Steinborn, McCamley named to ethics task force

Las Cruces will have significant representation on the ethics task force being reconvened by Gov. Bill Richardson.

Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, and Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley were both selected by the governor to serve on the 23-member task force.

The appointments are big boosts for Steinborn, a freshman representative, and McCamley, who is running against U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., and is the only local government representative on the task force.

Garrey Carruthers, dean of New Mexico State University’s College of Business and a former governor, will again co-chair the task force along with Suellyn Scarnecchia, dean of the University of New Mexico School of Law.

Carruthers was the only member of last year’s ethics task force from Las Cruces.

“I’m tremendously honored that the governor would appoint me to this commission and think of me as a reformer,” Steinborn said, adding that ethics reform “was a great piece of unfinished business from the session.”

Last year’s ethics task force made a number of recommendations that became bills backed by the governor in this year’s session, but limitations on gifts to public officials and candidates for office and public financing of statewide judicial races were the only recommendations to be approved. The Senate was especially suspicious of any ethics reform proposed by the governor.

The new task force is charged by Richardson with examining the resistance to reform in the Legislature, coming up with new proposals and determining whether he should call a special session later this year to deal with ethics reform.

McCamley, who teaches a government course at NMSU, said he talks with students about the fact that the United States is founded upon the principle that “the government has power, but in exchange for that power, they’ve got to rule in the best interest of the people.”

“That trust between the people and the government is the cornerstone of what makes America work,” McCamley said. “I’m extremely grateful to the governor for giving me the opportunity to work on policy that will build trust between citizens and the government.”

Steinborn gained status as a reformer when he helped work out a compromise this year on the proposal to remake the state’s scandal-plagued housing authority system. McCamley, shortly after taking office in 2005, authored a rewrite of the county’s ethics policy.

McCamley’s appointment is also noteworthy because it will increase his stature as he attempts to unseat Pearce. McCamley has been the champion of Spaceport America in Doña Ana County, and Richardson has repeatedly and publicly expressed gratitude for that.

Richardson, in a news release, noted that the task force consists of a mix of members of last year’s group and new members who will bring a “fresh perspective.” The task force has a number of heavyweights that include Lt.Gov. Diane Denish, former U.S. Interior Secretary and Congressman Stewart Udall and state Treasurer James B. Lewis.

“The work of this group is critical, and I expect the task force to meet quickly and begin their work as soon as possible,” Richardson said. “Republicans and Democrats, business and government, non-profit and public, I believe this diverse group will help ensure the public’s best interests are well represented.”

Full list of task-force members

Co-chairs

Garrey Carruthers, dean, NMSU College of Business

Suellyn Scarnecchia, dean, UNM School of Law

Members

Diane Denish, lieutenant governor

Stewart Udall, former U.S. interior secretary

Governor Charlie Dorame, governor, Pueblo of Tesuque

James Lewis, New Mexico treasurer

Stuart Bluestone, New Mexico chief deputy attorney general

Dede Feldman, New Mexico state senator

John Ryan, New Mexico state senator

Ken Martinez, New Mexico House majority leader

Jeff Steinborn, New Mexico state representative

Don Tripp, New Mexico state representative

Bill McCamley, Doña Ana County commissioner

Jim Noel, executive director, Judicial Standards Commission

Doug Brown, principal, Brown and Brown Ventures

Leonard Sanchez, CPA, Moss Adams LLP

Norman Thayer, attorney, Sutin Thayer and Browne

Tom Keesing, realtor, Santa Fe Agency Real Estate

Geno Zamora, president, Zamora Strategic Advisors

Fred Nathan, executive director, Think New Mexico

Matt Brix, policy director, Center for Civic Policy

Claire Weiner, public member

Maralyn Budke, public member