Meet the new board; NOT the same as the old board.
The state’s Environmental Improvement Board has become one of the most politically-charged agencies in New Mexico government.
The previous board members were appointed during the term of Gov. Bill Richardson. Conservationists praised them for passing – in the final two months of the Richardson administration – measures to cap greenhouse gas emissions.
But incoming Republican Gov. Susana Martinez – a vocal critic of what she calls “cap and tax” — summarily fired all seven members, saying ”the majority of EIB members have made it clear that they are more interested in advancing political ideology than implementing common-sense policies that balance economic growth with responsible stewardship in New Mexico.”
In the past few days, Gov. Martinez has named her choices for a newly-constituted board she says will balance the interests of New Mexico’s energy sector with environmental concerns. Opponents counter by saying the new board is stacked with industry lackeys.
Regardless, the new members are expected to try to roll back the measures the previous EIB instituted.
Yet a comparison of the EIB’s new members with its old members turns up some interesting contrasts.
While there’s no telling what’s in the hearts of the new membership, an investigation of campaign contributions on www.followthemoney.org and www.campaignmoney.com uncover some interesting findings:
- A degree of financial donations to political candidates from the new EIB members not nearly as extensive as that of the previous board
- Three of the Martinez-installed members actually gave more money to Democratic candidates (including Martinez’ gubernatorial opponent, Diane Denish) than to Republicans between 2008 and 2010
- Two of the members of the new EIB made no candidate contributions at all in the 2008 and 2010 campaign cycles while – with one exception — all the members of the previous board actively contributed to candidates in the 2008 and 2010 elections
- Of the seven members of the previous board, five made contributions to the 2008 presidential bid of Bill Richardson
- Among the new EIB members, a search of records at www.followthemoney.org shows only two contributing to the Martinez campaign. In fact, two of the new members made contributions exceeding $1,200 to Denish.
Having said that, here’s a look at the new members of the Environmental Improvement Board:
Jeff Bryce of Albuquerque is the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Sierra Peaks Corporation, an engineering design firm. The company website says Bryce “spent 10 years in the petroleum industry doing mechanical design, managing projects and supervising construction.” We could find no records of any political contributions from a Jeff or Jeffrey Bryce in the 2008 or 2010 national or statewide political campaigns.
Gregory Fulfer of Jal is a rancher and business owner; he is also chairman of the Lea County Board of Commissioners. In the 2010 national election cycle, Fulfer made three political contributions totalling $3,225 with all the money going to Democratic Congressman Harry Teague’s re-election campaign. In the 2008 national election cyle, the website www.campaignmoney.com says Fulfer made three contributions totalling $6,900 – $4,600 for Teague and $2,300 for Bill Richardson’s presidential bid. According to www.followthemoney.org a Gregg and Kim Fulfer made a $1,200 contribution to Democrat Diane Denish in 2008.
John Volkerding of Farmington is the general manager of Basin Disposal, a salt water disposal company. He previously managed the New Mexico Department of Energy’s Oversight Bureau in Albuquerque. In the 2010 national election cycle, he contributed $250 to Republican Tom Mullins in Mullins’ unsuccessful run against Rep. Ben Ray Luján. Volkerding has no record of any contributions in the 2008 national election cycle. On the state level, the website www.followthemoney.org reports Volkerding contributed $100 to state Rep. Tom Taylor (R-Farmington) in 2010.
James Casciano of Rio Rancho manages the Corporate Environmental Health and Safety program for the Intel Corporation. In the 2010 national election cycle, Casciano contributed $650 to Republican Jon Barela in his race against Democrat Martin Heinrich. There are no records of Casciano making any contributions in the 2008 national election cycle. On the state level, Casciano contributed $100 to Rep. Nate Gentry (R-Albuquerque) and $500 to Republican Susana Martinez in 2010.
Timothy Morrow is a rancher from Capulin. There is no record at www.campaignmoney.com for any contributions from a Timothy Morrow in the 2008 or 2010 national election cycles. In 2010, Morrow contributed $200 to Democrat Craig Cosner, who lost in a bid for the state House of Representatives, and $150 to Susana Martinez.
Deborah Peacock of Albuquerque is the managing partner of Peacock Myers, P.C., a law firm specializing in intellectual property rights; she also has an extensive background in environmental law. In the 2010 national election cycle, Peacock made six contributions totalling $2,500 — $1,250 for Republican Jon Barela, $1,000 for Democrat Harry Teague and $250 for Democrat Martin Heinrich. In the 2008 national election cycle, Peacock gave $4,600 to Republican Darren White, $2,300 to Bill Richardson for his presidential bid, $500 to Republican Heather Wilson and $250 to Democrat Harry Teague. On the state level, www.followthemoney.org reports that in 2010, Peacock made $10,350 in personal political contributions to candidates and her firm made a $400 contribution to the Democratic Party. Of the$10,350, the largest beneficiary was Democrat Diane Denish, who received $4,250 in her race against Susana Martinez for governor. Denish also received another $2,000 from Peacock in April of 2009 for a total of $6,250. Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor Lawrence Rael received $2,250. In 2008, Peacock made $4,700 in statewide contributions, including $2,000 to Denish and $2,000 to Democratic Attorney General Gary King.
Elizabeth Ryan of Roswell is an attorney at Mark W. Taylor & Associates with a background in environmental law. There are no records of an Elizabeth Ryan making any contributions during the 2008 or 2010 national or state election cycles.
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The members of the previous Enivronmental Improvement Board:
Gregory Green of Santa Fe is a senior advisor for Strategic Development Worldwide, a consultancy group that aims to assist clients in achieving organizational excellence, stakeholder value and sustainability. An Albuquerque Journal article from October 2010 says that Green is a paid lobbyist for the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, the New Mexico Audubon and Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy. In the 2008 national election cycle, Green made 18 contributions totalling $11,725, including $2.300 to Bill Richardson’s presidential campaign and $4,125 to Democratic Rep. Martin Heinrich. In the 2010 national election cycle, Green made eight contributions totalling $8,850, including $4,150 to Heinrich and $3,400 to ActBlue, a political committee that enables anyone to fundraise on the Internet for the Democratic Party candidates of their choice. On the state level, www.followthemoney.org reports Green contributed $250 to Diane Denish in 2010.
Gay Dillingham of Santa Fe is the co-Founder, former president and chair of Earthstone International, LLC. Earthstone is an environmental IP company manufacturing recycled glass into an engineered “white foam glass” for surface abrasion, non-toxic cleaning technologies, agriculture products and soon to be building products. Additionally, Dillingham owns her own production company, CNS Communications and is an award winning producer/director. She is currently the executive director of the Livingry Foundation, according to the website of the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, of which Dillingham is a member. In a story in the Albuquerque Journal, State Investment Council spokesman Charles Wollman said the state made a $9 million “convertible debt investment” in Earthstone during Bill Richardson’s tenure as governor. ”That means the state purchased a part of the company as protection should the company fail,” the Journal article reported. In the 2008 national election cycle, the website www.campaignmoney.com lists $15,800 in campaign contributions attributed to Dillingham, including $4,600 to Democratic Sen. Tom Udall and $3,300 to ActBlue and $2,300 to Bill Richardson’s presidential bid. In the 2010 national election cycle, Dilligham made two contributions to Rep. Martin Heinrich totalling $450. On the state level, Dillingham contributed $250 to two Democratic candidates in 2010 and $600 to Diane Denish in 2008.
John Horning of Santa Fe has been with WildEarth Guardians since 1994 and became executive director in April 2002. The group says it has four programs focusing on wildlife, wild places, wild rivers, and climate and energy. Horning has extensive campaign and litigation experience working on western water, grazing, endangered species and land-use management issues. In the 2010 national election cycle, Horning made four contributions totalling $6,100, including $4,800 to Martin Heinrich. In the 2008 election cycle, Horning made 14 contributions to political entities, totalling $12,400, including $1,000 for Bill Richardson’s presidential bid. On the statewide level, Horning contributed $2,050 to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Diane Denish.
Leland Gould of Albuquerque is director of governmental affairs for Western Refining and board chair of New Mexico Oil and Gas Association. In the 2008 election cycle there are records of a Leland Gould in Albuquerque donating $429 to Democratic US Senate member Tom Udall; a Leland Gould with a Scottsdale, AZ address donating $250 to Republican Darren White for Congress and a Leland Gould in Albuquerque donating another $500 to Darren White. In the 2010 national election cycle, Gould made three contributions totalling $2,500 to Democratic Rep. Ben Ray Luján, Democratic Rep. Harry Teague and ActBlue. According to www.followthemoney.org in 2008, a Leland Gould of Albuquerque donated $1,000 to state Sen. John Ryan (R-Albuquerque) and Leland and Candace Gould gave $500 to Diane Denish.
James Gollin of Santa Fe is president of the board of directors of the Rain Forest Action Network, which describes itself on its website thusly: ”dubbed ‘some of the most savvy environmental agitators in the business’ by the Wall Street Journal, RAN uses hard-hitting markets campaigns to align the policies of multinational corporations with widespread public support for environmental protection.” During the 2008 election cycle, a James Gollin of Santa Fe made a number political contributions, including $2,300 to Bill Richardson’s presidential bid; seven contributions totalling $5,100 to ActBlue; five contributions totalling $4,600 to Democrat Martin Heinrich; and two contributions totalling $4,600 to Democratic Sen. Tom Udall. In the 2010 national election cycle, Gollin made six political contributions totalling $2,716, including $1,750 for Heinrich. In state races, Gollin donated $450 in 2010 to two Democratic candidates and $100 in 2008 to Democratic Senate candidate June Lorenzo.
Abbas Ghassemi of Las Cruces, is director of Energy and Environment (IE&E) and a professor of chemical engineering at New Mexico State University. He oversees the operations of WERC: A Consortium for Environmental Education and Technology Development (WERC), the Southwest Technology Development Institute (SWTDI) and the Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring & Research Center (CERMC). There are no records of any political contributions in the national or state election cycles of 2008 or 2010 for Ghassemi.
Frank Simms of Chama is president and general manager of the Lodge at Chama and land manager in commercial ranching. In the 2008 national election cycle, a Frank Y. Simms of Santa contributed $2,300 to Bill Richardson’s presidential campaign. On the state level, Simms donated $500 to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Diane Denish in 2010.
