Backlog of governor’s appointees not yet confirmed

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - A state Senate committee has yet to confirm a growing backlog of people nominated by Gov. Susana Martinez for state agency positions.

The Albuquerque Journal reports (https://bit.ly/1cazLhx ) 133 of Martinez’s appointees for various state agencies and commissions haven’t received confirmation hearings by the Senate Rules Committee.

The committee is scheduled to hold its first meeting of the year Monday.

Sen. Linda Lopez, the committee’s chairwoman and who is pursuing the Democratic nomination for governor, says the panel will not rush to confirm anyone, including Public Education Secretary Hanna Skandera and two State Fair commissioners.

“It’s important we do our due diligence. It’s not just an ’in and out,’” Lopez said.

Skandera has sparked criticism over her defense of a teacher evaluation system that heavily bases ratings on student performance on standardized tests. A state District Court judge ruled in November that Skandera had the right to carry out administrative rules such as the teacher evaluation program. During the 2013 session, no vote was taken during three days of confirmation hearings for her.

Appointees can continue to serve while they await Senate confirmation. Once they pass the committee vote, they move to the full Senate. If the 42-member Senate rejects a nominee, however, the individual is effectively fired and must leave their post. However, the governor could appoint the person to another job.

Most appointees win confirmation. The Senate last rejected a governor’s cabinet secretary in 1997, when Republican Gov. Gary Johnson was in office.

Lopez said she also wants to question the two unconfirmed State Fair commissioners about the 2011 awarding of a new 25-year racing lease for the Downs at Albuquerque.

Enrique Knell, a spokesman for the Republican governor, says Lopez should focus on holding swift but fair hearings in light of the large number of appointees.

The unusually high number of unconfirmed appointees also stems from staff turnover in the Martinez administration. According to the governor’s office, Martinez nominated 72 people during the 2013 session.

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Information from: Albuquerque Journal, https://www.abqjournal.com