A community center in the South Valley now bears the name of a longtime state legislator who championed the area.
Bernalillo County officials Tuesday hosted a celebration of Henry “Kiki” Saavedra’s service, and unveiled a plaque commemorating the renaming of the Mountain View Community Center in his honor.
Saavedra, who represented the area in the New Mexico House of Representatives for 37 years, died in 2019 at age 82. Members of Saavedra’s family, numerous dignitaries and community members attended the ceremony. The event highlighted Saavedra’s dedication to public service and his impact on the community.
District 2 Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada said the South Valley has always struggled when it comes to getting state aid for infrastructure and fundamental resources. Saavedra, he said, was up to the challenge.
“He fought tirelessly for this neighborhood and for the people he represented,” Quezada said in a news release. “I’m proud to be here today to celebrate his legacy, and I’m happy that his name will live on in the community he so proudly represented for decades.”
Saavedra, a Democrat, served in the House from 1977 to 2014. That included a period as chair of the chamber’s Appropriations and Finance Committee and thus a key architect of the state’s budget.
Saavedra was born in Albuquerque. He graduated from Albuquerque High School and St. Joseph’s College and served in the Air National Guard. Saavedra worked for the city for 28 years, eventually becoming director of the Parks and Recreation Department.
He retired from the job in 1995 and from the Legislature in 2019.
An obituary published after his death described Saavedra as “a man of principles, integrity and old-school charm,” who was committed to ensuring a better future for those to come and fought for the well-being of some of the state’s poorest residents.
More information on the Henry “Kiki” Saavedra Community Center and its programs is available here.