Block looks back at his time as Sandoval County cmmissioner

After eight years of service as a Sandoval County commissioner, Jay Block recently reflected on his accomplishments, challenges and hopes for the future.

Block was elected as District 2 commissioner in 2016 and re-elected in 2020 to serve residents of Corrales and southeast Rio Rancho. In December, Block will have termed out of the position. He ran unsuccessfully for the GOP's gubernatorial candidate, losing in the 2022 primary to Mark Ronchetti, who then lost to Michelle Lujan Grisham that November.

One of Block’s proudest achievements as a commissioner is the implementation of the ethics board. He also played a role in economic development, working to bring jobs to the Intel Rio Rancho plant and attracting manufacturing businesses to the area, he said.

How does Sandoval County look in 2024 compared to when Block took office in 2016?

“I think we definitely have left it in a much better place when you look at some of the policies we've implemented from the ethics board, which I pushed hard for and was near and dear to my heart. It's one of the things I think I'm most proud of. The economic development, reopening the (industrial revenue bonds) with Intel was huge. So I'm very, very proud of playing a small part in the economic development of this place and seeing how Sandoval County has become the fastest-growing place in New Mexico. Rio Rancho is one of the best places to live in the Southwest.”

Sandoval County partnered with Intel in 2019 to issue $26 billion in bonds, which has helped create 8,000 jobs — 5,000 of which have gone to New Mexico residents.

The 2019 extension of the county's IRB was part of the initial vision Sandoval County had when it issued Intel its first IRB for $2 billion on Dec. 1, 1980.

“This is the type of push we needed to help build and sustain our local workforce,” Block said. “This is definitely the positive boost we need to move things toward recovery after a devastating lockdown. I am proud to have Intel as a vital partner with the county for four decades.”

While Block is proud of his accomplishments, he also expressed frustration with the negative aspects of politics, noting how it can be divisive and detrimental to progress.

“There's been a lot of great work that I got to partner with Republicans and Democrats,” Block said. “I have learned a ton about government, even though I was in the Air Force for over 20 years, but being on this side as an elected official, I've just learned a ton. How the government can really screw things up and where the government can kind of push the people or the businesses in the right direction.”

Despite this frustration, Block hopes to remain in government. He is running for the state Senate District 12 seat this year. Block said he remains committed to serving the people and focusing on their needs. He also emphasized the importance of personal interactions and community involvement, citing examples of how he has directly impacted people's lives through his work on the commission.

“I just want to do the best I can to help people, some of these organizations that I've been able to help with, putting some people through drug treatment. I mean, that's huge to me,” Block said. “That’s incredible, because you're affecting, directly affecting, somebody's life or some people's lives, and that's probably my proudest accomplishment.”

Block hopes to continue his public service journey in his run for state senator and bring his experiences and dedication to Santa Fe, representing the area and making positive changes at the state level.

“I just hope that people remember that I tried my best,” Block said. “You know, I think we all, when you look back at a job, you see some things you did right. Some things you did wrong, or some things you'd like to do differently. And, and that's, that's what's happened to me as well and I hope to take those experiences to Santa Fe as a state senator representing the area here.”