Answer the following question: Facts: - death place: santa fe , new mexico - order: 21st - state house: new mexico - party: democratic - death date: 18 december 2012 - office: speaker of the new mexico house of representatives - district: 46th - term end: 2012 2012 - succeeded: w. ken martinez - term start: 2002 1975 - birth date: 12 july 1935 - name: ben lujan - image size: 180px - birth place: nambe pueblo , new mexico - religion: roman catholicism Based on these bullet points, write a short biography describing the life of ben lujan .
Answer:
ben lujan , sr. -lrb- july 12 , 1935 -- december 18 , 2012 -rrb- was an american politician .a democrat , he was the speaker of the new mexico house of representatives .he served in the house beginning in 1975 , and as speaker beginning in 2001 .his legislative district , the 46th , was composed mostly of santa fe .before his entry into politics , he was an iron worker and a los alamos national laboratory contractor .ben lujan 's son , ben r. lujan , is a member of congress from new mexico 's 3rd congressional district .he died of cancer in 2012 , aged 77 .