Toney Anaya

Toney Anaya
26th Governor of New Mexico
In office 1983–1987
Preceded by	Bruce King
Succeeded by	Garrey Carruthers
Personal details
Born	April 29, 1941 (1941-04-29) Moriarty, New Mexico
Political party	Democratic
Profession	Politician
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Toney Anaya (born April 29, 1941) is a U.S. Democratic politician who was born in Moriarty, New Mexico. He went to undergraduate school at Georgetown University and graduated with a law degree from American University's Washington College of Law in 1967. After returning to New Mexico, Governor Anaya worked as a Santa Fe County attorney, was an assistant district attorney for the First Judicial District, and later established a private law practice in Santa Fe. From 1975 to 1978, he served as New Mexico Attorney General. In 1978, he ran for United States Senate, but was defeated by incumbent Pete Domenici. He served as the 26th Governor of New Mexico from 1983 to 1987.

As Governor, he focused on energy alternatives, water development and conservation, the environment, education, economic development, and provided leadership in investing of the state’s multi-billion dollar trust funds. Known as a visionary, he successfully steered the state through a national recession, transforming New Mexico into a more technology-based economy and laid the groundwork for future deployment of rapid rail transit, education and social reform. In 1986, after the election of his successor, Garrey Carruthers, Anaya is also remembered for commutation of death sentences of all five death row inmates in New Mexico in 1986, due to his opposition to capital punishment. Anaya had campaigned against the death penalty and in later interviews expressed no regret for the commutations.

He served one term, from 1983 through 1986. At that time, the State Constitution limited executive officers to a single four-year term. That changed when a 1986 Constitutional amendment allowed state executive officers to serve two consecutive four-year terms for terms beginning January 1, 1991.

Since leaving office, he has served on numerous boards, commissions, and with non-profit organizations primarily focusing on Hispanic issues, education, and politics. He contributed significantly to the Democratic National Committee and the North American Free Trade Agreement.

In 2009, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson appointed Anaya to head the New Mexico Office of Recovery and Reinvestment. Anaya is responsible for overseeing the spending of the $1.8 billion in federal stimulus money expected to be invested in New Mexico during the next two years. Governor Anaya has been working closely with state agencies to facilitate access to funding, assist with compliance, and promote transparency throughout the process.

References

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Legal offices
Preceded by David L. Norvell	Attorney General of New Mexico 1975–1979	Succeeded by Jeff Bingaman
Political offices
Preceded by Bruce King	Governor of New Mexico 1983-1987	Succeeded by Garrey Carruthers