Former Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley declared on Friday his intention to run for the Public Regulation Commission seat being vacated by Sandy Jones.
“Ethics, health care, energy and economic development will be my focus and my mission on the commission,” McCamley said in a news release. “We need a new era of ethical leadership, with leaders who are focused on putting people ahead of special interests and narrow agendas.”
McCamley’s release states that he has “a strong record on ethics during his tenure on the Doña Ana County Commisson.” He wrote and convinced his peers to pass a new ethics ordinance, and he seved in 2007 on the governor’s ethics task force.
McCamley is a member of the state board for Common Cause, and has authored a column published on this site on the effects of corruption.
Jones announced earlier this week that he will run for state land commissioner next year instead of seeking re-election to the District 5 PRC seat. McCamley is the first to declare his candidacy to replace Jones.
“I want to fight for and create policies that protect the best interests of the everyday person,” McCamley said.
While on the commission, McCamley pushed to establish residential solar energy districts in the state. He said New Mexico must be “a national leader in new energy” both for the jobs it will create and to help America become energy independent.
McCamley also worked with county health-care providers to increase communication and efficiency, which his news release said has led “to the provisions of more care to more people.” He said he has “a unique perspective” on health care “since I’ve worked on health policy and I’ve also gone without health insurance.”
“As health insurance reform moves forward in America, the PRC has the authority to create and enforce regulations over the state health insurance industry,” he said. “We must protect the average citizen in New Mexico so that costs are cut and that everyone has access to coverage.”
McCamley served one term on the county commission, leaving office in December. He opted against seeking re-election in 2008 and instead ran for Congress, but he narrowly lost in last year’s Democratic primary to Harry Teague.
McCamley, who lives in Las Cruces, has degrees from New Mexico State University and Harvard University. In addition to his service on the county commission, he has worked for a nonprofit on rural economic development issues and as a real estate agent. McCamley currently works for New Mexico State University as a development officer in the College of Arts and Sciences.
As I’ve disclosed in the past, I’m friends with McCamley. Click here to read more about that.