SANTA FE, N.M. – A spending scandal at Western New Mexico University has several state lawmakers, and Attorney General Raúl Torrez, calling for increased transparency and accountability for university regents.

So imagine the surprise when Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham nominated her brother to serve as a regent at New Mexico Highlands University.

No matter how you look at it, the governor appointing her own brother to serve as a university regent feels like a conflict of interest, especially when you remember state lawmakers are currently debating ways to increase transparency and accountability for university regents.

The governor officially nominated her brother, Greg Lujan, in an executive message to state Senate leaders, who will have to make the final decision on this.

The governor says she encouraged her brother to apply to be a student regent for New Mexico Highlands University, saying in part:

“He’s exactly the kind of person we want in these roles. He’s an incredibly hard worker and he embodies a deep commitment to education, having gone back to school as an adult to pursue his dream of a college degree.”

The big question is whether or not he’s actually right for the job. KOB 4 asked one state senator who will have to vote on Lujan’s appointment about all this.

“I met with Gregory, nice guy. I have absolutely no issue with him. Politically, I think it’s very difficult. And I told him, quite frankly, you know, you come into a committee room with people knowing you are the brother of the governor. We have nepotism rules that protect school boards all over, I don’t think this will go over very good, and it probably will be an uncomfortable time for you,” said state sen. Jim Townsend.  

It’s not clear if the Senate committee in charge of debating these appointments is even planning to discuss this, but state senators have already approved several other appointments this year.