Change in Substance and "Style"

Susana Martinez

New Mexico will be seeing a change of "style" in 2011. Susana Martinez and her husband, Chuck Franco, will eventually move into the Governor's Mansion. But exactly when they make the move is still unknown. It would seem that there is simply too much work to do for now. Martinez and Franco plan to keep their home in Las Cruces and the new governor also has no plans to use the two chefs at the Governor's Mansion. Additionally, the number of State Police officers in the security detail will also be reduced.

Governor Martinez and Chuck Franco on Inauguration Day

January figures to be a hectic month for Martinez. She must submit a budget proposal to the state legislature by Jan. 10. There is a $400 million deficit gap to be closed. The Martinez team will also be appointing another ten people to fill out the leadership positions at Cabinet-level departments. Roughly 360 appointees, often referred to as exempt employees remained on the payroll as Martinez was sworn in Saturday. According to the Albuquerque Journal, in a memo dated December 30th, Martinez's deputy chief of staff Brian Moore indicated that all exempt employees who have not submitted their resignations by Friday would be fired on Saturday. Apparently a handful of the holdover exempt employees from the Richardson regime will be retained.

Change in Substance and "Style"