SANTA FE - A businessman who contributed $16,000 last year to Susana Martinez's successful campaign for governor got the job Friday of running New Mexico's vast regulatory agency.

Martinez appointed J. Dee Dennis Jr. as superintendent of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department. He will be paid $100,000 a year, a spokesman for the governor said in an e-mail.

Martinez said in a statement that owners of small businesses have "a friend and an ally" in Dennis.

"Mr. Dennis has the hands-on experience we need to help us eliminate unnecessary red tape, and help business owners navigate their way through government regulations," she said.

Dennis, 56, founded DKD Electric Co. in Albuquerque in 1978. Martinez said he grew the business to more than 350 employees before selling it 1999. He remained with the company until 2008, she said.

After that, Dennis became chief executive officer of Visible Solar Light Technologies, a start-up company, she said.

In the last year, Dennis worked "independently on business development issues with a focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy," Martinez said in the statement.

State records show that Dennis gave money to Martinez's gubernatorial campaign for the primary and general elections.

He donated $10,000 to her in November, $5,000 in June and $1,000 in April.

He sometimes identified himself as Joe Dennis on contribution statements. His wife, Ann Dennis, contributed $500 to Martinez in May.

Dennis did not

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return phone calls Friday. But in a statement released by the governor's office, he said: "I look forward to working with Governor Martinez to make New Mexico a friendlier place to do business. For far too long, burdensome government regulations have stood in the way of job creation and economic development."

The Regulation and Licensing Department has a range of responsibilities. It licenses contractors and regulates more than 30 professions and specialized trades. The department also regulates liquor licenses and financial institutions.

Santa Fe Bureau Chief Milan Simonich can be reached at msimonich@tnmnp.com or (505) 820-6898. His blog can be found on the Sun-News homepage, www.lcsun-news.com.