Gov. Susana Martinez

STATE News:

SANTA FE – New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has announced appointments to the Border Authority, Commission for the Blind, Curry County Commission, Economic Development Commission, Governor’s Council on Film and Media Industries, Gaming Control Board, Health Insurance Exchange Board of Directors, Human Rights Commission, Interstate Steam Commission, Medical Board, Museum Board of Regents, Prescription Drug Misuse and Overdose Prevention and Pain Management Advisory Council, Public School Insurance Authority Board of Directors, State Rehabilitation Council, State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind, San Juan County Magistrate Court, Soil and Water Conservation Commission and Substitute Care Advisory Council.

Erich Cole of Aztec has been appointed to Division I of the San Juan County Magistrate Court. The appointment fills the vacancy created by the removal of Judge Connie Johnston from the bench. Cole has a background in criminal justice. He is currently a law enforcement officer for the City of Farmington. He is also active in the community as the president of Sexual Assault Services of Northwest New Mexico. Previously, he was a supervisor at M & R Trucking and a pilot for Mesa Airlines. He holds a Master of Science in criminal justice from Kaplan University in Chicago, Illinois.

James Robinson of Mesilla Park has been appointed to the Border Authority. He is the president of J.H. Rose Logistics, LLC in Santa Teresa. Robinson holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Business from Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas.

Shirley Lansing of Albuquerque has been appointed to the Commission for the Blind. She is a substitute teacher of the visually impaired at Zia Elementary School in Albuquerque. She holds a bachelor degree in mathematics from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.

Seth Martin of Clovis has been appointed to the Curry County Commission representing District 4. He will serve through the next general election. Martin fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Ben Smith. He is a sorghum and wheat farmer and runs a local family-owned small business.

Tim Hargrove of Las Cruces has been appointed to the Economic Development Commission. He is executive vice president and chief credit officer for Citizens Bank. Hargrove holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from West Texas A & M University in Canyon, Texas.

Luke Renner of Farmington has been appointed to the Governor’s Council on Film and Media Industries. Renner is the professor of the San Juan College Digital Media Arts and Design Program. He holds a bachelor degree in English – Communications from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.

Jeremiah Ritchie of Albuquerque has been appointed to the Gaming Control Board. Ritchie is an associate at Sheehan and Sheehan, P.A. He was previously deputy chief of staff for Governor Martinez. Ritchie holds a Juris Doctorate from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

Damian Esquibel of Albuquerque has been appointed to the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange Board of Directors. He is a channel manager for New Mexico Health Connections. Esquibel holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in Albuquerque.

Irene Mirabal-Counts of Alamogordo has been appointed to the Human Rights Commission. She is a former Otero County Magistrate Court Judge and served for more than 30 years in the public and private sector as a paralegal, security contractor and mediator. She is also a non-attorney member of the New Mexico Supreme Court’s Disciplinary Board and Twelfth Judicial District Association.

Jack King of Alto has been appointed to the Interstate Stream Commission. He is a rancher and retired chief of the New Mexico Environment Department’s Environmental Health Bureau. King holds a Master of Arts in Education Administration from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.

Sebastian Dunlap of Albuquerque has been appointed to the Medical Board. He is staff counsel for The Travelers Companies. Dunlap holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

Beth Chavez of Sandia Park has been appointed to the Museum Board of Regents. She recently retired as the director of special projects for Catholic Charities New Mexico. Chavez holds a Master of Arts in Art Education from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

Michael Pendleton of Albuquerque has been appointed to the Prescription Drug Misuse and Overdose Prevention and Pain Management Advisory Council. He is a licensed chiropractic physician. Pendleton holds a Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.

Jerry Schalow of Rio Rancho has been appointed to the New Mexico Public School Insurance Authority. He is president and chief executive officer of the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce. Schalow holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.

Al Park of Albuquerque has been appointed to the New Mexico Public School Insurance Authority. He is a partner at Park and Associates, LLC. Previously, he served six terms in the New Mexico House of Representatives representing District 26. Park holds a Juris Doctorate from George Washington University in Washington, DC.

Yolanda Montoya-Cordova of Albuquerque has been appointed to the State Rehabilitation Council. She is the state administrator of the state’s Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act program and a member of the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education. Montoya-Cordova holds a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas in Austin, Texas.

Dallas Allen of Albuquerque has been appointed to the State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind. He is a retired technologist from Sandia Labs. Allen holds a bachelor degree in psychology from University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

John Cyle Sharp of Clovis has been appointed to the Soil and Water Conservation Commission. He is a rancher and board member of the National Association of Conservation Districts. He holds a degree in civil engineering from Texas State Technical Institute in Waco, Texas.

Angie Schneider of Alamogordo has been appointed to the Substitute Care Advisory Council. She is a District Court Judge for New Mexico’s Twelfth Judicial District Court. Schneider holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.