Stephen Easley remembered at Roundhouse memorial

By Rob Nikolewski │ New Mexico Watchdog

SANTA FE – Rep. Stephen Easley, D-Santa Fe, may have served in the Roundhouse for just one legislative session, but a crowd of about 200 packed a memorial service.

Easley died suddenly Wednesday. He was 60.

“He was passionate about service and, in an extraordinarily short period of time, left a legacy,” state Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe said after the half-hour service.

Easley, who died of complications from an infection, was elected in November as a state rep in District 50, which makes up parts of four counties. A liberal, he immersed himself in debate during his rookie legislative season, speaking in favor of a gun control bill and serving as the chairman of a Legislative Health and Human Services subcommittee at the time of his death.

“Stephen was humble,” Rep. Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, said during the service attended by friends, family members and a large contingent of Roundhouse members. “He never took himself seriously, but he took his work seriously.”

New Mexico Watchdog counted 29 members of the Legislature in attendance, including 10 Republicans.

Lt. Gov. John Sanchez handed Easley’s wife Sue an official flag that was flown from the Capitol on Tuesday morning, as well as a plaque from Gov. Susana Martinez.

Speaker of the House W. Ken Martinez, D-Grants, mentioned that Easley chided him for last-second legislative deal that passed as the session ended in March.

“Does the speaker have an atomic clock,” Easley asked, Martinez said. “I think not.”

Contact Rob Nikolewski at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @robnikolewski