Jon Barela
Gov.-elect Susana Martinez is nominating Republican businessman Jon Barela to be her administration’s secretary of economic development.
A Martinez advisor confirmed that Barela will be the nominee. Martinez is set to make the formal announcement at 3 p.m. in Albuquerque.
Barela, who unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., this year, is a past president of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, a former member of the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education, and a former vice chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico.
Cerelink, a company Barela helped found and owns, has promoted one of outgoing Gov. Bill Richardson’s top economic development initiatives – New Mexico’s film incentive program – as the “silver lining” for its customers.
The company provides “cloud computing” for the motion picture industry and has worked with companies including DreamWorks.