Attorney General of New Mexico
From Ballotpedia
Contents |
In New Mexico, the state attorney general is fifth in succession to the office of governor, after the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, President pro tempore of the New Mexico Senate, and the Speaker of New Mexico House of Representatives.
The attorney general functions as the state's chief legal officer, legal counsel to state government, consumer advocate, and guardian of the public interest.
Current officeholder
The current officeholder Gary King. He has served since 2006.
Authority
The state Constitution addresses the office of attorney general in Article V, the Executive Department.
Under Article V, Section 1:
|
The executive department shall consist of a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer, attorney general and commissioner of public lands,... |
Qualifications
Here is a list of the standard qualifications necessary under New Mexico State Law in order to be considered for the Office of State Attorney General:
- No person shall be eligible to any office specified in Section One, hereof, unless he be:
- a citizen of the United States
- at least thirty years of age
- nor unless he shall have resided continuously in New Mexico for five years next preceding his election
- Nor to the office of attorney general, unless he be:
- a licensed attorney of the supreme court of New Mexico in good standing (New Mexico Constitution, Article V § 3)
Divisions
- The Civil Division provides legal advice and representation to state agencies, boards and commissions and researches and drafts Attorney General opinions and advisory letters. The Civil Division conducts Sunshine Law seminars to teach state and local bodies their duties under the law and to provide the public with an understanding of what they should expect from their government.
- The Consumer Protection Division enforces consumer protection laws to prevent and deter unfair, deceptive, anti-competitive and unlawful practices that injure consumers and businesses.
- The Criminal Appeals Division represents and advocates for victims and the People of New Mexico in all criminal appeals and habeas corpus proceedings in state and federal courts.
- The Investigations Division is comprised of investigators in three separate specialty area: government accountability, Internet crimes against children, and special investigations.
- The Litigation Division represents the State of New Mexico in three primary areas: general litigation, administrative prosecutions, and representation of judges and state officials on civil writs. This Division also enforces the Master Settlement Agreement of the Tobacco Settlement.
- The Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Division is a criminal law enforcement unit that enforces the Medicaid Fraud Act and the Resident Abuse and Neglect Act, investigates and prosecutes Medicaid providers who commit fraud and/or resident abuse, neglect and exploitation in long-term care facilities, and pursues civil monetary repayment of Medicaid program funds when a Medicaid provider does not provide adequate services to recipients.
- The Prosecutions Division investigates and prosecutes crimes throughout the state of New Mexico. Most of the criminal cases handled by the Division are referred by the local District Attorney, based on a conflict of interest or because the District Attorney seeks assistance from the Attorney General in some specialized area.
- The Water, Environment and Utilities Division strives to protect, preserve, and enhance New Mexico’s fragile environment, water, and natural resources through litigation and cooperative efforts with stakeholders. In addition, staff members represent the interests of New Mexico’s residential and small business consumers in matters of gas, electronic and telecommunication regulation.
- The Administrative Services Division and the Information Technology Division are responsible for the entire agency running in the most efficient, effective, and secure manner.
- The Government Accountability Unit's mission is to evaluate, investigate and prosecute cases of public corruption.
- Border Violence Division was formed to develop and maintain liaison on mutual law enforcement matters between Mexico and New Mexico and to coordinate between prosecutors and law enforcement agencies in New Mexico with similar entities in the Republic of Mexico.
- Immigrant Services Unit addresses issues such as immigrant-targeted consumer problems and other civil matters particularly when the immigrant is a target for abuse.
- Violence Against Women Division is designed to provide training, mentorship and to set standards for the professional response to sexual assault, stalking, and domestic violence.
Campaign finance
The Attorney General of New Mexico is responsible for all investigations and prosecutions of campaign finance laws in the state regardless if it involves civil or criminal laws. If someone feels a person or committee violated state campaign finance law, the first step is to file with the Attorney General. [1] [2]
Elections
New Mexico elects Attorneys General in the midterm elections, that is, even years that are not Presidential election years. For New Mexico, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 are all attorney general election years.
Electoral history
2006
| 2006 Race for Attorney General - Democratic Primary [3] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Democratic Party |  a Gary King
| 46.1% | |
| Democratic Party | Geno Zamora | 31.9% | |
| Democratic Party | Lemuel L. Martinez | 21.9% | |
| Total Votes | 123,405 | ||
| 2006 Race for Attorney General - General Election [4] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Democratic Party | a Gary King
| 56.8% | |
| Republican Party | Jim Bibb | 43.2% | |
| Total Votes | 559,715 | ||
2010
Democratic Primary
- 2010 Race for Attorney General - Democratic Primary
- Gary King ran unopposed in this contest
Republican Primary
- 2010 Race for Attorney General - Republican Primary
- Matthew Chandler ran unopposed in this contest
General Election
| 2010 Race for Attorney General - General Election [5] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Democratic Party | a Gary King
| 53.7% | |
| Republican Party | Matthew Chandler | 46.3% | |
| Total Votes | 597,644 | ||
Compensation
In 2010, the Attorney General of New Mexico was paid an estimated $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
Contact information
Mailing Address:
P.O. Drawer 1508
Santa Fe, NM 87504-1508
Street Address:
408 Galisteo Street
Villagra Building
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
Phone: (505) 827-6000
Fax: (505) 827-5826
See also
- Gary King, Attorney General of New Mexico
- Governor of New Mexico
- Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
- New Mexico Secretary of State
External links
References
- ↑ "New Mexico Secretary of State" New Mexico Campaign Reporting Act(Referenced Statute 1-19-34.6 (A)-(B), New Mexico Code)
- ↑ "New Mexico Secretary of State" New Mexico Campaign Reporting Act(Referenced Statute 1-19-36 (B), New Mexico Code)
- ↑ Secretary of State - Official 2006 Primary Election Results
- ↑ Secretary of State - Official 2006 General Election Results
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State - 2010 General Election Results
- ↑ The Council of State Governments,"The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," retrieved June 22, 2011
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
State of New Mexico Santa Fe (capital) |
|---|---|
| Ballot measures |
List of New Mexico ballot measures | Local measures | School bond issues | Ballot measure laws | History of I&R | Campaign Finance Requirements | Recall process | |
| Government |
New Mexico State Constitution | House of Representatives | Senate | Legislative Council Service | |
| State executive officers |
Governor | Lieutenant Governor | Attorney General | Secretary of State | Treasurer | State Auditor | Secretary of Education | Superintendent of Insurance | Secretary of Agriculture | Secretary of Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources | Secretary of Workforce Solutions | Chairman of Public Regulation Commission | |
| Judiciary |
New Mexico Supreme Court | Court of Appeals | District Courts | Magistrate Courts | Judicial Nominating Commission | Judicial news | Judicial activist organizations | |
| Transparency Topics |
Inspection of Public Records Act | Transparency Checklist | Government corruption | Transparency Legislation | Open Records procedures | Transparency Advocates | Transparency blogs | State budget | Taxpayer-funded lobbying associations | |
| Divisions |
State |
List of Counties |
List of Cities |
List of Towns |
List of School Districts | |
