Letter To The Editor: Setting The Record Straight

By STUART A. ASHMAN
Former New Mexico Cabinet Secretary of Cultural Affairs
2003-2010

In response to Sherry Robinson’s article (link) on the Department of Cultural Affairs reorganization, I’d like to set the record straight.

The original idea for elevating the Office of Cultural Affairs (not the “Division”, as she inaccurately states) came out of a long-term study conducted by the late Rep. J. Paul Taylor, (recognized as the Taylor Report) who had the vision to realize the importance of the arts, culture and history to the people of New Mexico.

I worked with Rep. Taylor and Governor Richardson, both of whom recognized this importance and labored intensively through numerous focus groups, the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, Cultural Affairs staff and other stakeholders to craft the Cultural Affairs Act. This was passed by the NM State Legislature in 2003 and signed by Governor Richardson along with the elevation of the Office on Aging, Veterans Affairs and Indian Affairs. These had previously been relegated to “Office” status. Governor Richardson and the Legislature recognized that these agencies would benefit by receiving Cabinet status.

Prior to the Act, Museum directors were classified as “Associate Directors” with salaries under $49,000 annually. Many of these held Ph.D.’s in their fields.

Elevating the agency to a Cabinet level allowed the Department to make these individuals Division Directors with commensurate and competitive salaries.

Ms. Robinson characterizes these as “political appointees”, which they are not.

The statutes indicate that the governing boards of these institutions interview the candidates and send their three top selections to the Secretary. The Secretary then secures approval from the Governor for the appointment. There are ample qualifications necessary for the positions that must first be met before an interview is even conducted. There is no “crony” hiring as Ms. Robinson states.

The Department of Cultural Affairs has been perennially ignored causing deferred maintenance to its buildings and staffing shortages. The firing of Dr. Blinman was an unfortunate occurrence but could easily had taken place even if he was a classified employee in the “civil service” system.

New Mexico is one of few states that is committed to its art culture and history by recognizing these in a Cabinet level Department. Any remarks to the contrary are a disservice to the cultural heritage of our state.

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