Attorney General of New Mexico – Hector Balderas, Biography, what does he do?

Attorney General of New Mexico

The Attorney General of New Mexico is an elected executive officer for the State of New Mexico. He serves as head of the New Mexico Department of Justice and must be a licensed attorney.

In New Mexico, the state attorney general is fifth in succession to the governor’s office, after the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, president pro tempore of the state senate, and state house speaker.

However, the Attorney-general acts as the chief legal officer, legal counsel consumer advocate, and public interest guardian of the state government.

New Mexico Attorney General – Hector Balderas

• Hector Balderas (Democratic Party) is the Attorney General of New Mexico. He assumed office in 2015. His current term ends on January 1, 2023.
• Balderas (Democratic Party) ran for re-election for Attorney General of New Mexico. He won in the general election on November 6, 2018.
• He succeeded Gary King (D), who served from 2007 to 2014.
• Balderas will not run for re-election in 2022 as the New Mexico attorney general is limited to serving two consecutive terms.
• Balderas previously served as the New Mexico State Auditor from 2006 to 2014.
• At the time of his election in 2006, he was the youngest Hispanic state-wide officer in the country at age 33.
• And also, Balderas served as a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives from 2005 to 2006.

Short Biography of Hector Balderas

• Balderas grew up in Wagon Mound, New Mexico, a small village with roughly 310 residents.
• His father is an immigrant from Mexico, and his mother was born in Wagon Mound. Raised in public housing, Balderas graduated from New Mexico Highlands University.
• Moreover, he went on to earn his law degree from the University of New Mexico, becoming the first person from his village to become an attorney.
• Upon graduating from law school, Balderas began work as an assistant district attorney in Albuquerque.
• In December 2003, he moved his family back to Wagon Mound and was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives.
• However, before he completed his first term in the state legislature, Balderas won the election as an auditor.

Education Qualification

• B.A., New Mexico Highlands University
• J.D., University of New Mexico (2001)

Political career

• New Mexico Attorney General (2015 – Present)
• Balderas was first elected to the attorney general’s office on November 4, 2014. He replaced Gary King (D), who ran unsuccessfully for governor. Balderas was re-elected on November 6, 2018.
• In a Huffington Post article published November 17, 2014, Balderas was identified as one of seven Democratic state executive officials who could gain national prominence.

House of Representatives New Mexico

• As a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives, Balderas contributed to legislation increasing penalties for sexual predators.
• However, he established investment incentives for alternative energy and funding virtual education for rural public schools.

What does the attorney general do?

• Firstly, to make our communities safer and more prosperous, the Attorney General prosecute criminal and civil offenses.
• Secondly, he advocates for consumers and those without a voice;
• He empowers the public by proactively educating them and connecting them with beneficial resources.
• Lastly, he serves as legal counsel for the state and its agents.

Attorney General Powers and Responsibilities

• Propose legislation and enforce federal and state environmental laws and represent the state and state agencies before the state and federal courts.
• However, they are handling criminal appeals and serious state-wide criminal prosecutions.

How does the attorney general help consumers?

• Handles complaints about deceptive or fraudulent business practices.
• The AG’s office represents the people of California’s collective legal interests and is the state’s chief law enforcement officer.
• However, you can now file complaints electronically with the AG’s Public Inquiry Unit

How does an Attorney General work?

• The Office of the Attorney General is focused on protecting vulnerable populations and making our communities safer so that we can indeed prosper in New Mexico.
• The Attorney General’s aims prevention strategies, complex prosecutions, and public awareness.
• Through this approach, the Attorney General’s Office seeks to empower New Mexicans to strengthen families through education and awareness.
• And also, they hold dangerous criminals and those in power accountable for any harm they cause to our communities.

Cyber Security

• The Equifax data breach is unique in that consumers may not be aware that Equifax has their personal information.
• Moreover, Consumers have knowingly released their information in other types of data breaches like those from credit card application information at other companies.

Fighting the Opioid Crisis in New Mexico

• Since 2008, New Mexico has had one of the highest drug overdose death rates in the United States.
• Between 2008-2012, almost every county in New Mexico had a higher drug overdose death rate than the entire United States.

Civil Rights

• Basically, the Attorney General’s Office is committed to protecting immigrant communities, public safety, and fundamental rights.
• He also protects Mexicans through the vigorous enforcement of civil rights laws and consumer protections.
• And also, he promotes trust and cooperation between immigrants and law enforcement.

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