Last Thursday marked the end of an era. Three people who have been integral in the development of Sandoval County had their final commission meeting.

Commissioners Jack Thomas and Joshua Madalena set policy for the county for the last time, while County Manager Debbie Hays had her last meeting in an illustrious 18-year career.

Sandoval County Vice-Chairman David Bency presented plaques to all three and had kind words for them. Bency knows Thomas well, having served six years on the commission with him and four years on the Rio Rancho City Council. Bency joked that the last time he and Thomas haven’t served together, Thomas’ favorite NFL team, the Cleveland Browns, had a winning season. It’s also the last time Thomas bought a new orange shirt, Bency joked. “Thanks for serving, come back when you can’t stay as long,” Bency told Thomas as the commissioners and the audience laughed.

Thomas, a Democrat from Rio Rancho, has served on the commission for eight years, including stints as chairman in 2003 and 2006. He couldn’t seek a third term because of term limits, but his days in politics aren’t over. He’s going to the Roundhouse as the representative for District 60.

Reflecting on his past eight years, Thomas said his top accomplishment is the work he’s done to promote a desalination plant, a goal that gained more steam in recent months.

“Without a doubt, that’s No. 1,” Thomas said. “That was my baby from 2002 on. We pushed it and found it. The people of Sandoval County and the people of Rio Rancho will utilize that water in the future.”

Sandoval County officials announced, in October, that initial test results of a deepwater aquifer in the Rio Puerco basin show that there’s more than enough brackish water to meet the region’s water needs for at least 100 years.

The results show that, when purified at a desalination plant, the aquifer could produce 43,200 acre feet of potable water a year, for the next 100 years.

Thomas said that’s enough water to support a town of 300,000 during that time frame.

Another highlight for Thomas is the Rail Runner and mass transportation in Sandoval County. It’s hard to imagine, but before Thomas began his tenure on the commission, there was no public transportation in Sandoval County. That has changed with the Sandoval County EZ Express, Rio Transit and some Albuquerque buses that come into the City of Vision.

Thomas is also proud to have been part of the issuance of bonds for Intel. The county received $55 million through the financing of the bonds.

“We could have taken that money and wasted it or we could do great projects like the arena, train, desalinization plant and improve the fairgrounds (in Cuba),” Thomas said.

But it’s not all big projects that Thomas is proud of. He’s also proud of the smaller, yet still important, projects in his district.

He contributed money from his discretionary funds for a skateboard park in the western part of Rio Rancho and a small library and computer center at the Star Heights Community Center.

“The things I have been able to do that have impacted the people in my district and for Colinas del Norte (elementary school) and Shining Stars (pre-school) I look back on with pride,” Thomas said. “We try to be a partner with education and help the school system as best as we can. I’m pretty proud of the places I’ve touched.”

Thomas believes in action. He said that government should take an active role in improving people’s lives.

“You can do nothing and nothing gets done or you can try things and at least you have a chance to accomplish something that’s positive,” Thomas said. “If you don’t try anything, guess what, nothing happens.”

Madalena, a Democrat from Jemez Pueblo, has served on the commission for four years, including chairman this year. He did not seek re-election, but rather ran for state senate. He lost in the Democrat primary to incumbent Lynda Lovejoy.

Madalena said he will devote more time to creating the Jemez black-on-white pottery. He revived the lost art in the early part of the decade and has garnered worldwide acclaim for his work. 

Just because Joshua is leaving the commission, doesn’t mean the Madalenas are leaving. His cousin Darryl Madalena, also a Democrat from Jemez Pueblo, will represent District 5 for the next four years.

Hays has seen commissioners come and go for the past 18 years. Now, she’s the one leaving.

She is proud of the partnerships she has developed over the years that have helped move Sandoval County forward.

Hays also enjoys reminiscing on getting National Park status for Tent Rocks, near Cochiti Pueblo. It was the last piece of legislation signed by then-President Bill Clinton.