STATE News:

SANTA FE — Last week, following a months-long national search, the bipartisan Legislative Council unanimously selected Shawna Casebier as the new Director of the New Mexico Legislative Council Service (LCS). Casebier currently serves as Assistant Director for Drafting Services for LCS and has been with the agency since 2015.

As head of the nonpartisan LCS, the Director oversees many of the permanent staff and year-round operations at the Capitol, including bill drafting and research, building and ground maintenance, IT, capital outlay, and legislative human resources. The director also administers legal cases brought by and against the Legislature, the census redistricting process, ethics complaints, and requests for public records under the Inspection of Public Records Act.  

Members of the Legislative Council, which include Republicans and Democrats from the House and Senate, worked together to establish criteria to review applicants and select candidates for interviews. Candidates were evaluated on their overall qualifications, leadership and management skills, legal and operations experience, collaboration and communication skills, knowledge of the legislative process, and commitment to public service. 

“It is an incredible honor to be selected by the Legislative Council as the next director of the Legislative Council Service,” Casebier said. “I am grateful for the outpouring of support from legislators and staff in this time of transition. I look forward to working with the Council and staff to ensure that the LCS continues to provide exceptional value to the legislative institution, individual legislators and the people of New Mexico now and into the future.”

Casebier will assume the role following the retirement of long-time LCS Director Raúl Burciaga next month. Burciaga retires after 24 years of service with the Legislative Council Service, the last 14 years as director.