Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez fulfills his constitutional and statutory duties by serving as President of the New Mexico Senate; by serving as Acting Governor when Governor Susana Martinez is out of the state; by providing constituent services; and by serving as a member on several boards, councils, and commissions.

President of the Senate
When the New Mexico State Legislature is in regular, special, or extraordinary session, Lieutenant Governor Sanchez presides over the State Senate.

Lieutenant Governor Sanchez has presided over all Legislative Sessions since assuming office in 2011. He has made a concerted effort to work with Senators from both parties and will continue to preside in a fair, orderly, and professional manner.

Acting Governor
When Governor Martinez is out of the state, Lieutenant Governor Sanchez becomes the Acting Governor until she returns.

During such times, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor operates at a higher level of awareness and increased involvement with the Governor's staff and department heads. This ensures effective communication and availability in the event that any matter requires immediate attention.

 

The Office of the Lieutenant Governor always informs the Governor’s Office as well as the Secretary of State's Office of any planned trip out of the state in a timely manner. This allows for the appropriate coordination between the Governor’s Office and the Secretary of State's Office to take place. In a case where Lt. Governor Sanchez and Governor Martinez are both out of the state, the Secretary of State, Dianna Duran, serves as Acting Governor.

Constituent Services
By New Mexico State Statute, Lieutenant Governor Sanchez serves as the Ombudsman for New Mexico.

In this capacity, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor works to facilitate and promote the cooperation and understanding between the people of this state and the agencies of state government. This is accomplished by assisting constituents in their dealings with such agencies and by assisting the agencies in explaining their functions, duties, and administrative procedures. All complaints, requests, or special problems received are referred to the proper agency in a timely and courteous fashion, and addressed accordingly.

Boards and Commissions
Lieutenant Governor Sanchez (or a representative from his office) currently serves on the following boards and committees by New Mexico State Statute:

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  State Board of Finance
• New Mexico Border Authority
• New Mexico Children’s Cabinet
• Community Development Council
• Military Base Planning Commission
• Mortgage Finance Authority
• New Mexico Spaceport Authority
• New Mexico Youth Alliance