Font ResizeLAS CRUCES - Former Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, was one of Spaceport America's biggest supporters, spearheading the project early on and heavily backing it throughout his eight-year tenure.
His successor, Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, spent much of her 2009 campaign taking aim at Richardson and his initiatives. Does that mean Martinez, a Do-a Ana County resident who took office Saturday, is a spaceport opponent?
"The citizens of Do-a Ana County and Sierra County have spoken. They're the ones who voted on whether or not they wanted to have their tax dollars spent on spaceport," Martinez said during an interview Thursday before her sendoff gala. "We're going to respect that."
But Martinez said she wants to "make sure that the spending is in the best way."
"We can't just agree to give tax dollars and then not be accountable to the taxpayers," she said.
Do-a Ana County and Sierra County voters in 2007 and 2008, respectively, approved sales taxes to back spaceport construction. However, about three-quarters of financing originated from the Legislature.
Martinez said her transition team had requested information, such as a contract between Spaceport America and anchor tenant Virgin Galactic, from the Richardson administration and, as of Thursday, hadn't received it. She said she wants to audit that contract and spending on the $200 million construction project.
In addition to scrutinizing spaceport agreements, Martinez said she's also interested in "how ...
Spaceport Authority Executive Director Rick Homans on Monday said his office has promptly replied to requests for information by supplying three key agreements to incoming economic development secretary nominee Jon Barela, who also will chair the Spaceport Authority board. He said another request was fulfilled via Fed-Ex to the transition committee chairman. Plus, he said he met with the transition panel Thursday morning.
"We've provided absolutely everything and done it in a timely fashion," he said.
Changes coming?
Questions remain about whether Martinez will keep Homans and the current members of the spaceport board of directors.
Martinez said Thursday she hadn't made a decision about Homans. She also said she's been busy with cabinet secretary appointments and hasn't had time to move on to various state commissions and boards, though she's accepting applications on her transition team website.
At least some of those questions may be answered Wednesday during an emergency meeting of the spaceport board, called last week by outgoing Chairman Ben Woods. A single item - a closed session to discuss personnel matters - is on the agenda.
Some spaceport board members on Monday expressed support for Homans and pointed out that the hiring and firing of the executive director is the prerogative of the spaceport board, not the governor directly.
But board member Toots Green, an Alamogordo Republican, said that Martinez could "ask for everybody's resignation and then re-appoint" the board.
"I'd hope she'd keep the board the way it is because we're on a real momentum (swing) now, getting the spaceport going," she said. "But it's her prerogative to do what she wants to do."
Added Green: "I'm sure we'll be hearing something soon, but I just don't know when."
The first Virgin Galactic flights are expected to launch from Spaceport America, in southeastern Sierra County, sometime this year.
Green noted that state law calls for bi-partisan representation on the board.
The seven-member Spaceport Authority board is chaired by the state Department of Economic Development or that person's designee. Woods was the designee of past Economic Development Secretary Fred Mondrag-n.
Barela of Albuquerque, a Republican, ran unsuccessfully for New Mexico's 1st congressional district last year. In addition, the lieutenant governor - under Martinez that's John Sanchez, an Albuquerque Republican - serves as an eighth, non-voting member.
Board member Kent Evans, a Las Cruces Republican whose term is set to expire in 2013, also said he's not sure what route Martinez will take, but he's hoping to remain in the position.
"I'm not going to know much until Wednesday," he said.
As far as the administration of the spaceport project, Evans said, "I'm personally hoping they were going to kind of let it keep going, keeping the status quo, because I felt everything was going pretty well."
Member Pat Beckett, a Las Cruces independent, indicated he's also not clear about what will happen this week, saying his position is "certainly up in the air, too."
Diana M. Alba can be reached at (575) 541-5443
If you go
• What: Spaceport Authority emergency board meeting
• When: 10 a.m. Wednesday
• Where: 901 E. University Ave. Suite 965L, Las Cruces
• Info: www.spaceportamerica.com
