Patrick H. Lyons, Commissioner of Public Lands
New Mexico’s Commissioner of Public Lands, Patrick Lyons, made history in November 2006 by being the only Republican to hold the office for two consecutive terms. Mr. Lyons was first elected in November 2002, and is the highest ranking Republican in the state of New Mexico’s Executive Branch.
Prior to being elected as Commissioner of Public Lands, Pat served in the New Mexico State Senate from 1992 through 2002 representing six counties in the northeastern quarter of the state. He is a third-generation New Mexican from Cuervo, where he owns and operates the Lyons Ranch. His expertise includes land management, and water and natural resource issues. As a native New Mexican, he has a deep love and respect for the state’s cultural diversities and its unique economic and political aspects.
Prior to being elected as Commissioner of Public Lands, Pat served in the New Mexico State Senate from 1992 through 2002 representing six counties in the northeastern quarter of the state. He is a third-generation New Mexican from Cuervo, where he owns and operates the Lyons Ranch. His expertise includes land management, and water and natural resource issues. As a native New Mexican, he has a deep love and respect for the state’s cultural diversities and its unique economic and political aspects.
As manager of New Mexico’s state trust lands, Commissioner Lyons has implemented innovative policies to diversify the State Land Office’s portfolio, increase assets, improve conservation efforts, and create dynamic and competitive communities.
Mr. Lyons is a 1972 graduate from Clovis High School. He attended New Mexico State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics and then went on to receive a master’s in the same field from Colorado State University.
Mr. Lyons is president of the Western States Land Commissioners Association, which consists of 23 states that together manage 447 million acres of surface estate, mineral properties, and land beneath navigable waterways, all held in trust for public education in our respective states. As Commissioner of Public Lands he serves on a number of boards, including: New Mexico State Investment Council, Youth Conservation Corps, Capital Building Planning Commission, Coal Surface Mining Commission, Mining Commission, Oil Conservation Commission, Office of Interstate Natural Gas Markets, Natural Lands Protection Act Committee, and Rangeland Protection Advisory Committee.
Pat received the 2002 President’s Award from the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts and in 1998 was honored as Legislator of the Year by the District Attorney’s Association. He has also been recognized by the Association of Retarded Citizens and the New Mexico Wildlife Federation for his support and dedicated service throughout the years.
Pat and Sandy, his wife of 24 years, live in Melrose with their children, Amy, Kimberly and Daniel. Sandy teaches in the nearby House school district.
Commissioner of Public Lands
Patrick H. Lyons
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1148
Santa Fe, NM 87504-1148
P.O. Box 1148
Santa Fe, NM 87504-1148
Street Address:
310 Old Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87501
310 Old Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Phone: (505) 827-5760
Fax: (505) 827-5766
email: plyons@slo.state.nm.us
Deputy Commissioner
Dennis Garcia
Phone: (505) 827-5866
Fax: (505) 827-5766
dgarcia@slo.state.nm.us
Administrative Services Assistant Commissioner
Della Gutierrez
Phone: (505) 827-5703
Fax: (505) 827-5853
dgutierr@slo.state.nm.us
Communication Office Assistant Commissioner
Kristin Haase
Phone: (505) 827-3809
Fax: (505) 827-5766
khaase@slo.state.nm.us
General Counsel Assistant Commissioner
Robert Stranahan
Phone: (505) 827-5715
Fax: (505) 827-4262
rstranahan@slo.state.nm.us
Mineral Resources Assistant Commissioner
John Bemis
Phone: (505) 827-4489
Fax: (505) 827-4739
E-mail: jbemis@slo.state.nm.us
Surface Resources Assistant Commissioner
Larry Kehoe
Phone: (505) 827-5768
Fax: (505) 827-5766
lkehoe@slo.state.nm.us
Special Projects Assistant Commissioner
Jerry King
Phone: (505) 827-5793
Fax: (505) 476-0320
jking@slo.state.nm.us
Commissioner’s Administrator
Joyce Pankey
Phone: (505) 827-5764
Fax: (505) 827-5766
jpankey@slo.state.nm.us