Toney Anaya

Toney Anaya (born April 29, 1941) is an American Democratic politician and attorney who served as the 26th governor of New Mexico from 1983 to 1987.

Toney Anaya
26th Governor of New Mexico
In office January 1, 1983 – January 1, 1987
Lieutenant	Mike Runnels
Preceded by	Bruce King
Succeeded by	Garrey Carruthers
24th Attorney General of New Mexico
In office 1975–1978
Governor	Jerry Apodaca
Preceded by	David L. Norvell
Succeeded by	Jeff Bingaman
Personal details
Born	(1941-04-29) April 29, 1941 Moriarty, New Mexico, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Elaine Anaya
Education	Georgetown University (BA) American University (JD)

Early life and career

Anaya was born on (1941-04-29)April 29, 1941 in Moriarty, New Mexico. He went to undergraduate school at Georgetown University and graduated with a law degree from American University's Washington College of Law in 1967. After returning to New Mexico, Anaya worked as a Santa Fe County attorney, was an assistant district attorney for the First Judicial District, and later established a private law practice in Santa Fe.

Career

New Mexico Attorney General

Anaya with President Jimmy Carter in 1978

From 1975 to 1978, Anaya served as New Mexico Attorney General.

During his service as Attorney General, Anaya oversaw an investigation of the upward curve in the level of drugs in the Penitentiary of New Mexico after 1972. In 1975 his investigation found that some penitentiary staff members not only overlooked drug trafficking but were actually involved in it. The trafficking involved both street drugs, such as heroin, and drugs pilfered from the prison's pharmacy. The 1975 investigation reported very loose controls on pharmacy drugs:

Anaya's 27-page report of September 20, 1975, not only found brisk traffic in heroin, cocaine, cash and liquor in the penitentiary, it reported that sides of beef had been regularly diverted from the prison kitchen loading docks into the pickup trucks of certain favored correctional officers.[1][2]

Anaya expected his report to go to a grand jury to make indictments and Governor Apodaca said outright that Rodriguez would be fired. Rodriguez defended himself by announcing that the sides of beef being offered to officers were "nothing new" in the prison system and claimed he had simply been trying to stem the flow of contraband. Even though a governor's aide told the press there was sufficient evidence to fire Rodriguez, Rodriguez reportedly told Apodaca he had "no knowledge of some of the things Herrera [his Deputy Warden] was doing."

On September 24, four days after the report's release, Harrera was fired, but Rodriguez was exonerated by the Corrections Commission and hired by the Corrections Secretary to the state director of adult institutions. Anaya's files on the penitentiary were locked away. Prison officials similarly ignored 13 grand jury reports from 1971 to 1980 detailing major problems at the penitentiary and calling for special audits and investigations. Like the incriminating Attorney General's report, the grand jury warnings were filed away.[3] Apodaca was incredulous at the coercion between the Corrections Commission and other correction officials who excused Rodriguez for using drugs to manage the prisoners and distributing state property to his loyal officers while he was warden.

Anaya engaged in two efforts to curb corruption and attempt to bring correction to the failing prison system. The first was his nine-month investigation of the New Mexico Penitentiary administration, resulting in the 27-page 1975 report.[4] The second was when he and Assistant Attorney General Michael Francke, along with the inmates' attorney, signed a consent order in the New Mexico U.S. District Court compelling the penitentiary of New Mexico to improve classification practices, stop illegal disciplinary procedures, reduce overcrowding and significantly improve food (without mice droppings and cockroaches), water supply (so water does not come up in the sink when the toilet is flushed), plumbing, heating, ventilation and electrical wiring. Ordered by District Judge Edwin Felter, the decree was largely ignored and unenforced for more than three and a half years prior to the New Mexico State Penitentiary riot.[5] In 1978, Anaya ran for United States Senate, but was defeated by incumbent Republican Pete Domenici. In 1982, he was elected the 26th governor of New Mexico.[6]

Governor of New Mexico

As governor, Anaya focused on energy alternatives, water development and conservation, the environment, education, and economic development. Known as a visionary, he steered the state through a national recession, transforming New Mexico into a more technology-based economy and laying the groundwork for future deployment of rapid rail transit, education and social reform.[7] In 1986, after the election of his successor, Garrey Carruthers, Anaya commuted the death sentences of all five death row inmates in New Mexico. He is a longtime opponent of capital punishment,[8] had campaigned against the death penalty and in later interviews expressed no regret for the commutations.[7] Anaya made headlines on March 28, 1986, by declaring New Mexico the nation's first "State of Sanctuary" for refugees from Central America.[9]

Anaya served one term as governor, from 1983 to 1987. At that time, the New Mexico Constitution did not allow executive officers to succeed themselves for consecutive terms. That changed when a 1986 Constitutional amendment allowed state executive officers to serve two consecutive four-year terms for terms beginning January 1, 1991.[10]

Post-Governorship

Since leaving office, Anaya has served on numerous boards, commissions, and at nonprofit organizations, primarily focusing on Hispanic issues, education, and politics. He contributed significantly to the Democratic National Committee and the North American Free Trade Agreement.

In 2009, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson appointed Anaya to head the New Mexico Office of Recovery and Reinvestment. Anaya was responsible for overseeing the spending of the $1.8 billion in federal stimulus money expected to be invested in New Mexico during the next two years. Anaya worked closely with state agencies to facilitate access to funding, assist with compliance, and promote transparency throughout the process.[11]

From August 2009 to January 2011, Anaya served as Chief Executive Officer of Natural Blue Resources, a Woburn, Massachusetts-based penny stock company specializing in investments in environmentally friendly companies, including a New Mexico-based initiative to sell purified water. In July 2014, Anaya entered into a civil settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission relating to charges that he committed fraud.[12] Under the terms of the settlement, Anaya agreed to a five-year ban from penny stock offerings and a cease-and-desist order without admitting or denying the charges.[13]

References

1. Roger Morris (1983), The Devil's Butcher Shop: the New Mexico prison uprising, p. 144, 157
2. Mark Colvin (1992), Penitentiary in Crisis, p. 207
3. Roger Morris (1983), The Devil's Butcher Shop: the New Mexico prison uprising, p. 158
4. Roger Morris (1983), The Devil's Butcher Shop: the New Mexico prison uprising, p. 198
5. Roger Morris (1983), The Devil's Butcher Shop: the New Mexico prison uprising, p. 159-160
6. National Governors Association Biography
7. Archived February 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
8. 5 Death Sentences Commuted, Washington Post, November 27, 1986. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
9. Garza, Aimee V. "The Social Life of a Controversial Proclamation, 1980-1988". New Mexico History. New Mexico Office of the State Historian. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
10. "New Mexico State Records Center and Archives - Quipu October 2003". Nmcpr.state.nm.us. Archived from the original on February 27, 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-26.
11. Monahan, Joe (2009-03-12). "New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan". Joemonahansnewmexico.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2012-12-26.
12. Former New Mexico Governor Pretended To Run Penny Stock For Ex-Con (Forbes.com article-July 16, 2014)
13. Former New Mexico governor Anaya settles SEC fraud charges (Reuters.com article-July 16, 2014)

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN

Legal offices
Preceded by David L. Norvell	Attorney General of New Mexico 1975–1978	Succeeded by Jeff Bingaman
Party political offices
Preceded by Jack Daniels	Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from New Mexico (Class 2) 1978	Succeeded by Judith Pratt
Preceded by Bruce King	Democratic nominee for Governor of New Mexico 1982	Succeeded by Ray Powell
Political offices
Preceded by Bruce King	Governor of New Mexico 1983–1987	Succeeded by Garrey Carruthers