 |
| Journal 1977 (Nachtwey) |
The half century plus of exclusion from the state’s top office began amid rapid economic expansion, including an explosion in mining and railroading, followed by the founding of New Mexico’s two major national defense labs presided over by Anglos who rushed to the state to preside over the boom.
Apodaca, 88, who died last week in Santa Fe, apparently from the effects of a stroke, engaged in a clash with Republican Joe Skeen that featured not only ethnic drama but was shadowed by the Watergate scandal and the resignation of the president in August of the election year.
It was in this atmosphere that a youthful Apodaca emerged, sporting an athletic physique, a camera friendly demeanor and a brilliant campaign slogan that captured the tenor of the times—The Man Nobody Owns. It was driven home in slick ads featuring Apodaca jogging on TV screens and billboards.
While he was a new personality to most of the state, Apodaca actually emerged during the final years of an old pattern—picking governors from the Legislature. He was elected at 29 to the first of his two terms as a Las Cruces senator. At 40 he would become one of the state’s youngest governors.
While his media image was handled smoothly by a team of professionals, his ambition was fueled by an often volatile personality as we discovered when we covered him as a 19 year old for the UNM Daily Lobo and KUNM radio. Today we are the last working New Mexico reporter from the Apodaca days.
Born in the 1930s, Apodaca was of a generation of children often punished for speaking Spanish in the public schools. He later would become a high school teacher, a collaborative profession that seemed at odds with his sometimes bulldog style.
As former Governor Toney Anaya, who followed in Apodaca’s footsteps in 1982, put it:
He was pretty tough in fighting for his viewpoints. You could often persuade him to temper his views whatever they may be, but he could be hard-headed.
THE PEAK
Apodaca beat Skeen by a mere 3700 votes in one of the closest elections in state history. It would be his political peak. Governors at the time were limited to a single four year term and Apodaca‘s subsequent attempts at higher office, including another run for Governor and the US Senate, were rejected.
Ironically, Apodaca fell from grace over corruption, a chief reason for his initial election.
Even though today he is widely credited with conducting a successful administration by reforming the bureaucracy and advancing education, the coverage of the day in the Albuquerque newspapers continually tried to associate Apodaca with what they perceived as shady political characters. One of them being trial attorney Billy Marchiondo who would successfully sue the Albuquerque Journal over their coverage, even though the jury awarded him only a dollar in damages.
The damage to Apodaca and his image as the man nobody owns was done. His ability to capture the political zeitgeist as he did so magnificently in the epic year of 1974 would elude him thereafter.
However his chief accomplishment would stand the test of time. He rode through the state as a Hispanic Camelot, reinvigorating native voters and breaking an unwritten taboo. The doors to the Governor’s office had been pried open.
DEATH OF A GOVERNOR
 |
Jerry was intensely loyal to his staff but cast a cold eye on favor seekers and had a strong nose for b.s. “The Man Nobody Owns” fit not only his times but him. Once elected, a few of us suggested he at least meet with a prominent power player with a "you help me I’ll help you” agenda. “Tell him no. I’m not going to kiss anyone’s ass.”
His streamlining of state government, modeled on outside advice from UNM and management consultants, ruffled a lot of feathers in Santa Fe as it threatened to eliminate duplicitous jobs and many advisory boards and commissions. Jerry broke the hold of the good old boys on critical cabinet positions including DFA, Planning, Purchasing, and Health by naming Hispanic men and women. Many Apodaca administration alumni went on to serve high-level roles in the Carter administration, the most Hispanics ever.
It was Jerry's invitation to Governor Jimmy Carter to keynote our general election fundraiser at the Four Seasons in October 1974 that led to my managing Carter's New Hampshire primary and Tim Kraft the Iowa caucus, thus launching our careers as national political consultants.
AN IMPACTFUL LIFE
Richard de Uriarte had the challenge of heading up Apodaca’s communications. Now retired from the Arizona Republic and living in Phoenix he offered these thoughts:
He lived an impactful life as a star athlete, coach, husband, father of five, teacher, business owner, legislator, governor, Regent, presidential appointee, newspaper columnist and mentor.
The state faced many issues in the '60's and 70s -- gas shortages, stagflation -- and challenges in state government. But first as a legislator allied with the liberal Mama Lucy gang, then as an elected governor, he welcomed those challenges and, along with many, many officials who were attracted to his leadership, they accomplished much.
He viewed state government as a laboratory of democracy and used as a tool to achieve progress.
REVOLUTIONARY
Retired ABQ broadcaster Mike Santullo was appointed by Apodaca to the Governor’s Commission on Public Broadcasting. He came with this:
Governor Apodaca was truly revolutionary in what he did in the consolidation of state government, establishing 12 cabinet positions out of many departments that were scattered all over the place with no rhyme or reason. Without a doubt, Jerry was ahead of his time and profoundly left his mark on New Mexico in a beneficial way.
VIGOR AND ENERGY
From State Auditor Joseph Maestas:
As a self-professed “weekend warrior” athlete himself, Auditor Maestas pointed to Apodaca’s athletic legacy and its impact on his business and political career. Apodaca “developed a sense of vigor and energy as a standout athlete, and he brought that same vigor to the office,” he said.
E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com)
Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.
(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023
(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023