Select for key cabinet positions now

After the election, I am reminded that I am an advocate for a short list for such New Mexico cabinet positions as Secretary of Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources and Secretary of Environment and State Engineer. We have an opportunity to contribute and to influence the choices and appointments to some of these cabinet positions. We should be thinking about it now. And planting the seeds now.

I was greatly impressed with the level to which Garrett VeneKlasen took not only the State Land Commissioner’s race, but many of the other races. He spoke of issues and solutions that before this year candidates were steering clear of. He spoke of things that we were speaking of and tied them all together. He spoke of issues and others had to follow. Garrett VeneKlasen would be first on my short list for Secretary of Energy Minerals and Natural Resources or Environment Secretary. We cannot let this caliber of individual slip away. We must find a spot for him in our New Mexico system.

I can make the same argument for several candidates that lost June 5. Let’s figure out how to help them help us help New Mexico. I do not believe this to be an endorsement of a candidate, This is an endorsement of an individual and a strategy. We need key people in key positions, and Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources has always been the fox guarding the henhouse. MIKE NEAS, Placitas