Joseph Carraro

I have been a State Senator for 20 years, with an MBA and a PhD; a stockbroker, financial analyst; and even owned Italian restaurants. I've worked on Wall Street and delivered pizzas to Main Street. I'm currently an author, lecturer, and playwright and taught Organizational and Human Behavior and Professional Ethics in graduate school and championed the causes of the developmentally disabled. I was Chairman of a Multi-Billion dollar Investment Oversight Committee and founded Project Share, a private homeless feeding program. I was past President of the Executive Management Association of New Mexico and was presented by President Ronald Reagan with the "National Outstanding Legislator of the Year Award" for outstanding accomplishments in national affairs; the "White Hat Award" from the Advocates for Persons with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families for work assisting people with disabilities and autism; "Small Businessman of the Year" awarded by the Chamber of Commerce for success in business and contribution to the community; the "Business Star" awarded by the Association of Commerce and Industry for continued support of issues concerning the business community; a "Bronzed Dedication" at the University of New Mexico Cancer Center established for providing funding for the building of the Cancer Center; and was responsible for bringing a disaster relief team to Venezuela to assist in a natural disaster claiming 40,000 lives. I had the privilege of the acquaintances of world leaders from Ronald Reagan to Jack Kemp. And, I always learned from my experiences. During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I was responsible for getting the gasoline needed to run the generators in New Orleans, and was then tasked with mopping floors in the emergency trauma center, taking those morbidly obese to the bathroom, and eventually being placed in charge of the psychiatric triage. I was honored by the Louisiana Legislature in their passing of a resolution distinguishing me for my response and contribution to those in desperate need. I think I know what it takes to get the job done, whether dealing with the head of a country or cleaning up someone else’s mess, and find a real sense of purpose fighting for those in our society who seem to have no one representing them in government, business, or the media. Upon retiring form the Senate I was given a plaque from my fellow senators that simply stated, "Senator Joe Carraro-served the people never himself.