87 vying for Block Jr.’s vacant PRC seat [The Santa Fe New Mexican]
<p><chron>Oct. 06</chron>--The <money>$90,000</money>-a-year <org>Public Regulation Commission</org> seat being vacated by <person>Jerome Block Jr</person>. has attracted 87 applicants.</p><p>The list includes lawyers, engineers, cops, state employees, business people, politicians and would-be politicians of every stripe -- and even one New Mexican columnist.</p><p>Gov. <person>Susana Martinez</person> will choose a successor for Block, who agreed to resign last week in a plea bargain for several felony counts. Block, who represents the northern commission district including <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, has until <chron>Oct. 13</chron> to step down. The New Mexican previously reported Block's deadline was Friday.</p><p>Faced with going through 87 resumes, Martinez has not committed to a deadline for selecting a new commissioner.</p><p>"We are not operating on a particular timetable," Martinez spokesman <person>Scott Darnell</person> said Wednesday. He said the governor will "move quickly, but thoroughly, through a review of the applications, and finalists will be selected to receive interviews."</p><p>The commission regulates energy and telecommunication utilities, insurance companies, the transportation industries and various other areas.</p><p>Three of those applying are Democrats who already had spoken publicly of running for the commission next year. These include <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe County</location> Clerk <person>Valerie Espinoza</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe County</location> Commissioner <person>Virginia Vigil</person> and <person>Danny Maki</person>, a former aide to <person>Ben Ray Lujan</person>. Maki worked for Lujan's congressional office and as office manager when Lujan was a PRC member.</p><p>Two chairmen of county political parties put in their applications for the regulatory commission. These include <person>Peter Pacheco</person>, who is chairman of the <org>Santa Fe County Republican Party</org> and vice president of <org value="OTC-PINK:CBAO" idsrc="xmltag.org">Century Bank</org>; <person>Charles Christmann Jr</person>., chairman of the <location value="LU/us.nm.sanval" idsrc="xmltag.org">Sandoval County</location> GOP.</p><p>Besides Pacheco, other local Republican activists applied for Block's position. They include <person>Gregg Bemis</person>, a New Mexican columnist who has run for Legislature and <org>Congress</org>, and former <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location> city manager <person>Asenath Kepler</person>, a 2010 candidate for mayor. She ran as a Democrat in 1988 for state district judge.</p><p>Martinez is a Republican. Governors normally select members of their own parties to fill vacancies. But in 2008, Republicans didn't even field a candidate in the heavily Democratic district.</p><p>Two people who ran against Block in 2010 applied for the vacancy. They are <person>Rick Lass</person>, who ran in the general election on the <org>Green Party</org> ticket, and <person>Joe Maestas</person>, former mayor of <location value="LU/us.nm.espola" idsrc="xmltag.org">Espanola</location>, who lost to Block in the primary.</p><p>Contact <person>Steve Terrell</person> at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexicancom. Read his political blog at roundhouseroundupcom.</p><p>THE OTHER APPLICANTS INCLUDE</p><p><person>Alfonso Ortiz Jr</person>., mayor of <location value="LU/us.nm.lasveg" idsrc="xmltag.org">Las Vegas</location>.</p><p><person>Pablo Sedillo</person>, longtime aide to retiring U.S. Sen. <person>Jeff Bingaman</person>.</p><p><person>Jon Matthew Baca</person>, mayor of <location value="LU/us.nm.roy" idsrc="xmltag.org">Roy, N.M.</location></p><p><person>Allen Rackstraw</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.platas" idsrc="xmltag.org">Placitas</location>, chief prosecutor for the state <org>Insurance Fraud Bureau</org>.</p><p><person>Dennis Gee</person>, former Utilities Department director for the city of <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>.</p><p><person>Rick Lopez</person>, deputy director of the <org>Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority</org>, former chief executive officer of the State Engineer's Office and deputy secretary of the Energy, <org>Minerals and Natural Resources Department</org>.</p><p><person>Gilbert Archuleta</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, a former deputy state fire marshal, who works at a security company.</p><p><person>Victoria Duran</person>, transit administrator for the city of <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>.</p><p><person>Jerome Lucero</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.taos" idsrc="xmltag.org">Taos</location>, former general manager of an electrical co-op.</p><p><person>Mary Ries</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, former utilities commissioner for the city of <location value="LU/us.nm.lasces" idsrc="xmltag.org">Las Cruces</location>.</p><p><person>Donald Vigil</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, manager at the state penitentiary.</p><p><person>Douglas Howe</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, energy consultant.</p><p><person>Angela Serrana de Rivera</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.albque" idsrc="xmltag.org">Albuquerque</location>, engineer with <org>Public Service Co. of New Mexico</org>.</p><p><person>Albert Ibarra</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.riocho" idsrc="xmltag.org">Rio Rancho</location>, programs manager for the state <org>Environment Department</org> and former chief of the <org>PRC's Investigations Bureau</org>.</p><p><person>Jerry Mascarenas</person>, former general manager of Jemez Mountains Electrical Co-op.</p><p><person>Alexander Tafoya</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.lasveg" idsrc="xmltag.org">Las Vegas, N.M.</location>, planning and zoning administrator with <location value="LU/us.nm.sanuel" idsrc="xmltag.org">San Miguel County</location> and former <location value="LU/us.nm.lasveg" idsrc="xmltag.org">Las Vegas</location> city councilor.</p><p><person>Orbrey Sloman</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, former president of a storage and transfer business.</p><p><person>Victor Marquez</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, intelligence analyst for state <org>Homeland Security Department</org>.</p><p><person>G. Loren Toole</person>, senior research and development engineer for <org>Los Alamos National Laboratory</org>.</p><p><person>Thomas Alesi</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, managing partner for Tomasco Tours and a member of state <org>Supreme Court</org> Disciplinary Board.</p><p><person>Dan Lyon</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.albque" idsrc="xmltag.org">Albuquerque</location>, lawyer, member of <org>Albuquerque Metropolitan Flood Control Authority</org> and former chairman of state Parole Board.</p><p><person>Andres Salazar</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, former chief executive officer of Digital Transmission Systems in <location value="LS/us.ga" idsrc="xmltag.org">Georgia</location>.</p><p><person>Todd Casper</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.laguna" idsrc="xmltag.org">Laguna, N.M.</location>, Utility Authority director for <location value="LU/us.nm.pueoma" idsrc="xmltag.org">Acoma Pueblo</location>.</p><p><person>Donald Welker</person>, <org>Angel Fire Council</org> member, owner of a log homes firm and land developer.</p><p><person>Anna Vigil</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, employee of the <org>Department of Military Affairs</org> and former compliance officer for PRC.</p><p><person>Naomi Becker</person>, project leader and hydrologist at <org>Los Alamos National Laboratory</org>.</p><p><person>Orlando Romero</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, recently retired from the State Treasurer's Office and former chief of staff for PRC for six months in 2000 and chief of staff for the state <org>Corporation Commission</org> three years before.</p><p><person>Stephen Long</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.arreco" idsrc="xmltag.org">Arroyo Seco</location>, resort director.</p><p><person>Dean Tafoya</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.sanruz" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Cruz</location>, inspector for <org>Truchas Volunteer Fire Department</org>.</p><p>Tony C de Baca, president of a consulting firm.</p><p><person>Amos Cohn</person>, owner of a <location value="LU/us.nm.taos" idsrc="xmltag.org">Taos</location> auto supply business.</p><p><person>Brian Boddy</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, owner of an optical business.</p><p><person>John Lopez</person>, employee of the state <org>Department of Transportation</org>.</p><p><person>Neddie Archuletta</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.elrito" idsrc="xmltag.org">El Rito</location>, heavy equipment operator.</p><p><person>Al Romero</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, appraiser.</p><p><person>Wayne Rutherford</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.taos" idsrc="xmltag.org">Taos</location>, contractor.</p><p><person>Eduardo Ramirez</person>, president of <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location> construction management firm.</p><p><person>Gilbert Martinez</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.losjos" idsrc="xmltag.org">Los Ojos</location>, employee of construction and telecommunication businesses.</p><p><person>Robert Parker</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, associate general counsel of the PRC.</p><p><person>Sarah Maestas Barnes</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, lawyer.</p><p><person>Isidro Esquibel</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, bureau chief in the PRC's Insurance Division.</p><p><person>Robert Gonzales</person>, Raton, owner of a security company.</p><p><person>Robert Mensay</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.riocho" idsrc="xmltag.org">Rio Rancho</location>, equipment maintenance technician at <org value="NASDAQ-NMS:INTC" idsrc="xmltag.org">Intel</org>.</p><p><person>Mary Jane Parks</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, owner of a consulting business.</p><p><person>Tony Martinez II</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.glaone" idsrc="xmltag.org">Gladstone, N.M.</location>, rancher.</p><p><person>Robert Radosevich</person>, former <location value="LU/us.nm.riocho" idsrc="xmltag.org">Rio Rancho</location> city councilor, police officer.</p><p><person>Joseph Accetta</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.corles" idsrc="xmltag.org">Corrales</location>, engineer, physicist.</p><p><person>David Stoliker</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.riocho" idsrc="xmltag.org">Rio Rancho</location>, engineer.</p><p><person>Karen King</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, former special agent for the state attorney general.</p><p><person>Timothy Crum</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.riocho" idsrc="xmltag.org">Rio Rancho</location> city councilor, analyst for the state <org>Public Education Department</org>.</p><p><person>Anna Hansen</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, designer.</p><p><person>Debbie Reynolds</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.espola" idsrc="xmltag.org">Espanola</location> insurance agent.</p><p><person>Martin De la Garza</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.losnas" idsrc="xmltag.org">Los Lunas</location>, former engineer with PRC.</p><p><person>Robert Lee</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.albque" idsrc="xmltag.org">Albuquerque</location>, contractor for <location>Kirtland Air Force Base</location>.</p><p><person>Angela Smith</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.edgood" idsrc="xmltag.org">Edgewood</location>, employee of the state <org>Department of Veterans' Services</org>.</p><p><person>Alexandra Lutz</person>, teacher, <org>Rio Rancho High School</org>.</p><p><person>Arsenio Cordova</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.elpado" idsrc="xmltag.org">El Prado</location>, teacher, musician. Retired from state government.</p><p><person>Debra DeMack</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.albque" idsrc="xmltag.org">Albuquerque</location>, lawyer, one of three staff attorneys suing Attorney General <person>Gary King</person> for gender discrimination.</p><p><person>Brian Payne</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.albque" idsrc="xmltag.org">Albuquerque</location> real estate appraiser.</p><p>Todd Griffin, police officer for <location value="LU/us.nm.santlo" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Ana Pueblo</location>.</p><p><person>Larry Vargas</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, sales representative, American Telepsychiatrists.</p><p><person>Nick Maestas</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, owner of an equipment sales and mortgage company.</p><p><person>Michael Salazar</person>, Raton, technician for <org value="NYSE:CTL" idsrc="xmltag.org">CenturyLink</org>.</p><p><person>Kenneth Costello</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, economist for <org>National Regulatory Research Institute</org>.</p><p><person>Molly Harris-Whitted</person>, former <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location> city councilor.</p><p><person>Judith Vanderstar</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.riocho" idsrc="xmltag.org">Rio Rancho</location>, former legislator.</p><p><person>Barbara Perea-Casey</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.lasveg" idsrc="xmltag.org">Las Vegas N.M.</location>, former legislator, educator.</p><p><person>Brigette Russell</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, former legislative candidate, consultant for the state <org>Higher Education Department</org>.</p><p><person>Charlie Gonzales</person>, former mayor of <location value="LU/us.nm.questa" idsrc="xmltag.org">Questa</location>.</p><p><person>David Torres</person>, international relief consultant.</p><p><person>Phillis Stevens</person>, engineer with the PRC's Utility Division.</p><p><person>Daniel Baker</person>, website designer and "stay-at-home dad."</p><p><person>Ralph Stengren</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.santaf" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe</location>, consultant.</p><p><person>Johnny Silva</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.espola" idsrc="xmltag.org">Espanola</location>, owner of a tax service and carpet business.</p><p><person>Mark Schoder</person>, <location value="LU/us.nm.albque" idsrc="xmltag.org">Albuquerque</location>, substitute teacher.</p><p><person>John Ponsford Dreher</person>, designer of solar power products.</p><p><person>William Heckel Jr</person>., <org value="NASDAQ-OTCBB:SFEF" idsrc="xmltag.org">Santa Fe, financial</org> consultant.</p><p><person>Robert Monday</person>, retired engineer.</p><p><person>Royal Cutler</person>, chief operating director and global managing director of <org>Exsil Inc.</org>/<org>Rockwood Specialties Inc.</org></p><p>UPDATE: <chron>9:15 am</chron>. Applicant <person>Danny Maki</person> worked for <person>Ben Lujan's</person> congressional office and as office manager when Lujan was a PRC member. An earlier version mistakenly listed another applicant's name.</p><p>In an earlier version, <person>Alphonso Ortiz</person>, Jr., who is mayor of <location value="LU/us.nm.lasveg" idsrc="xmltag.org">Las Vegas</location> was listed as chairman of the <org>San Miguel County Democratic Party</org>. That was based on Ortiz's resume, which was included in the packet of resumes released by the Governor's Office. Ortiz said that resume was an old one.</p><p class="shirttail">___</p><p class="shirttail">(c)2011 The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, N.M.)</p><p class="shirttail">Visit The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, N.M.) at www.santafenewmexican.com</p><p class="shirttail">Distributed by MCT Information Services</p>
87 vying for Block Jr.’s vacant PRC seat [The Santa Fe New Mexican]
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News