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Keith Gardner
| Keith Gardner | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Role: | Former chief of staff |
| Affiliation: | Republican |
| Education: | New Mexico State University |
| Prior Experience | |
| Susana Martinez gubernatorial administration, 2010-2019 | |
Keith Gardner is a Republican politician and political advisor in the state of New Mexico. He was the chief of staff for Governor Susana Martinez (R) from 2010 to 2019.[1] Gardner previously was a Republican member of the New Mexico House of Representatives, representing District 66 from 2005 to 2011. He also served as minority whip.
On November 24, 2010, newly elected governor of New Mexico Susana Martinez (R) named Gardner as her chief of staff. Gardner initially intended serve as the chief of staff and as a state representative, but on January 14, 2011, a replacement, Bob Wooley (R), was named to fill Gardner's office.[2][3]
Early career
After graduating from New Mexico State University with a degree in sports medicine, Gardner began his own company—Sprint Sports Rehabilitation Clinic—in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1994. Gardner had previously worked for Westbrook Rehabilitation, where he had to lobby for a bill in the New Mexico Legislature and was eventually denied access to lawmakers. In 2011, he told the Santa Fe New Mexican that the experience with Westbrook led to his decision to run for state office. He won his first race for New Mexico House of Representatives in 2004.[4]
New Mexico House of Representatives
Committee assignments
While a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives, Gardner served on the following committees:
- Business and Industry Committee, New Mexico House of Representatives
- Printing and Supplies Committee, New Mexico House of Representatives
- Rules and Order of Business Committee, New Mexico House of Representatives
- Taxation and Revenue Committee, New Mexico House of Representatives
Elections
2010
Gardner won re-election to the 66th District seat in 2010. He had no primary opposition and was unchallenged in the general election which took place on November 2, 2010.[5]
| New Mexico House of Representatives General Election, District 66 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
 Keith Gardner (R)
|
5,719 | 100% | ||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Gardner won re-election to the 66th District Seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Gardner had no challenger.[6]
Campaign finance summary
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Susana Martinez chief of staff
On November 29, 2010, Martinez announced that Gardner would serve as her chief of staff.[7] He served in this position until 2019.
Chief of staff
- See also: Gubernatorial chiefs of staff
In 2017, Ballotpedia identified Keith Gardner as a gubernatorial chief of staff. A chief of staff is the lead staff member of an administration and is responsible for implementing the governor's agenda.
The role is both a managerial and advisory position, although specific duties vary by administration. The chief of staff typically has the following responsibilities, according to the National Governors Association (NGA):[8]
- Control access to the governor and manage the governor's calendar;
- Monitor the flow of information to the governor on policy issues;
- Oversee gubernatorial Cabinet and staff; and
- Manage and communicate the governor's policy agenda to the state legislature and the public.
In terms of policymaking, the NGA notes that a chief of staff is responsible for bringing policy and communications together: "The chief is responsible for overseeing the development of the governor’s policy agenda. The policy director or advisor is typically responsible for shaping the general concepts and specific details of the agenda with input from the communications director, policy staff and cabinet members. The chief often must take charge and bring the pieces together coherently."[8]
Noteworthy events
In September 2012, previously unreported recordings of Gardner discussing state officials in candid language were discovered by New Mexico press. In the tapes—which were recorded at a time when Gardner was speaking with a colleague at the Roswell Fire Department—Gardner spoke disparagingly on his relationship with then-President Pro Tem of the New Mexico Senate Tim Jennings (D).[9]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for Keith + Gardner + New + Mexico + Staff
- All stories may not be relevant to this legislator due to the nature of the search engine.
See also
- Governor of New Mexico
- New Mexico House of Representatives
- House Committees
- New Mexico State Legislature
- New Mexico state legislative districts
External links
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002
- New Mexico Votes profile
Footnotes
- ↑ Office of Gov. Susana Martinez, "The Governor's Team," archived September 5, 2017
- ↑ NM Politics, "Gardner to be Martinez’s chief of staff," November 24, 2010
- ↑ Capitol Report New Mexico, "Governor appoints replacements to state legislature," January 14, 2011
- ↑ Santa Fe New Mexican, "Quick political ascent has former legislator settling in as governor’s chief of staff," March 13, 2011
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "2010 General Election results," accessed May 12, 2014
- ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "Official 2008 General Election Results," accessed April 15, 2014
- ↑ New Mexico Watchdog, "Keith Gardner on becoming new Gov’s chief of staff," archived December 20, 2010
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 National Governors Association, "The Many Roles of the Governor’s Chief of Staff," accessed April 20, 2021
- ↑ SF Reporter, "Giant in the Dark," September 11, 2012
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Earlene Roberts |
New Mexico House of Representatives - District 66 2005–2011 |
Succeeded by Bob Wooley (R) |
