In Tribute: Isidro Garcia a man of 'ethics and morals'

CLOVIS - Former six-term Clovis City Commissioner Isidro Garcia died Tuesday in his home at age 87. Colleagues and friends remembered him as an exemplary public servant, known for his integrity, his passion for the community and his accomplishments while in city leadership.

"Isidro was, in my opinion, one of the greatest city commissioners that the city's had in the last 40 years," said former City Manager Joe Thomas. "His ethics and morals and honor are impeccable. His total concern was for the citizens of the city of Clovis ... It's truly a great loss to have him pass, but he's one that will always be remembered for trying to help the city."

Born in 1929 in Delia, Garcia moved from Encino to Clovis in 1945, Assistant City Manager Claire Burroughes said in a written statement to The News on Tuesday.

In Clovis, he served six consecutive terms for District 3 on the city commission from 1986 to 2010 and also represented the city on the Eastern Plains Council of Governments and the Economic Development Tax Advisory Board, along with several roles with the New Mexico Municipal League. As a chairman of the Public Works Committee he assisted in accommodating the wastewater needs of Southwest Cheese, which brought over 200 jobs to the area.

He had a "vast knowledge of the city's infrastructure," Burroughes wrote, and led many efforts to revitalize the downtown area, including advocacy for the redevelopment of the Hotel Clovis and in voting to create the Clovis MainStreet program.

While serving with the Wellness Center Steering Committee, Garcia worked to "improve recreational facilities for the youth and citizenry of Clovis," Burroughes added.

"Commissioner Garcia's knowledge of municipal government, infectious smile, and a 'Can Do' (attitude) endeared him, not only to his district, but the community as a whole," she wrote.

Outside of the city sphere, Garcia worked from 1963 to 1984 with Swift Plant Packing Company and until 1991 with Sunwest Bank.

"Mr. Garcia probably had as good a knowledge of city finances and budget issues as any commissioner. It's not simple to understand a government budget and that was really kind of his forte," said City Attorney Dave Richards. "He represented the district but he was a man of incredible integrity. He was a really special guy. He was determined to advance his district and the people and represent them, and he never failed."

In almost a quarter-century on the commission, Garcia's knowledge of city finances further proved him "a tremendous asset to staff and fellow commissioners," Burroughes wrote.

"All of the commissioners, whether they liked him or disliked him, if there was an issue with the budget they went to him," said former City Commissioner Bobby Sandoval. "I'm certainly going to miss him. He was a dear friend of mine. Other than being a commissioner he was a regular, all-around guy. He was somebody that I wish many of our commissioners could emulate."

Sandoval said he benefited immensely from working with Garcia during his own dozen or so years with the commission.

"He was a hero of mine. He taught me just about everything that I knew about the city. And he was a man of his word. He was the type of man that if he said it was going to rain tomorrow, you took an umbrella," Sandoval said. "His word was his bond. All he had to do was tell you something and you knew that that was the way it was going to be."