Senate confirms Skandera on close vote

The state Senate voted 22 to 19 on Monday afternoon to approve the nomination of Hanna Skandera to the position of Secretary of the Public Education Department. All Republican members of the chamber voted to confirm along with five Democrats. One Democrat did not vote. Skandera was perhaps the most controversial pick by Susana Martinez […]

classroom

The state Senate voted 22 to 19 on Monday afternoon to approve the nomination of Hanna Skandera to the position of Secretary of the Public Education Department.

All Republican members of the chamber voted to confirm along with five Democrats. One Democrat did not vote.

Skandera was perhaps the most controversial pick by Susana Martinez to serve in her cabinet. Her nomination passed the Senate Rules Committee earlier in the day then passed the full Senate later in the afternoon.

“Education is the most important part of everything we do in here,” Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, said. Ingle sponsored Skandera’s nomination.

The confirmation came after nearly two hours of debate, where Democrats questioned Skandera’s qualifications and the reforms that she has implemented over the past four years. Republicans said that something new needed to be tried in New Mexico because the state’s educational system ranks so low.

Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, said he did not believe Skandera was qualified under the state constitution, which requires a “qualified, experienced educator.”

“If we allow this nominee to go forward, then i the future we can do it for anyone if they don’t meet the qualifications,” Michael Sanchez said.

Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort, R-Sandia Park, said she believed that Skandera was a qualified educator, because educator does not necessarily mean teacher, but someone with a background in education.

“That’s what Secretary Skandera’s background is, in the education policy arena,” Wilson Beffort said.

Sen. Mark Moores, D-Albuquerque agreed and said the constitution is vague on what defines a qualified educator.

“We are the one who define that term, the 42 of us in this room,” Moores said.

Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, was critical of some big-name national Democrats on education policy. These names are frequently brought up by those who support Skandera’s efforts.

“Arne Duncan is no more qualified to be secretary of education as Hanna Skandera is,” Ortiz y Pino said. He said that Duncan was put into place by “moneyed interests” like Bill Gates, a major funder of Common Core.

“Bill Gates blows his whistle and Arne marches,” Ortiz y Pino said. He said in New Mexico, “Pearson blows her whistle and [Skandera] marches.”

Michael Sanchez said the in the past, a nominee by Bill Richardson was rejected “for partisan political purposes.” He said he didn’t hear of anyone on the other side of the aisle saying that Richardson deserved his appointee to be confirmed.

He was referring to Neri Holguin, who was up for a position on the Environmental Improvement Board. She failed on a 25-17 vote.

Republicans have said that Skandera is a reformer and that she deserves more time to implement her reform efforts.

“If you want reform, I want you,” John Ryan, R-Albuquerque, said, saying that things need to change in education.

“Frankly, I think Common Core is the right way to go,” Sen. Gay Kernan, R-Hobbs, said. “It was done with change and there was controversy and there continues to be.”

The five Democrats who voted to confirm Skandera were Senators Pete Campos of Las Vegas, Phil Griego of San Jose, Mary Kay Papen of Las Cruces, Benny Shendo of Jemez Pueblo and John Arthur Smith of Deming.

Like in the Senate Rules Committee, Sen. Daniel Ivey Soto recused himself from the debate and vote. He said he had a conflict of interest, not of his own making, through a charter school in Rio Rancho he represents.

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

A New Mexico-based LGBTQ rights organization endorsed 15 candidates for state House and Senate seats for the 2024 elections.  Marshall Martinez, executive director of…
Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pocket vetoed two bills the legislature passed this legislative session: one changing the Cybersecurity Act and the other concerning law…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…
Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republican-backed legislation in the U.S. Congress would make it harder for the government to designate new national monuments. The proposed Congressional Oversight of the…
Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican The main things that bring Brayan Chavez to school every day: Seeing, talking to and engaging with…
Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican Brittany Behenna Griffith has a laundry list of adjectives to describe the ideal special education teacher:…
Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican A challenging task awaits New Mexico lawmakers in the next 30 days: Reconciling three very different…
Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News Four years after hospitals in New York City overflowed with covid-19 patients, emergency physician Sonya Stokes remains shaken by…
Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday $10 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act was awarded to six tribal nations and…
Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee discussed a potential constitutional amendment that seeks to limit the governor’s executive powers. The committee approved…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Later this month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the case against the abortion medication mifepristone. It will hear a second…
New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid announced on Wednesday that it will cover the cost of Opill, the first oral contraception approved for over-the-counter use. It is…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

The Navajo Nation and San Juan County reached an agreement Monday about commission districts after the tribe alleged that its members were not adequately…
MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

New Mexico’s 2022 election was ranked most well-run in the country by Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Election Data and Science Lab’s Elections Performance Index.…
Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report