Alicia Keyes

The cabinet picks made so far by Gov.-elect Lujan Grisham are getting points for their experience and competence, but the one that stands out is 43 year old Alicia Keyes as the Secretary-designate for the NM Economic Development Department.

Fresh from a stint as head of the ABQ Film Office, hopes will be high for the 43 year old. That's because she is credited with helping steer a huge investment by Netflix into the city, one of the bigger economic coups of the past economically listless decade.

Keyes, an ABQ Academy grad, says she was starstruck when as a young woman she attended a TV conference and Oprah Winfrey came walking toward her. She went on to write and produce films and landed an executive position at Disney.

Critics of the appointment may be concerned that Keyes is to Hollywood-centric and that the lion's share of her attention will be devoted to expanding the state's film industry, her first passion. But the skills needed in landing Netflix would seem transferable to other deals and industries that the state is in dire need of.

Keyes will be challenged to simply not duplicate her role as a film booster. If she can, her new job could be a breakout role for her--and New Mexico.

A CAUTIONARY TALE

Perhaps a cautionary tale for Keyes and other soon to be cabinet secretaries is the harsh lessons learned by Monique Jacobson, the outgoing head of the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD), and once heralded as a rising political star.

She started out as head of the state tourism department. Given her background in marketing for Pepsi, she made a pretty good run of it. Then, perhaps with the idea of positioning her for political office someday, Gov. Martinez named her head of CYFD. It was an unmitigated disaster with Jacobson's tenure stained by the most horrific cases of child abuse and murders in modern history.

The well-intentioned Jacobson was working way above her pay grade. Her failure (and that of Martinez) was not to see it from the start and back out of the post but she went forward, irrevocably damaging herself and the prospects of thousands of disadvantaged New Mexico children. (And no amount of last minute PR puffery is going to change the damning judgment of history.)

PIZZA AND COKE

From Santa Fe:

It’s the pizza party that never ended for Gov. Susana Martinez. Three years after a loud holiday party in the governor’s room at a downtown Santa Fe hotel received widespread attention — and helped end any talk about Martinez being considered for national office — a local food delivery service is featuring her likeness on a coupon offering $10 off on deliveries of pizza and Coca-Cola. 

“Celebrate our governor’s last few days,” says a post on Dashing Delivery’s Facebook page. “Say arrivederci with a pizza party. Order pizza and coke from a participating restaurant and get $10 off your order.” Four Santa Fe pizza purveyors — Il Vicino, Pizza Centro, Pizzeria da Lino and Rooftop Pizzeria — are taking part in the promotion.

NEW SENATOR 

Here's the newest addition to the NM State Senate:

Gregg Fulfer, a Jal rancher and business owner, was appointed to the state Senate on Friday to fill the vacancy created by Carroll Leavell’s retirement. Gov. Martinez announced the appointment. Fulfer, a Republican, has served on the state Economic Development Commission and Environmental Improvement Board, and he’s a former Lea County commissioner. Fulfer said he would work closely with Leavell, his father-in-law, to ensure a smooth transition.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2018