Toney Anaya | |
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| 26thGovernor of New Mexico | |
| In office January 1, 1983 – January 1, 1987 | |
| Lieutenant | Mike Runnels |
| Preceded by | Bruce King |
| Succeeded by | Garrey Carruthers |
| 24thAttorney General of New Mexico | |
| In office January 1, 1975 – January 1, 1979 | |
| Governor | Jerry Apodaca |
| Preceded by | David L. Norvell |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Bingaman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1941-04-29)April 29, 1941 (age 84) Moriarty, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Georgetown University (BA) American University (JD) |
Toney Anaya (born April 29, 1941) is an American politician and attorney who served as the26th governor of New Mexico from 1983 to 1987.
Anaya was born on(1941-04-29)April 29, 1941 inMoriarty, New Mexico. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree fromGeorgetown University and aJuris Doctor fromAmerican University'sWashington College of Law in 1967.[1]
Anaya met his wife,Elaine Anaya, inWashington D.C. during the 1960s while he was an aide to SenatorJoseph Montoya and she was working for theUnited States Department of Labor. The couple dated for two years before marrying in 1969.[2] They returned to New Mexico and settled in a home near theSangre de Cristo Mountains. They had three children - Kimberly, Kristina, and Toney Jr.[3][2][4]
After returning to New Mexico, Anaya worked as aSanta Fe County attorney and assistant district attorney for the First Judicial District. He later established a private law practice inSanta Fe.[5]
From 1975 to 1979, Anaya served asNew Mexico Attorney General. During his service as attorney general, Anaya oversaw an investigation of the upward curve in the level of drugs in thePenitentiary 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 launched a nine-month investigation of the Penitentiary of New Mexico administration, resulting in a 27-page 1975 report.[6] The report documented traffic in heroin, cocaine, cash and liquor in the penitentiary. It also concluded that sides of beef had been regularly diverted from the prison kitchen loading docks into the pickup trucks of certain favored correctional officers.[7][8]
Anaya and state Corrections Department DirectorMichael Francke signed a consent order in the U.S. District Court for New Mexico compelling the Penitentiary of New Mexico to improve classification practices, stop illegal disciplinary procedures, reduce overcrowding, and significantly improve the food, water supply, plumbing, heating, ventilation and electricity. Ordered by District Judge Edwin Felter, the decree was largely ignored and unenforced for more than three and a half years prior to theNew Mexico State Penitentiary riot.[9] In1978, Anaya ran for theUnited States Senate, but was defeated byincumbent RepublicanPete Domenici. In1982, he was elected the26th governor of New Mexico.[10]
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.[11] In 1986, after the election of his successor,Garrey Carruthers, Anayacommuted thedeath sentences of all fivedeath row inmates in New Mexico. He is a longtime opponent of capital punishment,[12] had campaigned against the death penalty and in later interviews expressed no regret for the commutations.[11] Anaya made headlines on March 28, 1986, by declaring New Mexico the nation's first "State of Sanctuary" for refugees from Central America.[13]
Anaya served one term as governor, from 1983 to 1987. At that time, theNew 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.[14]
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 theDemocratic National Committee and theNorth American Free Trade Agreement.[citation needed]
In 2009, New Mexico GovernorBill Richardson appointed Anaya to head the New Mexico Office of Recovery and Reinvestment. In that role, 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.[15]
From August 2009 to January 2011, Anaya served as CEO of Natural Blue Resources, aWoburn, Massachusetts-basedpenny stock company specializing in investments in environmentally friendly companies, including a New Mexico-based initiative to sell purified water. In July 2014, Anaya was accused of serving as a front man for the company, which was actually controlled by an ex-convict who was legally barred from acting as an officer of a public company. Anaya entered into a civil settlement with theU.S. Securities and Exchange Commission relating to charges that he committed fraud.[16] Under the terms of the settlement, Anaya agreed to a five-year ban from penny stock offerings and acease-and-desist order without admitting or denying the charges.[17]
His wife, former First LadyElaine Anaya, died in November 2021.[3]
| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Attorney General of New Mexico 1975–1979 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forU.S. Senator fromNew Mexico (Class 2) 1978 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of New Mexico 1982 | Succeeded by Ray Powell |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of New Mexico 1983–1987 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former US Senator | Order of precedence of the United States Within New Mexico | Succeeded byas Former Governor |
| Preceded byas Former Governor | Order of precedence of the United States Outside New Mexico | |
| U.S. Military Admin(1846–1851) |  | |
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| U.S. Territory(1851–1912) | ||
| State(since 1912) | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
