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Governor's brother withdraws from consideration as Highlands regent
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Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s brother withdrew Sunday from consideration as a governing board member for New Mexico Highlands University, amid criticism the governor received from lawmakers for appointing a sibling to a high-powered public position last month.
Greg Lujan, a junior majoring in applied science, said in a statement to the Journal on Tuesday that he made the decision to withdraw voluntarily. Lujan said he believed his appointment “had become a significant distraction,” given the developments at Western New Mexico University in Silver City, referring to the $1.9 million payout the former five-member WNMU Board of Regents approved late last year for the institution’s president, Joseph Shepard.
“I did not want it to negatively impact my family, employment or education,” said Lujan, a loss prevention and procurement specialist at the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. “I was honored to have had the opportunity to be considered. I truly believe I could have served the students, the university, and the Board of Regents with dedication and integrity.”
Lujan added that he has no regrets about accepting the nomination on Feb. 3, when his sister issued an executive message to the senate making the announcement.
Lujan Grisham had encouraged her brother to apply partly because of his status as a nontraditional student, the governor said last month. She later selected Lujan from a list of names sent by university administrators. But some lawmakers were concerned about the propriety of the governor appointing her brother as a regent.
Las Vegas-based New Mexico Highlands University said in a statement Tuesday that its administration “respects Greg Lujan’s decision to withdraw his name from consideration for the student regent position.”
