, our departments and to the public. He’s also an extremely good planner. He makes sure we operate in a way that’s not just for this one year, but also for the long term.”
Martin is also a member of the Rotary Club of Los Lunas and a board member of Valencia Regional Emergency Communication Center. Additionally, he is a part of the International City/County Management Association and the New Mexico City Managers Association.
Martin says what he finds most rewarding about serving in local government is the ability to work closely with the governing body and employees to “hopefully make a positive difference in the community that we live and work in.”
However, leading local government comes with plenty of challenges. Martin says the most difficult aspect is the complexity of issues and projects leadership encounters, especially in a fast growing community such as Los Lunas.
To navigate these challenges, Martin said it’s important to find unity and ensure everyone is moving in the same direction.
“We’re always striving to provide the best possible services with sometimes limited resources to get done all that we want and need to get done on behalf of our citizens,” said Martin. “It’s a constant effort to maintain good communication and follow up to make sure our efforts are on target and making the progress we need to and adjusting when necessary.”
Martin said if there is any kind of secret to success for local government leaders it would be learning how to work collaboratively with others and understanding the interest and needs of your constituents, as well as the governing body.
“Really, it’s just developing relationships, establishing trust, and of course, competency, in what we are doing and trying to make the community the best it can be,” Martin said.
Felina Martinez was born and raised in Valencia County. She graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2021. During her time at UNM, she studied interdisciplinary film, digital media and journalism. She covers the village of Los Lunas, Los Lunas Schools, the School of Dreams Academy and the town of Peralta.
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May 2, 2024
