According to the Associated Press, a Gallup jury found Public Regulation Commissioner Carol Sloan guilty of two felonies -- aggravated battery and aggravated burglary.
It'll take more than a couple of felony convictions to get her off the PRC though. According to the wire service, She can serve out her current term unless she is impeached." State law doesn't allow anyone convicted of a felony to be elected to public office.
Sloan had filed for re-election but faces four Democratic primary opponents, including Santa Fe homeless advocate Hank Hughes; Theresa Becenti-Aguilar; George James Galanis; and Albuquerque accountant Andrew Leo Lopez. The winner of the primary will run against Republican Gary Montoya.
The jury found that Sloan on July 14 attacked a woman named Brenda Yazzie, with a rock after accusing Yazzie of having an affair with her husband. The commissioner testified this week during her trial that she'd never hit Yazzie with a rock.
UPDATE: The State Republican Party Chairman Harvey Yates just called upon Sloan to resign:
It'll take more than a couple of felony convictions to get her off the PRC though. According to the wire service, She can serve out her current term unless she is impeached." State law doesn't allow anyone convicted of a felony to be elected to public office.
Sloan had filed for re-election but faces four Democratic primary opponents, including Santa Fe homeless advocate Hank Hughes; Theresa Becenti-Aguilar; George James Galanis; and Albuquerque accountant Andrew Leo Lopez. The winner of the primary will run against Republican Gary Montoya.
The jury found that Sloan on July 14 attacked a woman named Brenda Yazzie, with a rock after accusing Yazzie of having an affair with her husband. The commissioner testified this week during her trial that she'd never hit Yazzie with a rock.
UPDATE: The State Republican Party Chairman Harvey Yates just called upon Sloan to resign:
“Commissioner Sloan received her day in court and was convicted of two felonies. Out of respect for the office she holds and the constituents she was elected to serve, Carol Sloan should resign immediately.
“Unfortunately, New Mexicans have grown accustomed to learning that too many of our state's Democrat leaders conduct themselves in a manner which tarnishes the state’s reputation and undermines their ability to lead. Today’s conviction offers yet another reminder that it is time to eliminate the single-party control under which this state has operated for too long.”
Another UPDATE: State Democratic Party Chairman Javier Gonzales also called for Sloan to resign.
"I have called for Ms. Sloan's immediate resignation from the PRC. Ms. Sloan's actions are appalling, unacceptable and will not be tolerated by Democrats or anyone else in New Mexico. The Democratic Party of New Mexico expects all elected officials to abide by a higher standard and work to move our state forward."
Yet Another UPDATE: Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, who is running for governor, joined in the call for Sloan's resignation.
"Public office is a public trust and Ms. Sloan has violated that trust," Denish said. "Therefore, I call on her to immediately resign her seat on the Public Regulation Commission."
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