Investment Council rejects governor's choice

Lee Rawson

Milan Simonich - The most powerful woman in state government lost a public showdown Tuesday. Gov. Susana Martinez failed when she tried to name her second-in-command on the State Investment Council. Martinez heads the council, but her nomination of Leonard Lee Rawson for vice chairman was defeated on a 5-4 vote. Rawson (right) is a Las Cruces businessman and a former Republican state legislator. After the council voted against Martinez's nomination of Rawson, it tabled the selection of a vice chairman until its July meeting. Voting against Rawson were council members Linda Eitzen, James Lewis, Peter Frank, Harold Lavender and Scott Smart. One council member, State Land Commissioner Ray Powell, was absent. The Investment Council manages about $15 billion in public money. New Mexico is the only state in which a governor heads the body responsible for investments. Read More News New Mexico

Investment Council rejects governor's choice