José A. Baca (June 23, 1876 – May 17, 1924) was an American politician from
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also ...
. He served as the
lieutenant governor of New Mexico
The lieutenant governor of New Mexico () is an elected constitutional officer in the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of New Mexico, ranking just below the governor. Thirty individuals have held the office of lieutenant governor ...
from January 1, 1923, until his death on May 17, 1924.
Early life
Baca was born in
Las Vegas, New Mexico
Las Vegas, often known simply as Vegas, is a city in and the county seat of San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. Once two separate municipalities (one a city and the other a town), both were named Las Vegas: West Las Vegas ("Old Town" ...
, on June 23, 1876.
A member of the
Baca family of New Mexico
The progenitors of the Baca family of New Mexico were Cristóbal Baca (Vaca) and his wife Ana Ortiz. Cristóbal was a military captain from Mexico City, who arrived in 1600 with his family to help reinforce the Spanish colonial Santa Fe de Nuevo ...
, Baca raised livestock on his ranch in
Rociada. He married Marguerite Pendaries on June 23, 1897.
[
]
Lieutenant governor
In 1922, the New Mexico Democratic Party
The Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPNM) is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is headquartered in Albuquerque and led by Chair Sara Attleson, Vice Chair Cam Crawford, Secretary Brenda Hoskie, and Treasu ...
nominated Baca for lieutenant governor of New Mexico
The lieutenant governor of New Mexico () is an elected constitutional officer in the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of New Mexico, ranking just below the governor. Thirty individuals have held the office of lieutenant governor ...
. After winning the November election, he was sworn into office on January 1, 1923.
When Governor Hinkle left the state for a conference on October 8, 1923, Baca became acting governor. While serving as acting governor, he declared Columbus Day
Columbus Day is a national holiday in many countries of the Americas and elsewhere, and a federal holiday in the United States, which officially celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas. He went ashore at ...
to be a state holiday and proclaimed October 27 to be Navy Day
Several nations observe or have observed a Navy Day to recognize their navy.
By country
Argentina
The Argentine Navy day is celebrated on May 17, anniversary of the victory achieved in 1814 against the Spanish fleet in the action of 14 ...
. Baca made an appointment to the board of regents
In the United States, a board often governs institutions of higher education, including private universities, state universities, and community colleges. In each US state, such boards may govern either the state university system, individual co ...
and commuted the sentence of a prisoner.
Personal life
Baca and his wife had six children.secretary of state of New Mexico
The secretary of state of New Mexico is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of New Mexico. Twenty-six individuals have held the office of secretary of state since statehood. Since 1923, every elected ...
from 1931 to 1936.
Baca died of pneumonia on May 17, 1924. He was buried in Las Vegas, New Mexico
Las Vegas, often known simply as Vegas, is a city in and the county seat of San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. Once two separate municipalities (one a city and the other a town), both were named Las Vegas: West Las Vegas ("Old Town" ...
.
See also
*
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baca, Jose
1876 births
1924 deaths
Baca family (New Mexico)
New Mexico Democrats
Lieutenant governors of New Mexico
People from Las Vegas, New Mexico