Planning commissioner reflects on 20 years of service

Taos County commissioners recognized Eugene Sanchez for his more than 20 years of volunteer service on the Taos County Planning Commission on Tuesday (Jan. 24).

Chief Planner Rudy Perea presented Sanchez with a “certificate of appreciation for your outstanding contributions and commitment to the citizens of Taos County.”

“Thank you for a great job,” Perea told Sanchez.

Sanchez reflected on his time on the commission, which he said wasn’t without its challenges.

“You know, it’s interesting to sit here and reminisce about what happened in the last 20 years, but the important thing is that I acknowledge some of the people I served with, like the late Art Ortiz,” who once chaired the planning commission, Sanchez said. Sanchez went on to name several other members of the board with whom he served over the years.

“The important thing was that we were very objective and open-minded in terms of what came before us. And one of the things that we learned from that is: Damned if you do; damned if you don’t,” Sanchez said. “Either way you look at it, some people are satisfied and some people are not. And you also have to deal with the critics. There’s always that 1 percent that always disagrees with everything that goes on in life. And I think the commissioners that I served with are very objective about that. Thank you for having me here.”

“Thank you for your 20 years of service, Mr. Sanchez,” District 4 Commissioner and Chair AnJanette Brush said. “That is the kind of volunteer and community focus work that is the pillar of our community.”