Joshua Baca
Senator Jeff Bingaman’s announcement last week that he would retire from the Senate at the end of his current term provided me with a moment of reflection. Though I have not always agreed with his politics, Senator Bingaman gave me an opportunity of a lifetime over 10 years ago that has made a tremendous impact on my professional career.
On a cold November morning in 2000, I received a note from the receptionist at my high school to return a call from a woman in U.S. Senator Bingaman’s office. I spoke with Virginia White, one of the most genuine individuals to touch my life, who told me she was delighted I called her back so quickly.
She asked me to hold for a second and handed the phone to someone else. The person on the other end was Senator Bingaman, who wanted to personally tell me that, pursuant to his nomination, I had been selected to serve as a U.S. Senate page in the upcoming semester. He congratulated me and told me he looked forward to having me in the Senate soon. I hung up the phone speechless.
A program rich in history, the U.S. Senate Page Program is limited to about 35 students each semester, and is comprised of some of the brightest and most talented high school students from across the country. I had applied for the program the previous summer, not seriously expecting to be selected.
Two months later, I made my way to Washington, D.C. for the first time in my life to embark on an unforgettable journey. For an entire semester, I witnessed the inner workings of the U.S. Senate – a civics lesson better than any textbook could provide.
Witnessing history
From a historical perspective, it was one of the few times the Senate was evenly divided at 50-50, with then-Vice President Dick Cheney serving as the tie breaking vote. This narrowly gave Republicans a majority.
While the duties of a Senate Page are not glamorous – running notes around the Capitol Hill complex, answering phones, and preparing the Senate desks daily – the educational experience was invaluable. I witnessed the passage of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill, saw the largest tax-cut in history enacted into law, and observed the balance of power change when then-Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont left the Republican Party to become a Democrat.
In addition to serving directly on the Senate floor and working firsthand with senators on a daily basis, I met the Dalai Lama, King Abdullah of Jordan, and attended the State of the Union Address – opportunities few will ever experience.
I soon discovered that every senator aspires to be president one day, and during my time in Senate the list was long: Senator John McCain, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Joe Biden, and Senator John Edwards, just to name a few.
Sen. Bingaman’s retirement is a loss
Senator Bingaman epitomizes the hard work and spirit that make New Mexicans unique. He is respected by his colleagues and loved by New Mexicans. Senator Bingaman’s retirement is a loss for the Land of Enchantment.
Like any good Senator, his staff was first class. Virginia White, David Pike, Bernie Toon and Rebecca Montoya – some of his staff who made my pageship possible – tirelessly worked to make New Mexico a better place.
While there will undoubtedly be a lot of discussion on who will replace Senator Bingaman in the Senate, all New Mexicans should first pause to thank Senator Bingaman and his dedicated staff for their service to our state. The experience provided to me by Senator Bingaman confirmed my desire to pursue a career in government and politics. As a young adult about to begin college, it bolstered my applications and résumé.
And best of all, it gave me a passion to serve and make New Mexico a better place. More importantly, it changed the trajectory of my life, and gave a shy teenager the confidence and maturity to pursue his dreams. None of this would have been possible without Senator Bingaman’s nomination.
My family and I are forever thankful for the wonderful opportunity afforded to me by Senator Bingaman and his staff.
Baca is a former congressional staffer and campaign operative for former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson and served as a page to U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman. He is currently a public affairs professional and campaign consultant in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Follow Joshua on Twitter at twitter.com/beltwaybaca.