Biography of Senator Carraro

Senator Carraro was first elected as a New Mexico State Senator in 1985. His District at that time consisted of the entire West Side of Albuquerque, from Bridge Boulevard at the south, extending to the Sandoval County line to the north, and from river to river, east to west. Today, Senator Carraro's district has expanded to include parts of Rio Rancho.

Carraro went to every door in his district and guaranteed that if bills supporting projects, such as the Paseo del Norte Bridge over the river, school improvements, and recreational fields, did not pass his first session, that he would resign. He won by a landslide and in his first session fulfilled the promises he made during his campaign.

Since he was first elected, Senator Carraro has brought many millions of dollars back to his district in the form of computers, recreational fields and other school improvements; roads, bridges, and other needed infrastructure; soccer, baseball, and other community recreational fields and courts; community and senior centers including gymnasiums and classrooms; judicial and health care facilities; and now a virtual high school, allowing students with difficulty attending high school to complete their high school education, eventually covering the entire State.

While Senator Carraro serves on the Senate Finance Committee during the Legislative session, in the interim he also serves on the Legislative Finance Committee that has the responsibility of creating a state budget. He is the only Republican to be selected as Chairman of a committee; The Investment Funds Oversight Committee, and also serves on the Indian Affairs Committee, the Land Grant Committee, and the Ethics Committee. He has also been selected as Chairman of The Trade and Transportation Committee of the Council of State Governments--West and serves on many national committees, dealing with issues ranging from energy, trade, transportation, and foreign policy, including the Executive Committee of the National Energy Council, and the International Committee of the Council of State Governments. He brings to these committees a point of view representative of the State of New Mexico, but also brings back a wealth of solutions to problems faced by New Mexico that have been already addressed by other states.

Senator Carraro has a BA in Political Science and English, an MBA and a PhD. He has attended schools of finance, business, and energy and has taught in both undergraduate and graduate schools. He has worked and been educated in both big business and small business when he was a stockbroker and financial analyst and when he sold pizza slices from his restaurant in Albuquerque and at the State Fair. He is now an international business consultant, and writer, while spending most of his time representing his district as a State Senator.

Senator Carraro was past President of the Executive Management Association of New Mexico and founder of Project Share, a homeless feeding project. He was presented by President Ronald Reagan with the "NATIONAL OUTSTANDING LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD" for outstanding accomplishments; the "WHITE HAT AWARD" from the Advocates for Persons with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families for work assisting people with developmental disabilities; the "QUALITY HERO AWARD" by Quality New Mexico for providing a quest for excellence in New Mexico; "SMALL BUSINESSMAN OF THE YEAR" awarded by the Chamber of Commerce for success in business and contribution to the community; the "BUSINESS STAR" awarded by the Association of Commerce and Industry for continued support of issues concerning the business community; and a "BRONZED DEDICATION" at the University of New Mexico Cancer Center established for providing funding for the building of the Cancer Center.

He begins every legislative session reminding the other senators that none of them voted for his election as State Senator-it was his constituents who elected him, and that's who he has to represent and answer to. To Senator Carraro, it is an honor and a privilege to be trusted by his constituents to represent their interests and he takes that trust very seriously.