Politics blamed in university delays
Gov.: Constitution is being attacked
Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration says “shameless politicians” are trying to “subvert” the state Constitution and delay key decisions at New Mexico universities until after she leaves office.
A Martinez spokesman was responding to a push by lawmakers to keep Garrey Carruthers as New Mexico State University’s chancellor. A bipartisan group of lawmakers has argued in letters to the news media that Carruthers should remain if he’s willing, citing his accomplishments during a difficult, budget-strained time.
An email response issued by the Governor’s Office said, “These are just shameless politicians trying to delay a potential search in a transparent attempt to ensure that the next (NMSU) chancellor is chosen by regents appointed by the next governor. Coupled with the refusal of the senate to confirm regents last session, it should be obvious to all that some are working very hard to subvert the constitution and give the next governor the opportunity to completely stack the deck at our universities — something our system of staggered regent terms is designed to prevent.”
Carruthers announced Aug. 3 that he would retire when his contract ends next summer. But he has since said he told many people for months that he “would be willing to stay on for another two years.”
That leaves many wondering whether he was asked to remain.
Carruthers has not publicly said whether NMSU’s Board of Regents asked him to stay or if they told him they would not renew his contract. Board Chairwoman Debra Hicks has not returned Journal messages.
The governor appoints regents, but Martinez spokes--
man Joseph Cueto said in the email that the Martinez administration has not discussed the chancellorship with regents.
Sen. Steven P. Neville, R-Aztec; Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming; and Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces, co-signed a letter last week in support of retaining Carruthers.
Rep. Bill McCamley, D-Las Cruces, wrote another letter in which he also suggested politics might be a factor in whether Carruthers was asked to stay. He cited Carruthers’ public remarks about the damage caused when Martinez, a Republican, vetoed higher education funding in a dispute with the Democraticcontrolled Legislature. Funding was later restored.
Cueto’s statement referenced both the campaign to keep Carruthers and the Senate’s inaction on several of Martinez’s regent appointments this year. That included three regents for the University of New Mexico, which is itself in the midst of a search for a new president.
McCamley said keeping Carruthers is not a political play, noting that Carruthers, a former Republican governor, has won support from both parties. McCamley said his interest is ensuring consistent leadership.
“We’ve had six different presidents since I was student government president (at NMSU) in 2001, and Carruthers has provided a lot of stability and some very good leadership through very, very difficult times — frankly that the governor (Martinez) has contributed to,” McCamley said. “So that’s the reason that we’d like to see him stay around.”