By Matt Grubs, NMiF Producer

Former State Rep. Andy Nunez has been something of a fixture at the Roundhouse in the first session since losing his seat. Easy to spot most days in his trademark white cowboy hat and generally an affable guy, Nunez has been lobbying for water users in Carlsbad and the Elephant Butte Irrigation District.

A Democrat-turned-Independent from Hatch, Nunez teamed with Governor Susana Martinez in their attempt to repeal a law allowing driver’s licenses to be issued to undocumented immigrants.

But in losing a three-way battle for his House seat, Nunez ran up against the Reform New Mexico Now super PAC. Run by the top political adviser to Governor Susana Martinez, the super PAC spent money to defeat Nunez. The governor criticized him for being focused on a single issue. He was none too pleased.

At Friday morning’s long-awaited confirmation hearing for Hanna Skandera, serving since 2010 as the secretary-designate for the state’s education department, Nunez piped up from the crowd when Senate Rules Committee Chair Linda Lopez asked if anyone wanted to speak in support or opposition. He voiced his support…and then explained why to us outside the hearing.

The committee spent about two hours listening to public comment on Skandera’s nomination before recessing with plans to meet again – and presumably vote – on Saturday morning.

The Line spent a few extra minutes discussing some of the week’s headlines, including the FBI investigation into Susana Martinez’s campaign email account, the Kirtland fuel spill, the Santa Fe New Mexican’s downtown headquarters, and the latest fallout from the NMFA audit scandal.

This just in from the governor’s office, spurred by the recent revelation that a state public information officer relayed information to Governor Martinez, political adviser Jay McCleskey and others via personal email accounts.

GOVERNOR SUSANA MARTINEZ ISSUES STATEMENT ON EMAIL USE

SANTA FE – Today, Governor Susana Martinez issued the following statement and directive, following a recent productive meeting with the Foundation for Open Government, regarding the use of official emails throughout state government:

“Today, I am directing all state employees under the governor’s authority to utilize official state email when conducting state business via email. This includes discussions preliminary in nature to final decisions or actions that have occasionally been sent via personal email because they are not required to be maintained under state law. There is no state law that requires this to be done, but utilizing only state email to conduct state business in connection with public employees’ duties is another important step to ensure continued confidence in government.”

“This directive goes beyond what has been required or practiced in the past in New Mexico, and it exceeds what is practiced in most other states. In addition, given that numerous other public officials, including legislators, discuss public matters on personal email addresses, I am urging the Legislature, other executive branch agencies, and local governments and municipalities to also adopt a similar policy that requires official email to be used when conducting state business and retained according to state regulations. Furthermore, we would be pleased to work with interested parties to ensure that our records statutes and regulations are coherent, strong, practical, and consistent across government.”

By Matt Grubs, NMiF Producer

Earlier this evening, Governor Susana Martinez briefed the media on the Whitewater-Baldy Complex fire. The forest fire has been burning out of control in the Gila National Forest near Silver City. Smoke from the fire moved up the Rio Grande Valley Friday and into Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and points between. With an size in excess of 82,000 acres the fire may take weeks to contain. Video is below.