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Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Lt. Gov. Candidate Will Retire From MRCOG
By Thomas J. Cole
Journal Staff Writer
Lawrence Rael, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor next year, said he will retire as executive director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments.
The council, based in Albuquerque, is best known for constructing and operating the Rail Runner train service.
Rael previously worked as chief administrative officer for the city of Albuquerque and as a deputy secretary for the state Transportation Department.
Rael said Monday that he had planned to take a leave of absence from his job to campaign but decided to retire after a question arose concerning whether he is barred by the Hatch Act from running in a partisan election. He said he is still working out details with the council's board but expects the retirement will be effective before the end of the year.
The Hatch Act is a federal law that restricts the political activity of federal employees, as well as state and local government employees who are principally employed in connection with programs financed in whole or in part by federal loans or grants.
Most of the funding for the Mid-Region Council of Governments comes from state and local revenues, but the council also receives federal grant money and administers federally funded programs for other government agencies, Rael said.
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel contacted Rael after receiving an inquiry concerning whether he was covered by the Hatch Act, but the office hasn't yet issued an opinion on the issue, Rael said.
"I completely never thought about" being prohibited from running in a partisan election, he said.
Even if the Office of Special Counsel finds he isn't covered by the Hatch Act, the issue could cast a cloud over his campaign and the work of the Mid-Region Council of Governments, Rael said.
"I'm prepared to move on," Rael said, adding his retirement shows his commitment to running for lieutenant governor.
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