Corrales honors longtime councilor John P. Alsobrook II at memorial service

Corrales gathered June 27 at Perea's New Mexican Restaurant to honor John P. Alsobrook II, the longtime councilor whose death in May left a visible gap in Village Hall and in the debates he helped shape. Residents, family members and village leaders came together at 4590 Corrales Road at 4:30 p.m. to remember a public servant who had just begun his fifth term on the council.

Village officials said Alsobrook had served longer than any other councilor in Corrales history. He was sworn in again on Jan. 2, 2026, alongside Mayor Fred Hashimoto and other councilors, only months before the village announced his death in mid-May. In a May 22 message, Hashimoto said Alsobrook had passed “last week” and called him a dedicated Corraleño whose commitment, service and presence would be deeply missed.

Alsobrook’s family said he loved serving Corrales and tried to take a balanced, reasoned approach to council issues, even when discussions turned spirited. Councilor Rick Miera remembered him as quiet but prepared for every meeting, a reputation that fit the role Alsobrook played in a village where council decisions often turn on personal familiarity and close votes.

His absence matters immediately because Corrales is still working through the District 4 vacancy he left behind. After his death, the village opened an appointment process, then extended the application period when no nominations were initially received. The council later approved Lisa Brown on June 23 to fill the seat, and she was sworn in right after the vote.

Alsobrook’s legacy also sits inside one of Corrales’ most contentious recent disputes: the Rio Rancho Flock license-plate camera that was accidentally placed on Corrales land near Upper West Meadowlark Lane. Police Chief Victor Mangiacapra told council members the camera is used to track license plates for criminal activity and is not a speed camera. Local reporting said the system requires a subscription and that the pole had been installed a short distance over the boundary, with the device retaining images for about 30 days.

That issue, along with the council vacancy, shows what residents lose when Alsobrook is gone: a familiar vote, a steady presence in village arguments and one of the most recognizable voices in Corrales government. His memorial marked not just the end of a long public career, but a transfer of responsibility to the next council lineup now handling the village’s unfinished business.