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Jerry Apodaca | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chair of thePresident's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports | |
| In office July 26, 1978 – July 29, 1980 | |
| President | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Jim Lovell |
| Succeeded by | Al McGuire |
| 24thGovernor of New Mexico | |
| In office January 1, 1975 – January 1, 1979 | |
| Lieutenant | Robert E. Ferguson |
| Preceded by | Bruce King |
| Succeeded by | Bruce King |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1934-10-03)October 3, 1934 Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Died | April 26, 2023(2023-04-26) (aged 88) Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Education | University of New Mexico, Albuquerque (BS) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Unit | United States Marine Corps Reserve |
Jerry Apodaca (October 3, 1934 – April 26, 2023) was an American politician of theDemocratic Party who served as the24th governor of New Mexico from 1975 to 1979 and chair of the president's council on physical fitness and sports from 1978 to 1980.
Apodaca graduated from theUniversity of New Mexico in 1956 with a bachelor of science degree;[1] he was a member of thePhi Delta Theta fraternity.[2] Apodaca would later enter the insurance business.
In 1965, he was elected to theNew Mexico Senate, in which he served for four two-year terms from 1966 to 1974. Apodaca was elected governor ofNew Mexico as aDemocrat in 1974, becoming the firstHispanic governor in the U.S. since 1918, along with neighboring Arizona GovernorRaúl Héctor Castro, who was also elected that year. Apodaca narrowly defeated hisRepublican opponent,Joe Skeen, later a long-term member of theUnited States House of Representatives from New Mexico. During the campaign,Jimmy Carter, the outgoinggovernor of Georgia and futurePresident of the United States, came to New Mexico to stump for Apodaca.
Apodaca reorganized the New Mexicostate government to create acabinet system with twelve departments. He consolidated agencies and abolished several boards and commissions. Apodaca's reorganization plan was passed by the legislature in March 1977, but it did not go into effect officially until April 1978. It was presented as a more efficient, effective, and rational means of governing state agencies without the contradictions of state commissions formed by the legislature often in cross purposes.[3] One of the first appointments Apodaca made was Dr. Charles Becknell to be director of the Governor's Council on Criminal Justice Planning. Between 1976 and 1977 the planning staff selected by Dr. Becknell, were ideologically committed to rehabilitation and inmate rights. One of the first significant initiatives of the Governor's Council under Becknell's leadership was the development ofCriminal Justice Standards and Goals for New Mexico that were based on National Standards and Goals initiated by the federal government in 1973.[4] This attention to national standards would put New Mexico in a better position to receive federal funds. However, that was the very reason it was opposed by local prison administrators. Receiving money from the federal government meant paperwork requiring accountability for how the money was spent as well as matching funds a conservative legislature resisted.[5] Coinciding with the 1976 Standards and Goals Project was a second major initiative of the Governor's Council under the leadership of Becknell. A comprehensiveCorrections Master Plan for New Mexico was developed with a consulting group, Approach Associates, from Berkeley, California.[6] The Corrections Master Plan called for a coordinated corrections system, increased programming for rehabilitation, greater emphasis on community-based corrections, and a comprehensive classification system.[7]
The corner stone of the Corrections Master Plan was development of anIntensive Classification Center (ICC). The ICC would give the central corrections agency control over inmate movement, which by law had been controlled exclusively by the administration of thePenitentiary of New Mexico.[8] The ICC would be empowered to classify inmates identified as first time in prison and convicted of violent or non-violent crimes. This would prevent housing violent criminals with non-violent criminals and would be the first step in assuring inmate safety, at least in their cells. The ICC would be in the position to manage inmate population over the whole state, avoiding overcrowding in any one institution.
TheIntensive Classification Center (ICC) was opposed by the Corrections Commission chaired by Bud Richards. Before Governor Apodaca left as governor he was able to negotiate 8 million dollars approved for construction of the ICC. The bill that was drafted for legislative approval asked for $13.4 million. The Chairman of the Corrections Commission, contacted state SenatorAubrey Dunn to tell him that the Corrections Commission (one of the commissions that would lose this policy making decision power in 3 months under reorganization) would not approve this allocation of funds.[9] Charles Becknell called Bud Richards and said, "Bud, you're killing our ICC" and Commission Chairman Richards said, "You're damn right, Charles, I'm killing it."...so the ICC was killed."[10] As Colvin states in his book in conclusion to this attempt for prisoner classification and population management on page 125, "This incident underscores the conflict-filled atmosphere under which the corrections administration was operating during 1977 and 1978."
In 1978, President Carter appointed Apodaca, who was constitutionally ineligible to seek reelection as governor, as the chairman of thePresident's Council on Physical Fitness. After his term as governor, Apodaca became involved in publishing Hispanic-audienceperiodicals.
In 1982, he attempted to run for theUnited States Senate for the seat held by then-incumbentHarrison Schmitt, a Republican and former astronaut. However, he missed his chance in the Democratic primary when then-Attorney GeneralJeff Bingaman defeated him soundly 51%-39%.[11] The primary had been largely amicable as Apodaca and Bingaman concentrated their fire on Schmitt.[12] Bingaman would go onto defeat Schmitt and serve till January 2013, when he retired after five successive statewide wins.
In 1998, another attempt at political redemption ended up with harsher results. Apodaca ran against the former Mayor ofAlbuquerqueMartin Chavez, then-State Representative and future Attorney GeneralGary King, son of former GovernorBruce King, who had just lost the Governorship four years previously, as well as State Auditor Roger Vigil, in the Democratic primary for Governor.[13] Apodaca got a disappointing 10% and though he ran ahead of Vigil, the State Auditor at least won San Miguel county, his home county, while Apodaca got a desultory 3% of the vote. In Apodaca's native Santa Fe county home, Chavez got 59% to Apodaca's minuscule 6%.[14]
Apodaca was a member of the University of New Mexico Board of Regents from 1985 to 1991.
On April 26, 2023, Apodaca died inSanta Fe, New Mexico, after years of declining health. He was 88.[15]
In 2004, the headquarters building of theNew Mexico Department of Education was renamed for Apodaca.
One of the centers of the Ben Luján Leadership and Public Policy Institute is now called the Jerry Apodaca Public Policy Center.[16]
| Party political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of New Mexico 1974 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of New Mexico 1975–1979 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Military Admin(1846–1851) |  | |
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| U.S. Territory(1851–1912) | ||
| State(since 1912) | ||
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| Other | |
