Ken Miyagishima

Kenneth Daniel Gallegos "Ken" Miyagishima is the current mayor of Las Cruces, New Mexico, first taking office in 2007.

Kenneth Daniel Gallegos Miyagishima was born in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1963. He is of both Japanese and Mexican descent. He has lived in Las Cruces since 1971. He attended public schools and in 1985 graduated from New Mexico State University with degrees in finance and real estate.

In 1984 Ken began his insurance and financial services business while still in college. In 1992 he became New Mexico’s first American of Japanese descent to be elected to public office. from 1998 through 2000 he was voted “Best County Commissioner” in a local newspaper readers’ poll. Ken’s accomplishments were included in Distinguished Asian-American Political and Governmental Leaders, printed by Greenwood Press. In 2002, he received the Commander’s Award for Public Service from the Department of the Army. Ken won re-election as City Councilman in 2005 running unopposed. Ken is the first American of Japanese and Mexican descent to be elected Mayor of Las Cruces. He is also the second person in Dõna Ana County to have been elected both Chairman of the Dõna Ana County Commission and Mayor of Las Cruces.