Teaching New Mexicans to Fight Meth Abuse

One of Attorney General King's most important ongoing initiatives is the fight against Methamphetamine abuse. A few years ago an anti-meth outreach program was researched and developed by AGO personnel and the result was a very comprehensive publication and in-person presentation for parents and school-age kids. Office staffers took the anti-meth message out to communities all over New Mexico. Following the hugely successful campaign, Attorney General King directed that the program be modified and updated. The program evolved into the Train-the-Trainer Project that we have today.


Now, instead of presenting the anti-meth information directly, we are training volunteers across the state to become presenters themselves, thereby further increasing the numbers of people who can be reached with the anti-meth messaging. Each volunteer who agrees to learn the AGO's presentation also agrees to spread the word to as many people as possible in their own communities. Volunteers have stepped up from local police and fire departments, medical facilities, government, and community groups to join the fight against what many consider to be the most deadly drug in the world. Hundreds of people have been trained already and the Train-the-Trainer project continues to teach volunteers around New Mexico.


One of the many free community services offered by Attorney General Gary King's office, the Train-the-Trainer presentation will next be held in Chaves County at the Roswell Convention & Civic Center, Monday, September 12. Please see details below and help us spread the word in your community.

WHAT: Methamphetamine Awareness and Prevention Train-the-Trainer Project

WHERE: Roswell Convention & Civic Center, 912 N. Main Street

WHEN: September 12, 2011; 1:00-3:00 PM

WHY:  The grant-funded training is offered in cities and towns across New Mexico to teach volunteers how to put on the AG's Meth Initiative presentation in order to take the knowledge into their own communities.

MORE INFO: Since October 2010, the Train-the-Trainer program has trained 350 community members in:

• Hobbs
• Los Lunas 
• Albuquerque  
• Zuni Pueblo
• Alamogordo
• Otero County 
• Carlsbad
• Roswell
• Farmington
• Santa Fe
• Logan 
• Tucumcari
• Gallup 
• Albuquerque

 Interested community members should register by calling Doris Budris at 505 222-9173 or via email at dbudris@nmag.gov. 

                                                       

AG King Files Lawsuit to Protect NM Water

It is one of the biggest battles Attorney General Gary King is leading on behalf of New Mexico.  The stakes could not be more important to the people of our state.  The details are here in a Report from The Attorney General.


Report Fr AG BOR Suit 8-22-11

First Governmental Accountability Act Training a Success

Attorney General Gary King began making good on his promise to help ensure that every state and local government body in New Mexico knows about changes to a state ethics law.

One of Attorney General King's most important legislative accomplishments last year was SB 432, sponsored by Senator Tim Eichenberg. The bill was passed during the last legislative session. It amends the Governmental Conduct Act to do away with the patchwork of ethics laws that currently apply to government by creating a uniform body of ethics laws that apply to all public bodies, officials, and employees.

Among other things, the bill expands and clarifies the definition of a public officer or employee covered by the Act and the prohibition against certain designated political activities to include elected or appointed officials and employees of state and local government agencies. The bill also extends to local government agencies the prohibitions against state agencies entering into contracts with former state agency employees. 

The Attorney General's Office formulated a training program to explain the Act to state and local government agency employees who are now subject to the stronger Governmental Conduct Act provisions. The training is designed to educate county and municipal officers and employees about their new responsibilities under the law. The first of these training sessions was held this week at the Capitol in Santa Fe. About 40 public employees attended the training conducted by Attorney General King and his Chief Deputy Al Lama. A few photos of the event are posted below.

AG King: NM Water Has Been Sold Down the River

All one has to do is look outdoors to see the effects of the drought around New Mexico. In an effort to avoid making a bad situation even worse, Attorney General Gary King is legally fighting to hang on to our state's water resources. This week AG King filed suit against the federal government to stop the illegal reclassification of what arguably is New Mexico's most precious resource.

NR BOR Lawsuit 8-8-11

Here is a copy of lawsuit filed this week in federal court.


BOR Lawsuit

PRC Commissioner Vehicle Search

Many people have been calling Attorney General King's office in the past 24 hours concerning reports about a search of a state vehicle used by PRC Commissioner Jerome Block, Jr. I can now verify that a search was conducted by Special Agents from the Attorney General's Office. The search is part of an AGO investigation, the results of which will be turned over to the 1st Judicial District Attorney's Office. This is standard operating procedure in cases like this. Further details about the investigation can not be discussed at this time. 

Some important news from recent days to report on several fronts. First, Attorney General King was successful in obtaining a district court ruling that allows him to move ahead in the Vanderbilt Capital investment case.
NR_SIC_Case_7_28_11 (1)
Secondly, the NM Court of Appeals reversed a state district judge’s dismissal order and reinstated charges against PRC member Jerome Block Jr. and his father.
Jerome D. Block

Next, federal indictments were returned against defendants in the former Secretary of State’s Office Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds case. Two of the co-defendants in the state’s corruption case involving the same pot of money were indicted on additional federal charges. AG King’s prosecutors were originally handling the state’s case until District Judge Pat Murdoch removed the Attorney General because of what he believed were “shadows” cast over the case. Judge Murdoch, however, specifically noted in his ruling that, “I see no wrongdoing on the part of the office of Attorney General...I don’t see the prosecution coming from a vindictive place...I don’t see it being created by political agenda...”

Additionally, the state’s corruption case against Rebecca-Vigil Giron, et al., is now being handled by Special Prosecutor Joseph CampBell, appointed by Second Judicial District Attorney Kari Brandenburg.