I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
A member of the State Investment Council resigned Monday citing a possible perceived conflict of interest, leaving three vacancies on the board.
Sherman McCorkle told the Albuquerque Journal he did not believe there was a conflict of interest but that he would step aside anyway to avoid any appearance of one.
McCorkle said he “came to believe there was a remote possibility for the appearance of a conflict of interest,” so he reluctantly told the governor he would not serve.
“I do not believe there is any factual conflict of interest,” McCorkle also told the Journal. He declined to be more specific.
Gov. Susana Martinez named McCorkle to the SIC on Feb. 25.
The SIC is responsible for running the state’s permanent fund trusts. These include the Land Grant Permanent Fund, the Severance Tax Permanent Fund, the Tobacco Settlement Permanent Fund and the Water Trust Permanent Fund. The Council has been under scrutiny after questionable deals made in recent years.
McCorkle previously worked with Martinez as part of her Economic Development, Workforce Solutions and Transportation Search Committee. He headed Albuquerque mayor R.J. Berry’s transition team.
McCorkle is the chairman and chief executive officer of the Sandia Science and Technology Park Development Corporation and previously worked in the same capacity at Technology Ventures Corporation.
Another member of the SIC left because of health issues. Craig Reeves, a banker from Clayton, is recovering from surgery and worried he would not be able to contribute to the board. Reeves also left the New Mexico Board of Finance for the same reason.
