Casey E. Luna (born May 26, 1931) is an American politician, businessman, and racing driver who served as Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico from 1991 to 1995, under Governor Bruce King. He is also a businessman who formerly ran an automobile dealership in

Belen, New Mexico Belén (; es, Belén) is the second most populous city in Valencia County, New Mexico, Valencia County, New Mexico, United States, after its county seat, Los Lunas. The population was 7,360 at the 2020 Census. Belén is Spanish language, Spanish ...

Biography

Luna was born on May 26, 1931, to Casimiro Luna and Ruby Armenta. He was born in Canon de Jemez (modern day

Jemez Pueblo Jemez Pueblo (/ˈhɛmɛz/; tow, Walatowa, nv, Mąʼii Deeshgiizh) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,788 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Albuquerque Metropolitan Statist ...

). His parents separated when Luna was roughly 13, and he attended

Albuquerque High School Albuquerque High School is a public high school near Downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. It is a part of the Albuquerque Public Schools district. Enrollment at AHS stands at 1,741. AHS was named the 43rd best high school in the state ...

, although he did not graduate. He worked as a bicycle delivery boy for Western Union, once personally delivering a telegram to

Harry S. Truman Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. A leader of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 34th vice president from January to April 1945 under Franklin ...

in 1948. Also in 1948, he joined the United States Army and was trained as a medic. His automotive career began when he took a job at a car dealership in Albuquerque. He later filled in as a driver for a race car sponsored by the dealership, later winning the 1955 and 1956 track championships at Speedway Park in Albuquerque. He then owned a sprint car racing team, Casey Luna Ford, from 1985 to 1996. He also owned a car dealership, Casey Luna Ford-Mercury. In 1986, he mounted a bid to become Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico as a Democrat, but did not win. He ran again in 1990 and won, becoming Lieutenant Governor to Governor Bruce King. He was not included in King's advisory circle, which frustrated him. In 1994, he challenged King in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, but lost. King would go on to lose the general election to businessman Gary Johnson. Luna left office on January 1, 1995, and was succeeded by Walter Bradley. He has a wife, Beverly, and at least one daughter.

References

Living people 1931 births Businesspeople from New Mexico Lieutenant Governors of New Mexico New Mexico Democrats People from Belen, New Mexico {{NewMexico-politician-stub