Worker brought on after hiring freeze

SANTA FE (KRQE) - Gov. Bill Richardson ordered a statewide hiring freeze in 2008 in response to the state's budget crisis, but News 13 has learned he made a hire well after the freeze went into effect and the employee's father made contributions to his campaign.

"When you keep hiring people, and after the freeze date, then obviously someone is not paying attention to what they are supposed to be doing," Sen. Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, said.

One of those people hired by the governor long after the freeze is D'Nette Wood.

Wood was hired late last year as a Special Projects Coordinator for the State's Economic Development Department at a salary of $65,000.

According to her Web site, Wood has business experience.

She said she was appointed to the State Investment Council by Governor Gary Johnson in 2001 and then reappointment by Gov. Richardson in 2003.

After her time there, she worked in the private sector in real estate.
Wood now works with computers, Deputy Secretary of Economic Development Toni Balzano said.

"Everything from standing up gateways for the super computer, to working on the computer application center," Balzano said.

The only exceptions to the hiring freeze were supposed to be for essential positions dealing with health and public safety.

So why would the Department of Economic Development hire Wood for a non-essential position?

Well, they didn't.

"She is an exempt employee," Balzano said. "And so therefore she works for the governor, and was sent to the department by the governor."

That job was hand picked by Richardson, who News 13 has learned, is friends with D'Nette Wood's father, Paul.

Paul Wood gave thousands to Richardson for his run for governor in 2006 and his presidential run in 2008, according to public records.

Balzano said Wood's job at the Economic Development Department is necessary though.

"We've lost several people from that division over the course of time," Balzano said. "Yes, her position was needed."

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle tell News 13 Richardson's hiring practices have undermined their work to fix the budget mess.

"We come up here and give up hundreds of thousands of dollars in projects back only to find that the governor is offering jobs to people paying almost 100 thousand dollars with benefits and everything," Sen. Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, said. "Negating everything we've done."

Ingle said some things in government are important, referring to new hires.

"But ya know, we have to make sure where we are spending money and we don't need to hire any extra people," Ingle said.