| Richard Lucero | |
| Office: | Mayor of Española, New Mexico |
| Birth Date: | 16 March 1935 |
| Birth Place: | Española, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Española, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Term Start1: | 1968 |
| Term End1: | 1974 |
| Predecessor1: | Epimenio Vigil |
| Successor1: | Santiago Martinez |
| Term Start2: | 1986 |
| Term End2: | 1994 |
| Predecessor2: | Consuelo S. Thompson |
| Successor2: | Ross Chavez |
| Term Start3: | 1998 |
| Term End3: | 2006 |
| Predecessor3: | Ross Chavez |
| Successor3: | Joseph Maestas |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Profession: | Businessman |
Richard L. Lucero (March 16, 1935 – January 22, 2024) was an American businessman and politician in New Mexico, who was the longest-serving mayor of Española, serving on and off for a total of 22 years. Lucero is the owner of Country Farm Supply, a store on Española's Riverside Drive, that his family have owned since the 1970s.[1] In 2004, he founded Española Military Academy, based on a similar school in Oakland, California, with the vision of improving academic achievement through the use military discipline. In 2008, the Academy underwent a funding crisis as State officials sought to withdraw funding based on students' performance and radical teaching methods.[2]
The Richard L. Lucero Center, Española's Public Library and Recreational Swim and Athletic Center, was named in his honor during his administration.
In 2019, Richard L. Lucero was accused in two separate legal actions of having sexually abused boys in relation to his role as a Scoutmaster and Explorers troop leader in Española during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.[3] [4]
Lucero died from a heart attack in Española, on January 22, 2024, at the age of 88.[5] [6]