Rep. Roch won't seek re-election

From winning a foot race in Portales for a vote in his first election in 2008 to advocating for rural New Mexico for the next nine years in Santa Fe, Rep. Dennis Roch says, "It's time to focus on family."

Roch, R-Logan, announced Saturday that he will not seek re-election for a sixth term in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Roch's term will expire on Dec. 31, 2018 as the representative for District 67; Colfax, Curry, Harding, Roosevelt, Quay, San Miguel and Union County.

"I think the obvious answer is, when I was first elected it was just my wife and I," Roch said. "Nine years later it's me, my wife, three kids and a fourth on the way."

Roch said he has never thought of himself as a person who would spend his whole life in the legislature.

"When I first started, I was able to focus on representing the interests of the residents of District 67," Roch said. "Now, family comes first."

Roch said when his two oldest were younger, his time away at the Legislature wasn't as disruptive to them and his wife. He said now his children are playing soccer, pee wee basket ball and it was becoming harder to be away for periods of time.

"Selfishly, I don't want to miss out on watching them grow up," Roch said. "For my children I don't want them to remember their dad being gone through their childhood."

Roch said serving as both a State Rep. and Superintendent of Logan Municipal Schools has had pros and cons over the years.

"I want to thank the Logan Board of Education for allowing me to serve in both roles," Roch said.

Roch said while it was difficult on the district with his absence during sessions, the school made it work. He said the benefit was, he able to take things from his experience at the ground level of the school to the capital.

"Having actual experience on how legislation will impact a school district was valuable," Roch said. "It makes a tremendous difference when you can relay how legislation being proposed in Santa Fe will actually impact schools."

Roch said debates about education and other legislation that would impact rural New Mexico is part of what he will miss when he leaves. He said through the years he has built strong relationships with staff and legislators from across the state.

"Even if we disagree with someone on an issue, that doesn't mean we dislike them; that's not how it is in Santa Fe," Roch said. "We can have truly passionate debates and still go out afterwards for dinner and have relationships, friendships.

"I believe in limited government, there is a need for new blood, new ideas, new ambitions in the legislature," Roch said.

Roch said being one of the largest rural districts in the state, the constituents are in need of a strong voice in Santa Fe. He said the votes are in the Rio Grande corridor, so if you don't have someone with a strong voice your rural districts can get lost in the shuffle.