ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico Public Education Secretary, Arsenio Romero, has resigned Wednesday, effective immediately.

KOB 4 told you earlier this month, Romero is one of the five finalists for president of New Mexico State University. But a NMSU spokesperson says they haven’t hired Romero as president.

“I appreciate Secretary Romero’s service to the New Mexico Department of Education and the children of our state. I wish him the best in his future endeavors,” said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Meanwhile, we received a second statement from the governor’s spokesperson about Romero’s departure. It says the governor actually gave him an ultimatum: either resign and continue pursuing the NMSU job, or stay at his current job and withdraw his candidacy at NMSU.  

They also added that the “PED secretary is critically important in New Mexico and the governor believes it’s imperative that the person serving in this role be fully committed to the job.”

Romero was the fourth PED secretary under Lujan Grisham.

The governor and her staff will immediately begin interviewing candidates to replace Romero.