The House Republican Caucus expressed its condolences upon learning of the passing of former House Chief Clerk Steve Arias.
The longest-serving Chief Clerk in the history of the state, Arias saw his 32-year tenure end when Republicans took control of the House in 2014 and ousted him from his position.
“The House Republican Caucus expresses condolences regarding the passing of former House Chief Clerk Steve Arias to his family and friends,” the New Mexico House Republican Caucus in a press release. “Arias served New Mexico for many years, and we share in the gratitude of many New Mexicans for his tireless work in the New Mexico Legislature.”
Arias died on Aug. 28 at the age of 77 at the MD Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas. The Santa Fe native served as the house chief clerk from 1983 to 2014, making him the third longest-serving legislative clerk in the country. At the end of his tenure, Arias oversaw 13 employees and operated a budget of $1.1 million.
It’s been a wonderful experience,” Arias said. “It’s been a great tour.”
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statement acknowledging Arias’ service to his state. “It is with great sadness that I recognize the passing of a distinguished, devoted, dedicated public servant,” Grisham said. “Steve spent most of his life in service to New Mexicans, including nearly five decades with the New Mexico House of Representatives. We will never forget his great integrity and his lifelong devotion to the people of New Mexico. We all owe him a huge debt of gratitude for his service. I send my deepest condolences to his wife Victoria and his family.”
Arias once said the most important asset a Chief Clerk can have is a well-trained staff. “Training should be constantly addressed and updated to meet ever-changing procedures and processes within a state legislature,” he said in an interview with Tallan. Later he added, “I determined very early on that a more streamlined, repeatable process was needed to ensure that this chamber could continue to operate at a high level of success after I was gone."
