BREAKING: Dianna Duran resigns as Secretary of State
Source: New Mexico Political Report
An email from Kari Fresquez, the Interim Elections Director and Chief Information Officer for the Secretary of States Office, said that a meeting for possible campaign finance rules changes scheduled for Friday morning was cancelled in light of Secretary Durans resignation.
The email said that the hearing is not being rescheduled since it is appropriate that he or she have the opportunity to shape the policy and rules of the office, referring to the next Secretary of State.
New Mexico Political Report made early Friday morning phone calls to Fresquez and Chief of Staff Ken Ortiz in an attempt to confirm the authenticity of the email, though the calls were not returned.
Duran resigned while facing dozens of criminal charges related to illegally using campaign cash for personal purposes. She pleaded not guilty to the charges. Duran was scheduled to appear in court on Friday for a hearing related to the charges....
Read more: http://nmpoliticalreport.com/17701/duran-resigns-from-sos-position/
After Republican Sec'y of State Dianna Duran was charged with 64 counts of fraud and all, she is trying to change how campaign contributions can be spent (she spent hers at casinos, if charges are true...)
I'll post other sources when available.
duhneece
(4,105 posts)The news of Republican Duran's sudden departure came in an email from the state Democratic Party, which included a copy of an email sent after 11 p.m. Thursday Oct. 22 by Interim Elections Director Keri Fresquez announcing that a scheduled meeting about changes in campaign finance rules had been canclled because Duran had resigned.
Duran also has a court appearance scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Friday in state District Court in Santa Fe. The hearing concerns motions in her criminal case. It's not known whether Duran's resignation has anything to do with that hearing.
Fresquez's email, sent to undisclosed recipients, noted that the governor will have to appoint an acting secretary of state. it is appropriate that [the replacement] have the opportunity to shape the policy and rules of the office, Fresquez said.
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/blogs/politics/sos-dianna-duran-resigns-staffer-says/article_3a84e7b8-796d-11e5-b111-83f5863c3f31.html
She was trying to change the rules about how campaign contributions can be spent after she was charged with spending campaign contributions at local casinos AND fraud for putting someone's name as Campaign Manager when he was not Campaign Manager and never had been.
She, of course, is Republican and we have a Republican Governor who is often named as a potential Vice President candidate (because she is Hispanic, 'some say.')