Albuquerque City Councilor Joaquín Baca has two more years left to serve in his council term, but he could be leaving sooner than that, City Desk has learned.
Baca has interviewed with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for consideration to fill the governor’s vacant cabinet position for secretary overseeing the state’s Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, according to multiple sources contacted by City Desk this week.
The previous secretary, Melanie Kenderdine, resigned unexpectedly in December, creating a vacancy for the agency responsible for regulating the state’s oil, gas and geothermal industries.
With less than one year remaining in her final term in office, anyone taking a role in her cabinet would have a short tenure. The legislature, which convenes for a short 30-day session later this month, is required to confirm any permanent appointment to the governor’s cabinet. But if the governor does not nominate a secretary before the session ends, she could make an acting appointment to fill out the remainder of the year without a confirmation process.
In either case, if Baca were to take the position he could do both jobs, city officials confirmed. City Councilor Brad Winter was appointed to serve as secretary of state for a year when Dianna Duran resigned after pleading guilty to illegally using campaign funds to support a gambling habit. But if Baca were to leave it would create a vacancy on the city council that would be filled by Mayor Tim Keller.
A hydrologist by trade, Baca previously served on the board of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD). He was elected to the City Council in November 2023, representing District 2, which covers Downtown and parts of the North Valley and near Westside.
A spokesperson for the governor’s office declined to comment on the governor’s process for selecting a new cabinet secretary.
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