F.R. “BOB” ROMERO. Board Chairman

Bob Romero has been on the Board of Directors of El Valle since 2000 and currently holds the office of Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Romero is a native Taoseño. He has been a teacher and educator for the past 34 years. Mr. Romero is the co-author of ‘A Brief History of Taos’ and is the president of the Taos County Historical Society. Mr. Romero has a Masters Degree from Adams State College and has taught college classes at various institutions. He has a long and distinguished record of public service, serving as a Trustee for La Serna Land Grant Association and as a member of the Board of the Taos Municipal School District, Taos Local Television, the Taos Optimist Club, Kit Carson Historical Museums and as a member fo the Town of Taos Community Acting team. Mr. Romero was recently appointed by the Board of County Commissioners to serve on the Taos County Water Advisory Board.

MARIO BARELA. Board Vice-Chairman

Mario Barela currently serves as Treasurer of the Board of Directors. He was involved in the early efforts to form the District and has been a member of the Board of Directors since the District was incorporated. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Barela was a teacher and was the principal of Taos Elementary School, where he worked for 30 years. He is involved with the Knights of Columbus and serves on several community Boards. Mr. Barela also teaches driver’s education to seniors. He is a former rancher and has lived in Taos his entire life.

GABRIEL J. ROMERO. Board Treasurer

Gabriel J. Romero was first elected to the Board of El Valle de los Ranchos in 2001. He served as Board Chairman from 2007 until January 2010. He also served as a member of the Board of County Commissioners in Taos County for eight years. Mr. Romero has served on the Northern Pueblo Regional Planning Organization (NPRPO) and on the Extraterritorial Planning Commission. He is an active member of San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church in Ranchos de Taos where he had coordinated the annual mudding of the Church for the past several years. Mr. Romero is the publisher of ‘Christmas in Taos, the Holiday Guide’ which is published annually.

 

MELITON STRUCK. Board Secretary

Meliton Struck has been on the Board of Directors of El Valle de los Ranchos since 2007. Mr. Struck served on the Town Council of the Town of Taos for 12 years. Mr. Struck is retired from Kit Carson Electric Cooperative. In addition to his service as a Member of the Board of El Valle de los Ranchos, he has been a member of the New Mexico Municipal Transportation Commission, the Kiwanis, the Knights of Columbus, the National League of Cities, the National Organization of Latino Elected Officials, and the New Mexico Municipal League. He has also served on the Extraterritorial Planning Commission, the Taos Housing Authority Board, and the Town of Taos Planning and Zoning Commission. He was also the President of the Taos Municipal School Board. He also served as Volunteer Commissioner for the restoration of San Francisco de Asis Church in Ranchos de Taos.

 

ANSELMO "CHEMO" VALERIO. Member at large

Anselmo ‘Chemo’ Valerio was elected to the Board of Directors on January 11, 2011 and is the newest member of the Board. Mr. Valerio is a native Taoseño. He graduated from Taos High School and attended New Mexico Highlands University. He also served two years in the United States Marine Corp. Mr. Valerio has been elected and served as the Taos County Sheriff and has also served as Undersheriff. He holds plumbing and general building contracting licenses with the State of New Mexico and owns his own construction company. Mr. Valerio has served as Vice-President of the New Mexico Sheriff’s Association. He is currently the Treasurer of the La Merced de Cristobal de la Serna Land Grant Association.