Influential former Senate Finance Committee chairman John Arthur Smith dies

SANTA FE — Former state senator John Arthur Smith, a conservative Democrat who carved out a reputation for bucking governors’ spending plans, died early Monday, a caucus spokesman said.

Smith, a Deming real estate appraiser, served in the Legislature from 1989 until 2020, when he was ousted by a primary opponent.

Former colleague Stuart Ingle, a Portales Republican, said Smith had been diagnosed with stomach cancer several months ago.

“He knew what he had and he knew it was pretty serious,” Ingle said.

He also said he and Smith met daily during legislative sessions to discuss budget-related issues, despite being members of opposing political parties.

“He was one of the best that was ever up there,” Ingle told the Journal. “We were trying to do what was right for the state of New Mexico — it didn’t matter which party we were from.”

News of Smith’s death prompted a moment of silence at Monday’s annual meeting of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association.

Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, who served with Smith in the Senate, said he felt heartbroken by Smith’s passing, lauding him for his work to “really pave the way for many of the benefits that we currently have today.”

As chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, Smith earned the nickname “Dr. No” from the late former Gov. Bill Richardson, who accused Smith and other top senators of holding pessimistic views of the state’s economy.

Smith embraced the nickname while resisting budget initiatives proposed by three consecutive governors — Democrat Richardson, Republican Susana Martinez and Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham, the state’s current governor.

Smith also helped steer the state through several budget downturns, including a 2009 crisis that prompted budget cuts, state employee furloughs and tax hikes.

Lujan Grisham remembered Smith on Monday as an extraordinary public servant who set an example for other elected officials .

“Senator Smith was committed to fiscal responsibility while consistently aiming to improve quality of life for all New Mexicans,” the governor said in a statement.

‘Dr. No’ had a knack for bipartisan deals

In addition to being a thorn in the side of governors, Smith was also a pragmatic lawmaker able to work with Democratic and Republican colleagues alike.

Shortly before leaving office, he teamed up with Rep. Doreen Gallegos, D-Las Cruces, to pass legislation creating a state early childhood trust fund.

That fund has exploded in size since its creation — from $300 million in 2020 to a projected $9.8 billion balance at the end of the current budget year.

Smith also played a key role in brokering a 2016 compromise bringing New Mexico into compliance with the federal Real ID law, while still allowing undocumented immigrants and other state residents to obtain driving authorization cards.

State Republican Party Chairman Steve Pearce, who defeated Smith in a 2002 congressional race, said he was deeply saddened by Smith’s death.

“While we may not have aligned with all of his positions, Senator Smith consistently sought to find common ground on what unites us, rather than divides us — a quality often absent in today’s political climate,” Pearce said in a statement.

Smith’s ouster led to progressive wins

Even as he emerged as a titan at the Roundhouse, the folksy senator angered progressives in his own party by bottling up proposals to legalize adult-use cannabis in New Mexico and increase the distributions from the state’s largest permanent fund for early childhood programs.

Under the legislative structure, Senate committee chairs have the authority to determine when to schedule bills — and if they are even heard at all. In some years, Smith did not hold a hearing on the permanent fund proposal once it reached his committee, saying it did not have the necessary votes to advance.

“I know the governor’s determined, but I’m also determined to be financially responsible,” he said in a 2019 interview.

Smith ultimately was defeated in the 2020 primary election by fellow Democrat Neomi Martinez-Parra of Lordsburg. She went on to lose the general election to Republican Crystal Brantley.

In all, five incumbent Senate Democrats were defeated in that year’s primary election by more progressive challengers. That paved the way for the Senate to approve measures the following year repealing a long-dormant state abortion ban and authorizing voters to decide whether to increase the permanent fund distributions.

The proposal was approved by statewide voters by an overwhelming majority in 2022.

Journal staff writer Megan Gleason contributed to this report.