Albuquerque – Today, Governor-elect Susana Martinez nominated Yolanda Berumen-Deines to serve as her secretary of the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD).  Berumen-Deines, a licensed clinical social worker, has extensive experience in the public, non-profit and private sectors working on behalf of children and families to promote their well-being and self-sufficiency.

In nominating Berumen-Deines, Governor-elect Susana Martinez stated:

”Yolanda has a long and proven record of advocating on behalf of endangered children, promoting healthy families and providing therapy to children and adults.

I first met Yolanda when she was serving as a social worker for the Department of Human Services in Texas and I was an intern for a judge.  Yolanda was testifying in the courtroom on behalf of two young boys who had witnessed their father murder their mother, who was eight months pregnant at the time.  As I watched Yolanda show extraordinary compassion for those children and a firm toughness in the pursuit of justice on their behalf, I decided in that moment that I wanted to become a prosecutor.

New Mexico’s children deserve to be safe, to not live in fear of abuse or neglect, and to be afforded a future of opportunity.  Protecting our children will be Yolanda’s top priority, a cause at which she has excelled and to which she and I have devoted our lives.”

Berumen-Deines currently runs a full-time clinical social work practice with her husband, working closely with various agencies and the military community to provide therapy to families and children. During her time in private practice, she has specialized in assisting sexual abuse victims and supporting the efforts of law enforcement.  Over her 30-year career, Berumen-Deines has also served in a number of positions within the Texas Department of Human Services, including the roles of supervisor of the sexual abuse unit of Child Protective Services, regional services director, supervisor of the Foster Home Development Unit and the assistant to the regional director of Child Welfare.  Her lengthy work in the non-profit sector includes efforts to combat human trafficking and smuggling.  Berumen-Deines has also trained prosecutors, teachers, and others in Dona Ana County on how to identify when physical and sexual abuse of children may be occurring.  She earned her bachelor of science in education from the University of Texas in El Paso and her master of social work from Our Lady of the Lake in San Antonio.

In response to her nomination as the secretary of CYFD, Berumen-Deines said, “I am honored to serve in Governor-elect Martinez’s Administration.  It is a high calling to be asked by Governor-elect Martinez to protect the well-being and future of New Mexico’s children and families, and I am well-prepared for the task.  We must ensure that CYFD operates efficiently and professionally, with the safety of our children always taking the highest priority.”

The editorial in today’s Albuquerque Journal cited findings from a report that indicates continued mismanagement of operations in the Children, Youth, and Families Department, particularly in its oversight of the juvenile justice system.  “I have asked Yolanda to immediately review CYFD finances and operations and to initiate a strong change in its culture and expectations.  We have to put the safety of our children first, and our juvenile justice system should operate at the highest standard,” Governor-elect Martinez concluded.

Albuquerque – Governor-elect Susana Martinez today issued the following statement in response to the continued efforts of the Richardson Administration to move the DNA lab from Albuquerque to Santa Fe:

“It is politics at its worst to move the DNA lab to Santa Fe in the final hours of the current administration only to move it back to Albuquerque on Monday, which is exactly what will happen.  Instead, we should be putting victims and justice first.  The move is opposed by both Republicans and Democrats, along with victims’ advocates and law enforcement.  I will not be bullied into doing anything that will jeopardize cases and justice for New Mexico victims.”

Governor-Elect’s PED Selection A Bold Choice

Editorial
December 24, 2010
The Albuquerque Journal

Nibbling around the edges is fine for folks watching their weight at a holiday party. For taxpayers and parents hungry for education reform, not so much.

That makes Gov.-elect Susana Martinez’s selection for state education secretary all the more significant and in keeping with the governor elect’s campaign promises. Hanna Skandera helped Florida take a big bite out of its achievement gap and improve the number of proficient readers by 20 percent.

As deputy commissioner of education for then-Gov. Jeb Bush from 2005-07, Skandera was on board when Florida decided to do more than simply throw money at its schools problem and expect change. Instead, it assigned schools A-F grades based on student performance, held back third-graders who hadn’t learned to read, increased teacher training, reduced class sizes, added about 2,000 reading coaches and gave vouchers and other choices to certain students.

Meanwhile, New Mexico “increased the state budget by $758 million and we’re still 49th in the nation,” Martinez said this week, in reference to national achievement rankings.

Former Education Secretary Veronica Garcia deserves credit for laying the data groundwork that will be vital for Skandera to build on.

Martinez says she “was looking for someone with a proven record of reforming failing schools … someone who can challenge the status quo.”

There is no question systemic changes are needed — and not just here. A report released Tuesday shows nearly one-fourth of students who try to join the U.S. Army fail its entrance exam.

Of course Skandera will need to listen to teachers and work with them. But if all the stakeholders commit to doing what it takes to put student results first — rather than hunkering down for a long-term fight — our kids will be the winners.

To view The Albuquerque Journal editorial, click here.

Albuquerque – Today, Governor-elect Susana Martinez nominated Dr. Jose Z. Garcia to serve as her secretary of the Higher Education Department.  Dr. Garcia has been a professor at New Mexico State University (NMSU) since 1975 and was the director of the NMSU Center for Latin American and Border Studies from 1991 to 2003.  He has published numerous articles on U.S.-Latin American relations and was a past member of the New Mexico Border Authority.

In nominating Dr. Garcia, Governor-elect Susana Martinez stated, “Dr. Garcia is a talented educator who will help me streamline New Mexico’s higher education system.  His charge is to ensure that our universities and colleges provide students with all they need to be competitive in today’s global job market and the opportunity to develop their talents and skills right here in New Mexico.”

Dr. Garcia earned his B.A. in Diplomacy and World Affairs from Occidental College, was a Fulbright Scholar to Ecuador, earned his M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, was a Ford Foundation seminar participant in Santiago, Chile and graduated from the University of New Mexico with a doctorate in political science.

In response to his nomination as Secretary of the Higher Education Department, Dr. Garcia said, “I look forward to joining Governor-elect Martinez’s administration.  She has asked me to ensure that our colleges and universities are among the leading centers of education and research in the nation.  Our focus must be on preparing our students for the jobs of tomorrow in the most efficient means possible.”

Albuquerque – Today, Governor-elect Susana Martinez nominated Sidonie Squier to serve as her secretary of the Human Services Department.  Squier served as the director of the Office of Family Assistance at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from June 2005 through January 2009, where she oversaw the provision of help to needy families through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF).  She has worked at both the state and Federal levels on various social assistance programs and areas, including TANF, Medicaid, nutrition and domestic violence.

In nominating Squier, Governor-elect Susana Martinez stated, “Sidonie has the experience and talent necessary to ensure the most efficient delivery of health care and other social services in New Mexico.  She provides a valuable and unique perspective, having served at both the state and Federal level.  We face a significant budget deficit and both Sidonie and I are committed to ensuring that the safety net for needy families and children in New Mexico remains strong and in place.”

Squier has also served as an associate commissioner in the Office of Family Services with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, as well as the director of economic self-sufficiency and welfare reform administrator in the Florida Department of Children and Families.  She is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach, with B.A. and M.A. degrees in Communications.

In addition to directing the New Mexico Medicaid program, the Human Services Department oversees the enforcement of child support payments, the administration of substance abuse and mental health programs, and the provision of food, financial assistance and health care to those who qualify.

In response to her nomination as the secretary of the Human Services Department, Squier said, “I’m honored to have been selected as a cabinet secretary in Governor-elect Martinez’s Administration.  She has charged me with protecting health care services for needy children and families in New Mexico, which I plan to deliver on.”

Statement From Jeb Bush Regarding New Mexico Governor-Elect Martinez Nominee For Secretary Of The Public Education Department

December 21, 2010

Statement from Jeb Bush regarding Hanna Skandera as New Mexico Governor-elect Susana Martinez’s nominee for Secretary of the Public Education Department:

“Hanna is a passionate, effective advocate for improving student achievement. Her vast academic, government and professional experience in education makes her an incredible asset to New Mexico as they work to improve student outcomes.”

Albuquerque – Today, Governor-elect Susana Martinez nominated Hanna Skandera to serve as her secretary of the Public Education Department.  Skandera has served as the Deputy Commissioner of Education under Governor Jeb Bush, where she promoted and implemented middle and high school reforms that instituted greater accountability, incentives for high performance and the end of social promotion.  As a result of the education reforms put in place in Florida, reading scores improved dramatically across ethnic groups with Hispanic students outperforming all students in 31 other states.

In nominating Skandera, Governor-elect Susana Martinez stated, “Hanna is a proven reformer who has successfully implemented education innovations and achievement-based reforms for two of our nation’s governors.  She shares my belief that we must focus on implementing reforms that improve student achievement here in New Mexico, rather than simply throwing more money at a failed system.”

Skandera has also served as an undersecretary of education for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and most recently as the deputy chief of staff and senior policy advisor in the U.S. Department of Education.  Her career as an educator began during college, where she worked with Catholic Charities to develop peer education programs and life skills curricula that were used throughout the U.S.  She is a graduate of Sonoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business and earned her Master of Public Policy from Pepperdine University, where she graduated first in her class.

In response to her nomination as the secretary of the Public Education Department, Skandera said, “It will be a privilege to serve in Governor-elect Martinez’s administration.  She has directed me to reform a system that has failed young New Mexicans and we will do so by raising standards, rewarding excellence and re-focusing our attention on classroom achievement.  The foundation for these bold changes is an approach to education that puts students first.”

Albuquerque – Today, Governor-elect Susana Martinez’s Inaugural Committee announced new details regarding the Inaugural swearing-in ceremony and the first-ever Children’s Ball.

Six year-old Coronado Elementary School Student, Susanna Martinez, will deliver the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish at the public swearing-in ceremony.  Governor-elect Martinez visited Susanna’s Albuquerque school shortly after Susanna was the subject of a column published in The Albuquerque Journal following the election.  Governor-elect Martinez delivered Susanna a custom-made t-shirt that read, “SusaNNa Martinez for Governor – 20Something,” and spent time talking with students from the Spanish-language immersion magnet school.

In addition, the Inaugural Committee announced that children who attend the first-ever Children’s Ball will have the opportunity to dance the “Electric Slide”, “Cha-Cha Slide” and “Two Step” with Governor Martinez.  Every child will also receive an illustrated children’s story about the life of New Mexico’s new Governor as a special gift.  Further details about the children’s book will be released at a later date.

“I’m so pleased that our Inaugural celebration includes exciting and historic events for the entire family,” Governor-elect Susana Martinez stated.  “I look forward to dancing with children from throughout New Mexico and hope that this event serves as a memorable kick-off to our collective efforts to provide them with a quality education and a more prosperous future.”

The Inaugural Swearing-in Ceremony will be held outdoors on the Santa Fe Plaza at 10:00 a.m.

The Children’s Ball will be held at the Santa Fe Children’s Museum from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  It is open to children ages five to eleven years old with one adult chaperone per child.  The chairwoman of the Children’s Ball is Agnes Maldonado.

Albuquerque – Today, Governor-elect Susana Martinez nominated Demesia Padilla to serve as her secretary of the Taxation and Revenue Department.  Padilla is a licensed certified public accountant in New Mexico and Nevada and is currently the chairperson for the Bernalillo County Audit Committee.  She graduated from the University of New Mexico: Anderson School of Management in the top five percent of her class and has owned and operated a tax preparation and consulting business for 18 years.  Since November of 2007, Padilla has served as a commissioner of the New Mexico Gaming Control Board.

In nominating Padilla, Governor-elect Susana Martinez remarked, “Demesia is a proven expert in the administration of the state’s tax code, and I’m confident that she would oversee a taxation and revenue office that would provide quality customer service to New Mexico taxpayers.  Together, she and I will promote reforms to our tax code to make it more understandable, business friendly and fair.  Our tax structure should encourage business owners to invest in New Mexico and create high-paying jobs.“

In addition to her responsibility to oversee the administration of New Mexico tax laws, Padilla will also oversee the state’s motor vehicle code.  “One of Ms. Padilla’s top priorities will be to advocate for legislation to prohibit the issuance of driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants and to revoke those licenses that have already been issued,” Martinez continued.

In response to her nomination as the secretary of the Taxation and Revenue Department, Padilla said, “I’m honored to have been asked to serve in Governor-elect Martinez’s Administration.  She has directed me to ensure that the people of New Mexico are served by a taxation and revenue department that is transparent, fair and efficient.  That will be my charge, and I intend to deliver on it.”

Albuquerque – Governor-elect Susana Martinez today issued the following statement concerning the United States Attorney’s Office District of New Mexico recognizing her nominee for secretary of the Department of Public Safety and former United States Marshal for the District of New Mexico Gorden Eden for providing leadership and expertise in the areas of public safety and crime prevention:

“I am very happy to call Gorden a friend.  I believe we will soon all call him Mr. Secretary.  His record of service to the people of New Mexico is exemplary.  He has put himself in harms way time and again in an effort to make our state and its citizens safer.  The certificate of appreciation he has earned from the United States Attorney’s Office for his outstanding efforts in achieving the highest standards in law enforcement and justice is something that all New Mexicans can take great pride in.”