Editorial: Retaliation claims need a serious investigation

Phyllis Bowman’s allegations of mistreatment and retaliation should sound an alarm. The recipient of the State Bar of New Mexico’s White Collar Crime Award for her work as a prosecutor alleges she was stripped of her duties and put in an office with nothing to do after pointing out incompetence and wrongdoing by her supervisors at the state Department of Regulation and Licensing.

Bowman says she pointed out after the arrest and failed indictment of the New Mexico Finance Authority’s chief operating officer that then-Securities Director Daniel Tanaka lacked the experience, knowledge and maturity to run the Securities Division. And she advised the department of what she alleged was selective prosecution of former business rivals of Superintendent J. Dee Dennis.

Bowman has sued to get copies of two memos about her that were prepared by Tanaka, who recently resigned. If the memos exist, it’s ridiculous Bowman would have to sue to get them under the Inspection of Public Records Act.

Hers are serious allegations that require serious investigation. It would be a good case for a state inspector general; unfortunately, New Mexico doesn’t have one and a proposal to establish that office has yet to pass the Legislature. Attorney General Gary King is another option. Or, the Martinez administration could order up its own fact-finding mission.

In any case, the public deserves answers.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.