Impactful City Leader Bob White Honored with “ABQ Stories of Us” Tribute

At the City Council meeting on Monday, November 20th, councilors voted to rename the Open Space Trust Fund in honor Robert M. “Bob” White for his decades of impactful service and dedication to the community. White is currently the Associate Chief Administrator (CAO) for the City of Albuquerque, where his expertise in land use, administrative and governmental law are highly regarded, as is his commitment to advancing equity in the arts. He is a former City Attorney and City Councilor, has served in a variety of roles and boards of community organizations, and was recognized by the NM State Bar as a respected leader of state and national municipal attorney organizations. White is retiring at the end of the month after dedicating more than 40 years of public service to Albuquerque. 

“Bob’s career is a shining example of service to our community,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “His dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment have left an unforgettable mark on our city, making it a better place for all." 

As a City Councilor, and Council President in 1983, Bob White was instrumental in community efforts to protect open space.  He sponsored bills to establish the Elena Gallegos Open Space and to create the Open Space Trust Fund (OSTF), which provides funding to acquire and manage open space for future generations.  The OSTF will henceforth be known as the “Robert M. White Open Space Trust Fund.”  

On the same day, the City’s Parks and Recreation Department unveiled new signs honoring White at the Elena Gallegos Open Space, where a group shelter and outdoor amphitheater were named after him as part of the City’s “ABQ Stories of Us” tribute project.

“Bob considered the acquisition of Elena Gallegos Open Space the highlight of his City Council career,” said Parks and Recreation Department Director Dave Simon. “His legacy in Open Space will live on for generations to come.” 

The “ABQ Stories of Us” initiative pays tribute to past and present leaders who have made an extraordinary impact on the history landscape of our city. Anyone with suggestions for renaming projects of public spaces is invited to submit their ideas to [email protected]