SANTA FE - Gov. Susana Martinez has appointed Alamogordo radio executive Bill Burt to the state Senate.

Burt, a Republican, fills the seat in District 40 vacated when Dianna Duran resigned to become New Mexico's secretary of state.

"I'm just humbled and honored," Burt, 60, said in a telephone interview.

A businessman, he owns four radio stations in Alamogordo and serves on the board of Bank 34. He grew up in Deming and graduated from New Mexico State University with a bachelor's degree in mass communication.

The Otero County commissioners nominated Burt for the Senate seat. Martinez chose him three days before the start of the 60-day legislative session.

In a second legislative appointment, Martinez named Republican Bob Wooley of Roswell as representative for House District 66. That seat was vacated by Keith Gardner, who resigned to serve as Martinez's chief of staff.

See more details in Sunday's edition.


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