| Ken Miyagishima | |
| Birth Date: | May 15, 1963 |
| Birth Place: | Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Residence: | Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Office: | Mayor of Las Cruces |
| Term Start: | 2007 |
| Term End: | 2023 |
| Predecessor: | Bill Mattiace |
| Successor: | Eric Enriquez |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Spouse: | Rosie |
| Children: | 4 |
| Website: | [1] |
| Birth Name: | Kenneth Daniel Gallegos Miyagishima |
| Education: | New Mexico State University (BS) |
Kenneth Daniel Gallegos Miyagishima (born May 15, 1963) is an American businessman and politician who served as the mayor of Las Cruces, New Mexico from 2007 to 2023.[2] In 2023, after serving for 16 years, he stepped down, and was succeeded by Eric Enriquez.[3]
Miyagishima was born in Biloxi, Mississippi. He is of both Mexican and Japanese descent. He has lived in Las Cruces, New Mexico since 1971. He attended public schools and in 1985 graduated from New Mexico State University with degrees in finance and real estate.
In 1984, Miyagishima 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. In 2002, he received the Commander's Award for Public Service from the United States Department of the Army. Miyagishima won re-election to the city council in 2005. Miyagishima is the first American of Japanese and Mexican descent to be elected mayor of Las Cruces. He is also the second person in Doña Ana County to have been elected both chairman of the Doña Ana County Commission and mayor of Las Cruces.
In August 2013, Miyagishima unsuccessfully applied to become Doña Ana County Manager.[4]
In 2019, Miyagishima was re-elected to his fourth term as mayor of Las Cruces.[5] [6] [7]
In the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Miyagishima was one of several mayors to pledge support for Michael Bloomberg.[8] After Bloomberg dropped out of the race, Miyagishima endorsed Joe Biden.[9]
Miyagishima announced in 2022 that he would not seek a fifth term as mayor.[10] He was succeeded by fellow democraft Eric Enriquez.[11]
Ken is married to Rosario Miyagishima (née Rodriguez), and they have four children.[12]