Conflict of interest in Martinez team?

SANTA FE, NM {KRQE} - Pete Domenici Junior is heading up the team looking for a new environment secretary for Susana Martinez, but he's also representing at least seven clients with cases pending in the environment department.

There are people concerned this looks an awful lot like a conflict of interest.
After losing his bid for governor, Domenici took a spot on Martinez's transition team.

Domenici, who represents businesses dealing with environmental regulations, is heading up the search committee to find the next environment secretary.

The team will recommend nominees to Martinez, who will make the final choice.

But, it's Domenici's own involvement with the state agency that is raising eyebrows.


Domenici currently represents 7 companies that the department has taken legal action against, most of them are dairy farmers and oil companies, and most of them for water contamination issues.

But, one of the cases involves Los Alamos National Lab.

“It's the largest hazardous waste permit decision in the state of New Mexico,” current environment secretary Ron Curry said.

“I think it certainly looks like a conflict of interest.” Curry went on to say, “I am not even sure why Pete is on that team, because of all the interaction he has had with the department over the years.”

Curry said he has concerns.

“A lot of these cases have the ability for Pete to appeal them to the next secretary if he doesn't get a decision either out of me or out of the next secretary that he likes. He's certainly in a position to influence who the next secretary is going to be.” A spokesperson for the Martinez camp sent this statement.
“Governor-elect Martinez makes the decisions with regard to who the cabinet-level secretaries will be. She receives recommendations from the search teams, but the decision is hers and hers alone. The Governor-elect is proud to have the support and counsel of Pete Domenici, Jr. and is focused on addressing important issues confronting New Mexicans, such as fixing a massive and historic budget deficit.”
-Danny Diaz

News 13 took a look at the other members of the eight-man search committee; half of them are in the oil or ranching business.

There are no environmentalists on the team.

News 13 asked to talk to both Domenici and to Martinez transition chair Heather Wilson.

They both referred us to spokesman Danny Diaz who said he would only provide us with that written statement.