Albuquerque – Governor-elect Susana Martinez today issued the following statement in advance of Thanksgiving:

“Thanksgiving is a special time to share with loved ones and express gratitude for good fortune.  While times are certainly challenging, we are each privileged to reside in the greatest state in the greatest nation on Earth.  I hope every New Mexican has the opportunity to enjoy the company of family and friends on this day of thanks.”

Albuquerque – Governor-elect Susana Martinez today announced the members of a Government Efficiency Task Force.  Working in concert with the department review teams, these individuals will conduct an assessment of state government departments prior to January 1, 2011 and issue recommendations directly to the Governor-elect on making it operate in a more efficient and cost-effective manner.

The members of the Government Efficiency Task Force include:

GOVERNOR GARREY CARRUTHERS, CHAIRMAN

Garrey Carruthers served as the Governor of New Mexico from 1987 to 1991.  He currently serves as Dean of the College of Business at New Mexico State University.

DEL ARCHULETA

For 35 years, Del Archuleta has served as the president and owner of Molzen & Corbin, an engineering and architecture firm.  Archuleta serves on the board of directors of the Presbyterian Hospital, Bank of Albuquerque and NM Mutual.

EDDIE BINDER

Eddie Binder is the former press secretary for Governor Carruthers and Congresswoman Heather Wilson.

RONN JONES

Ronn Jones spent over 20 years in government, working as a state purchasing agent and deputy state purchasing agent for New Mexico.  Jones also spent two years working for the city of Albuquerque as a city purchasing officer.

RAY KYSAR

Ray Kysar served 14 years in the New Mexico state Senate, and eight years on the Legislative Finance Committee and Senate Finance Committee.  He is currently the chairman of the board of Kysar Insurance Agency, Inc.

WILLARD LEWIS

Willard Lewis is a retired certified public accountant who worked 10 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory.  She is a former Secretary of Finance and Administration under Governor Carruthers and assistant director of the University of New Mexico Medical Center.

BEVERLEE MCCLURE

Beverlee McClure is the former president of Clovis Community College and Secretary of Higher Education.  She is currently the president and chief executive officer of the Association of Commerce and Industry.

DR. JACKI P. RIGGS

Dr. Jacki Riggs is a former cabinet secretary under Governor Garrey Carruthers and chief executive officer of the New Mexico Business Roundtable.

REPRESENTATIVE JOE STELL

Joe Stell is a rancher and former member of the New Mexico Legislature from Carlsbad.

HARVEY YATES

Harvey Yates is a graduate of Cornell Law School and is the current chief executive officer and president of Jalapeno Corporation, which is involved in the oil, gas and real estate businesses.  He is chairman of Adelante Now, which works to tutor elementary aged school children in reading and math.

Albuquerque – Governor-elect Susana Martinez today announced the members of the Indian Affairs Department Review Team.  These individuals will conduct a review of the Indian Affairs Department prior to January 1, 2011 in order to find efficiencies and promote greater streamlining in state government.

The members of the Indian Affairs Department Review Team include:

RON SOLIMON, CHAIRMAN

Ron Solimon is the president and chief executive officer of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Inc. and Indian Pueblos Marketing, Inc.  Solimon is a member of the Pueblo of Laguna Indian tribe and his heritage also extends to Zuni Pueblo.

GOVERNOR J. ROBERT BENAVIDES

J. Robert Benavides is the current Governor of the Pueblo of Isleta having been elected to his third two-year term by the general membership in November 2009.  He represents the Pueblo of Isleta in various organizations including the National Congress of American Indians, National Indian Gaming Association, New Mexico Indian Gaming Association, Mid Region Council of Governments of New Mexico and All Indian Pueblo Council.

BRIAN LEWIS

Brian Lewis is an attorney with the Navajo Nation Department of Justice and enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

RON LOVATO

Ron Lovato has been involved with Ohkay Owingeh’s Tsay Corporation since 1998 when he served on the board of directors.  Lovato has served as the chief executive officer of the Tsay Corporation since 2001.  He is a lifelong resident of Ohkay (San Juan Pueblo) and northern New Mexico.

SAM WINDER

Sam Winder has practiced law for the past 22 years and served 13 years as a Federal prosecutor.  Winder is an enrolled member of Southern Ute Indian Tribe of Colorado.

Albuquerque – Governor-elect Susana Martinez today announced the members of the Department of Finance and Administration Review Team.  These individuals will join Secretary-designate Richard E. May and conduct a review of the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) prior to January 1, 2011 in order to find efficiencies and promote greater streamlining in state government.

The members of the Department of Finance and Administration Review Team include:

JOHN GASPARICH, CHAIRMAN

John Gasparich served as the state budget director under Governors Anaya, Carruthers and Johnson.  He also served as deputy director of the Legislative Finance Committee from 1990 to 1994.

FRANK BOND

Frank Bond is a Santa Fe Lawyer who represents clients on business transactions, financing and contracts.  Formerly, he was the minority whip in the New Mexico House of Representatives and was the chairman of the Commission of Higher Education.

CHRIS COLLINS

Chris Collins is an attorney at the Barnett Law Firm in Albuquerque.

JOHN KORMINAK

John Korminak served as the state budget director for Governor King, deputy staff director at the Legislative Finance Committee and director of the Board of Finance under Governor Johnson.  Korminak also served as the deputy secretary of the Department of Finance under Johnson.  For the past eight years, he has served as a staff financial analyst for the state Senate minority.

Albuquerque – Governor-elect Susana Martinez today announced additional members of agency review teams.  These individuals will join the already-established committees tasked with identifying potential cabinet secretaries and high-level officials to conduct reviews of each state department.  In addition to those previously named, these individuals will conduct a review of the cabinet departments prior to January 1, 2011 in order to find efficiencies and promote greater streamlining in state government.

The additional members of the agency review teams include:

TOURISM & CULTURAL AFFAIRS SEARCH COMMITTEE

Edward Lujan

Edward Lujan is the chairman of the board of Manuel Lujan Agencies, an insurance and consulting firm.

PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY & EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SEARCH COMMITTEE

Nathan Korn

Nathan Korn is a licensed attorney in New Mexico, New York and Connecticut, and is the owner of Kaufman’s West, a small business in Albuquerque.

PUBLIC EDUCATION & HIGHER EDUCATION SEARCH COMMITTEE

Marjorie Shumaker

Marjorie Shumaker is a retired school teacher.

Dr. Ronald Shumaker

Dr. Ronald Shumaker is a retired professor emeritus of English.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS & TRANSPORTATION SEARCH COMMITTEE

Pat Broe

Pat Broe is the founder and chief executive officer of the Broe Group, a real estate asset management firm.

Ned Fuller

Ned Fuller is a lawyer who served as assistant director of the Worker’s Compensation Administration and administrative law judge.

Richard Luarkie

Richard Luarkie is the acting president of Laguna Construction Company, Inc.

Larry Lujan

Larry Lujan is the president and chief executive officer of Manuel Lujan Agencies, an insurance and consulting business.

Kevin Yearout

Kevin Yearout is the president and chief executive officer of Yearout Mechanical, Inc.  He has been in leadership and management roles in the construction industry for the last 20 years.

GENERAL SERVICES & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SEARCH COMMITTEE

Jerry Geist

Jerry Geist is a retired chief executive officer of PNM.  He currently is the chairman of Santa Fe Center Enterprises, an investment company.

Mark Jarmie

Mark Jarmie is an Albuquerque attorney in private practice.  He is a former federal and state prosecutor.

Joe Lujan

Joe Lujan is the co-owner of Manuel Lujan Agencies and vice president of sales.

Mike Turk

Mike Turk is the vice president of industry grassroots for the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA).

Robert Michael Unthank

Robert Michael Unthank retired in 1991 after 30 years in the construction industry, and served in both the King and Johnson Administrations.  He now serves as an independent management consultant.

HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES & CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES SEARCH COMMITTEE

Stephen Byrd

Stephen Byrd is co-owner of Manuel Lujan Agencies and vice president of the Employee Benefits Department.

Chris Collins

Chris Collins is an attorney at the Barnett Law Firm in Albuquerque.

Mary Merrell

Mary Merrell is the co-owner and clinical operations director of Ambercare Home Health, Ambercare Hospice and Ambercare Medical Supply Companies.

Albuquerque – Governor-elect Susana Martinez today announced the members of the Governor-Elect Martinez Tax and Revenue & Regulation and Licensing Search Committee.  These individuals will work with the transition committee’s chairman, former Congresswoman Heather Wilson to identify cabinet officials and other leaders who will reflect the governor-elect’s commitment to the ever-important task of ensuring taxes are properly distributed and collected, and state licensing practices are fair and timely both to protect New Mexicans and not inhibit economic activity in the state.

The members of the Governor-Elect Martinez Tax and Revenue & Regulation and Licensing Search Committee include:

MARK MOORES, CHAIRMAN

Mark Moores is currently the executive director of the New Mexico Dental Association.  Moores previously worked for the late Congressman Steve Schiff and served as chief of staff to Lieutenant Governor Walter Bradley.

ROBERT ARAGON

Robert J. Aragon is a practicing attorney in Albuquerque.  Aragon is a former state representative and vice chair of the Appropriations and Finance Committee.  He is also a former president and member of the board of regents at Eastern New Mexico University.

JOYCE BUSTOS

Joyce Bustos retired from state government in 2004 after 25 years of service.  Bustos also retired as director of the Administrative Office of the District Attorneys.

JOHN CHAVEZ

John Chavez is the managing director of Phase One Ventures, a venture fund in Santa Fe.  Chavez served for six years as secretary of the Taxation and Revenue Department under Governor Gary Johnson and president of the Federation of Taxation Administrators.

C. JACK EMMONS

C. Jack Emmons is a certified public accountant and certified fraud examiner who has more than 40 years of experience providing audit, tax, consulting and forensic accounting services for various governmental and not-for-profit entities.  In addition, he spent nine years as an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico.

CHUCK GARA

Chuck Gara has been a commercial real estate broker for over 26 years in Albuquerque and was the president of the Roswell Board of Realtors.  Gara received the National Association of Independent Office Properties/New Mexico (NAIOP) Chapter Leader of the Year award and also received the first-ever NAIOP Vision Award in 2004.

DON KAUFMAN

Don Kaufman is owner of Kaufman Fire Protection, a business he has run for 35 years.  Kaufman is chairman of the American Fire Sprinkler Association and past president of the Albuquerque Associated Builders and Contractors.

DICK MINZNER

Dick Minzner is a partner with Rodey Law Firm.  Minzner served as cabinet secretary for the Tax and Revenue Department during the Bruce King Administration.  He served ten years in the state legislature.

BOB MURPHY

Bob Murphy is executive director of the Economic Forum, a business leaders group established in 1982.  Murphy is a long-time business executive who has been involved with quality job growth and educational issues for many years.

MONTY NEWMAN

Monty Newman is owner of Newman and Company, a real estate brokerage firm in Hobbs.  Newman served as the mayor of Hobbs from 2004 to 2008.  He is the former chairman of the board of trustees of New Mexico Junior College, vice chair for economic development of Lea County and a member of the board of directors for the National Association of Realtors.

SCOTT THROCKMORTON

Scott Throckmorton is the owner of Argus Investment Realty and Asset Management Solutions, a commercial property management company.  Throckmorton serves on the board of the University of New Mexico Anderson Business School Foundation and is a member of the Commercial Association of Realtors of New Mexico.

Albuquerque – Today, Governor-elect Susana Martinez nominated Richard E. May to serve as her secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA).  May has a long and distinguished record of working at all levels of state and federal government to address budgetary and public policy issues.  With extensive experience and knowledge of the legislative process, including the drafting of legislation and formulation of policy recommendations, May helped produce the first balanced Federal budget in nearly thirty years in 1997.

In nominating Richard May, Governor-elect Susana Martinez stated, “The failure of state government to live within its means is inexcusable and it’s time we make the tough decisions necessary to finally put our fiscal house in order.  In doing so, we must be mindful that the long-term solution to our budget crisis is economic growth and that is why we must balance the budget by cutting spending, rather than raising taxes, so we can create an environment where small businesses can grow and create jobs.  I am committed to working with members of both parties in the legislature to accomplish this goal – the people of New Mexico deserve no less.”

May will help restore fiscal discipline by instituting zero growth budgets, identifying waste, fraud and abuse, and creating greater efficiencies by doing more with less.  With recent news that New Mexico’s budget deficit has grown much worse, now totaling nearly half a billion dollars, Governor-elect Martinez does not believe a moment can be wasted; therefore, May will begin to immediately review and audit the state budget, and asking the hard questions so New Mexico can get its books in order.

In addition to balancing budgets, May has led a respected and accomplished career that includes working for Sandia National Laboratories as a manager, serving as chief appropriations and tax analyst for the Republican caucus in the New Mexico House of Representatives, and operating as a policy director for Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, as well as a principal at Davidson & Company, Inc.  Prior to that, May served as majority staff director and Republican staff director in the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Budget, a federal affairs counsel at the National Conference of State Legislatures, and legislative director for Congressman John R. Kasich.

In response to his nomination as the secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration, May said, “It is with great honor that I accept the governor-elect’s request to serve in her administration.  Susana Martinez is a serious person who expects results.  She is completely unsatisfied – as are the vast majority of New Mexicans – with how the budget has been managed and with the waste of hard-earned dollars.  I will work day and night to get New Mexico back on firm financial footing following the governor-elect’s strong and principled leadership.”

Albuquerque – Governor-elect Susana Martinez today announced the members of the Governor-Elect’s General Services & Information Technology Search Committee.  These individuals will work with the transition committee’s chairman, former Congresswoman Heather Wilson, to identify and recommend cabinet officials and other leaders who will reflect the governor-elect’s commitment to ensuring that state government is run efficiently and innovative ideas are brought forward to enhance our ability to do more with less.

The members of the Governor-Elect’s General Services & Information Technology Search Committee include:

LEE RAWSON, CHAIRMAN

A native New Mexican, Lee Rawson has owned a small business in Las Cruces for 37 years.  Rawson served in the legislature for 22 years, which included six years in the House of Representatives and 16 years in the state Senate.

DARRYL ACKLEY

Darryl Ackley is the assistant and technical director for the Institute for Complex Additive Systems Analysis (ICASA), a research division of New Mexico Tech (NMT).  In this capacity, he oversees the overall research, education and enabling technology operations for the institute, in addition to being an active research practitioner.

DENISE BAKER

Denise Baker serves on the board of directors and as chair of the Albuquerque Economic Development Investment Relations Committee (also known as the “Ambassador Association”).  Baker is currently on the board of directors of the New Mexico Associated Builders & Contractors and National Association of Independent Office Properties/New Mexico (NAIOP).

STEVE BEFFORT

Steve Beffort has spent 35 years in private sector retail for Sears, Co.  Beffort spent eight years as a cabinet secretary of general services during the Johnson Administration.  He also spent eight years at the University of New Mexico as a vice president of Institutional Support Services.

RANDY CROWDER

Randy Crowder is a Clovis Commissioner and has served as the Mayor Pro Tem of Clovis.  Crowder also serves as vice chairman of the Ute Reservoir Water Commission and chairman of the Water Policy Advisory Committee for the City of Clovis.  He is president of the New Mexico Home Builders Association, president of the Home Builders Association of Eastern New Mexico and is a member of the board of directors of the National Association of Home Builders.

DALE DEKKER

Dale Dekker is a principal of Dekker/Perich/Sabatini with over 30 years of experience as a registered architect and planner.  Dekker serves on the executive board of the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Economic Forum, Albuquerque Economic Development and NAIOP.  Dekker was also appointed by Governor Richardson to the Construction Industries Commission and Governor’s Education Progress Agenda Task Force.

JIM GIANNELLI

Jim Giannelli is the founder and president of RMCI, Inc., a general construction and engineering company.  Giannelli was awarded the National Utility Contractor of the Year Award in 2008.  He sat on the board of the American Arbitration Association for 10 years and served as a member of the National Construction Dispute Resolution Committee for a decade.

JAMES HALL

James Hall was a division leader of business information systems at Los Alamos National Laboratory for 12 years.  Hall served as the chief information officer for the state of New Mexico under Governor Gary Johnson.  He has also been a small business owner for the last 10 years, and served on the Los Alamos School Board and Los Alamos County Council.

KEVIN REID

Kevin Reid is a partner and chairman of the firm, Titan Development Ltd. Co., an industrial real estate company.  Reid also serves as chief executive officer of Reid & Associates Design/Builders in New Mexico.

Albuquerque – Governor-elect Susana Martinez today issued the following statement in commemoration of Veterans Day:

“This Veterans Day we should each take time to remember the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform.  Each one of these individuals volunteers to serve their fellow citizens, and defend our freedoms and democracy.  As Governor-elect, I want to share my gratitude to our veterans and thank them for their service to both New Mexico and our country.”