Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • AG Complaint RE Susana Martinez Use of Helicopter For Personal / Political Purposes

    Uploaded by

    Pat Davis
    148 views1 page
    A story in the October 9th edition of the Albuquerque Journal outlines the use of a State Police helicopter, at a cost to taxpayers of at least $800, by Governor Susana Martinez to fly from Santa Fe to Albuquerque “so she could catch a commercial flight to Houston for political fundraisers.” The New Mexico Government Accountability Act states: Section 10-16-3 — Ethical principles of public service; certain official acts prohibited; penalty (A) A legislator, public officer or employee shall treat his government position as a public trust. He shall use the powers and resources of public office only to advance the public interest and not to obtain personal benefits or pursue private interests incompatible with the public interest. (emphasis added). While it could be argued that the governor’s use of state aircraft to ferry herself between official meetings could be in the public interest, using state resources to travel from an official meeting to catch a personal and commercial flight to attend a private fundraising event for political purposes did not advance the public interest for the taxpayers and residents of New Mexico. Her use of the state aircraft was a personal benefit not available to her absent her position as the state’s chief executive. I respectfully request that your office review these activities and take appropriate action. Of course, I will make myself available to you any time to discuss this matter in greater detail.

    Original Title

    AG Complaint RE Susana Martinez Use of Helicopter for Personal / Political Purposes

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    A story in the October 9th edition of the Albuquerque Journal outlines the use of a State Police helicopter, at a cost to taxpayers of at least $800, by Governor Susana Martinez to fly from Santa Fe to Albuquerque “so she could catch a commercial flight to Houston for political fundraisers.” The New Mexico Government Accountability Act states: Section 10-16-3 — Ethical principles of public service; certain official acts prohibited; penalty (A) A legislator, public officer or employee shall treat his government position as a public trust. He shall use the powers and resources of public office only to advance the public interest and not to obtain personal benefits or pursue private interests incompatible with the public interest. (emphasis added). While it could be argued that the governor’s use of state aircraft to ferry herself between official meetings could be in the public interest, using state resources to travel from an official meeting to catch a personal and commercial flight to attend a private fundraising event for political purposes did not advance the public interest for the taxpayers and residents of New Mexico. Her use of the state aircraft was a personal benefit not available to her absent her position as the state’s chief executive. I respectfully request that your office review these activities and take appropriate action. Of course, I will make myself available to you any time to discuss this matter in greater detail.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    148 views1 page

    AG Complaint RE Susana Martinez Use of Helicopter For Personal / Political Purposes

    Uploaded by

    Pat Davis
    A story in the October 9th edition of the Albuquerque Journal outlines the use of a State Police helicopter, at a cost to taxpayers of at least $800, by Governor Susana Martinez to fly from Santa Fe to Albuquerque “so she could catch a commercial flight to Houston for political fundraisers.” The New Mexico Government Accountability Act states: Section 10-16-3 — Ethical principles of public service; certain official acts prohibited; penalty (A) A legislator, public officer or employee shall treat his government position as a public trust. He shall use the powers and resources of public office only to advance the public interest and not to obtain personal benefits or pursue private interests incompatible with the public interest. (emphasis added). While it could be argued that the governor’s use of state aircraft to ferry herself between official meetings could be in the public interest, using state resources to travel from an official meeting to catch a personal and commercial flight to attend a private fundraising event for political purposes did not advance the public interest for the taxpayers and residents of New Mexico. Her use of the state aircraft was a personal benefit not available to her absent her position as the state’s chief executive. I respectfully request that your office review these activities and take appropriate action. Of course, I will make myself available to you any time to discuss this matter in greater detail.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 1

    PROGRESSNOWNM

    @PROGRESSNOWNM

    October 9, 2013 The Honorable Gary King Attorney General of New Mexico 111 Lomas NW, Ste 300 Albuquerque, NM 87102 HAND DELIVERED RE: Complaint for Violation of Governmental Conduct Act Attorney General King: A story in the October 9th edition of the Albuquerque Journal outlines the use of a State Police helicopter, at a cost to taxpayers of at least $800, by Governor Susana Martinez to fly from Santa Fe to Albuquerque so she could catch a commercial flight to Houston for political fundraisers. The New Mexico Governmental Conduct Act states:

    Section 10-16-3 Ethical principles of public service; certain official acts prohibited; penalty (A) A legislator, public officer or employee shall treat his government position as a public trust. He shall use the powers and resources of public office only to advance the public interest and not to obtain personal benefits or pursue private interests incompatible with the public interest. (emphasis added).

    While it could be argued that the governors use of state aircraft to ferry herself between official meetings could be in the public interest, using state resources to travel from an official meeting to catch a personal and commercial flight to attend a private fundraising event for political purposes did not advance the public interest for the taxpayers and residents of New Mexico. Her use of the state aircraft was a personal benefit not available to her absent her position as the states chief executive. I respectfully request that your office review these activities and take appropriate action. Of course, I will make myself available to you any time to discuss this matter in greater detail. Respectfully,

    Patrick Davis Executive Director

    ProgressNowNM.org | 625 Silver Ave SW Suite 320 Albuquerque, NM 87102 | 505.312.8509 | FB & Twitter @ProgressNowNM

    You might also like