Richardson appoints acting Indian affairs secretary

Gov. Bill Richardson announced today the appointment of Teresa C. Gomez to serve as acting secretary of Indian affairs.

Gomez will serve while a search is conducted for a permanent secretary, according to a news release from Richardson’s office. She replaces Benny Shendo, who left the job on Friday to run for Congress.

Gomez has been deputy secretary for the department since June 2006. She is a lifelong resident of the state and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Isleta. Gomez earned a bachelor’s degree in 1993 and master’s degree in 1995, both in political science, from the University of New Mexico.

Richardson thanked Shendo for his service.

“As the department’s first cabinet-level secretary, which was created in 2004 as the first of its kind in the country, Benny Shendo has provided thoughtful leadership, and I’m grateful for his service,” Richardson said in the release.