MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

November 2025

As we round the corner into the holiday season, I find myself filled with anticipation for the wonderful weeks ahead. This time of year has always held a special place in my heart, and I know many of you feel the same way. There’s something magical about Ruidoso during the holidays – the crisp mountain air, the twinkling lights reflecting off our beautiful pines, and the warmth of our community coming together in celebration.

This holiday season also brings with it a wonderful opportunity to welcome visitors to our village. Whether they’re returning guests who’ve made Ruidoso their holiday tradition or first-time visitors discovering our mountain paradise, we’re ready to show them the very best of what our community has to offer. Tourism is the lifeblood of our local economy, and the holiday season is one of our most important times of the year. I encourage all of us to extend our signature Ruidoso hospitality to everyone who comes through our village.

Even as we look forward to celebrating the season, important work continues throughout our village. Recovery and mitigation projects are taking place across the community, and this essential work will continue over the coming months. These efforts are critical to our long-term resilience and security, and we remain committed to moving forward with determination and purpose. Even in the aftermath of the fires, floods, and ongoing recovery efforts, there is still so much to be grateful for – our resilient spirit, our caring community, and the strength we’ve found in one another.

I want to recognize two individuals here at the Village that many of you know. First, I want to congratulate Village Manager Ron Sena on being named City Manager of the Year by the New Mexico Municipal League (NMML). This prestigious honor recognizes Ron’s exceptional leadership and dedication to municipal management across New Mexico. I am deeply grateful for Ron’s unwavering commitment to the Village of Ruidoso, especially during our most challenging times. His willingness to do whatever it takes to help our community recover and thrive has been nothing short of extraordinary. Ron’s steady leadership, tireless work ethic, and genuine care for our residents and employees exemplify the very best in public service.

Next, I want to take a moment to recognize someone whose contributions to this community cannot be overstated. Adam Sanchez, our Public Works Director, recently retired after 25 years of dedicated service to the Village of Ruidoso. Adam’s steadfast leadership and unwavering commitment to this community are appreciated beyond words, and he will be greatly missed. He was always available – truly 24/7 – and his department was always ready to take on whatever task was at hand, no matter how challenging. Adam, on behalf of the entire village, thank you for your years of service and sacrifice. We wish you all the best in your well-deserved retirement.

And lastly, a reminder to tune in to KRUI 99.1 FM or 1490 AM—The Mountain every Monday from 8:00 to 10:00 AM for ‘Mondays with the Mayor’ (or stream it) to get the inside scoop on all things VOR. Text your questions to 575-937-3071, and we will be happy to share answers and information during the show.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Mayor Lynn Crawford