Rio Rancho students named 'Honorary Lt. Gov. for the Day'

SANTA FE — A group of students from Rio Rancho Public Schools were recently invited to the Roundhouse to learn what it is like to be in New Mexico Lt. Gov. Howie Morales' shoes.

Rio Rancho High School senior Aspen Ly and Bruce Yazzie, a fifth grader at Sandia Vista Elementary School, visited Morales in January and February as part of “Honorary Lieutenant Governor for the Day." The tradition, which began in 2023, fosters "civics education and promotes youth involvement in state government," a news release from Morales' office stated.

Morales, a former public school teacher, said one of the most enjoyable parts of his job is engaging with students. 

"I'm an educator at heart — I really feel like I'm right in my element when I'm talking with students," Morales said. "It was great energy having an office full of students that came from Sandoval County. It was wonderful to answer their questions and to hear some of their ideas and areas of interest."

Ly and Yazzie visited the Roundhouse in the middle of the 30-day legislative session, which ended Feb. 19. While both got a grip and grin with Morales, the students' experiences differed, as Morales served as acting governor Jan. 30, when Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was out of state — the day Ly participated in the tradition.

Bruce Yazzie

A young man interested in politics, Yazzie applied for the program around the time the session began, Jan. 20. 

"I was interested in how things work in the USA — how our entire (government) system works, how the law works," Yazzie said. 

His day at the Roundhouse, accompanied by his mother, Tasia Martinez, an Albuquerque-based social worker, involved a tour of the facility, shadowing Morales during key meetings and sitting on the Senate floor with the lieutenant governor in his role as president of the Senate.

Yazzie was introduced to senators on the floor by New Mexico Sen. Jay Block, R-Rio Rancho, who shared the young man's love of civics and hobbies.

"I honestly felt like I was lieutenant governor of the day," Yazzie said. 

Not only did Yazzie come to learn and appreciate how state government works, but he also came away from the experience wanting to be a legislative staff member.

Before heading up to the Roundhouse, Yazzie conducted research on the role of a lieutenant governor, which led him to write several questions to Morales. Among them: "What is your favorite duty as lieutenant governor?" "Are you going to serve as governor next year?" "What was it like being a teacher?" and the infamous question, "Red or green?" referring to New Mexico food preferences.

Yazzie admits he is "kind of worried" about the lieutenant governor's ability to respond because, "I have awful handwriting." But still, he is curious what Morales will write back. The lieutenant governor will answer Yazzie's questions once the session is over, a spokesperson said. 

Aspen Ly

Ly, RRHS senior class president, didn't get floor time with Morales but was nonetheless impressed with Morales when she visited him in his office with her peers. 

The lieutenant governor told the students about himself and what drives him, knowing the RRHS delegation were all student government officers, Ly said. The students had questions about Morales' role and his policy positions, according to Ly.

"He spoke a lot about education — and that's very close to home for us, because we're students ourselves," Ly said with a laugh. 

She added, "It was very nice knowing that we had someone looking out for our education."

Morales told the students that he "chooses to lead with love," which stuck with Ly, knowing that the lieutenant governor is a public official.

Morales did not elaborate on the comment, Ly said, but it sounded impactful to her because of her belief that students "are so oftentimes faced with adversity" in high school.

"I felt very supported as a student and as a New Mexican," by the lieutenant governor, said Ly.

She said she wants to be a leader who can lead with love.

Ly wants to go into medicine rather than politics. But, she said, "Lieutenant Governor for a Day" was a "rare and positive opportunity" to see the inner workings of government.