Constitutional Amendment 3Constitutional amendment · Put on the ballot by lawmakers
Change regent selection
Explain it like I'm 5
Regents help oversee public colleges. This change would have committees suggest candidates, let student government suggest student regents, and limit recent party switching, while the governor would still choose from the lists.
Yes vote
Nominating committees would provide candidate lists, student regents would come from student-government lists, and the party-switching restriction would apply before appointment.
No vote
The current regent-selection rules remain.
The question to ask yourself
Would more screening improve regent quality enough to justify limiting the governor's choices?
The case for
- Committees could screen candidates before appointment.
- Student governments would have a formal role in selecting student-regent candidates.
- The process could reduce direct political control over appointments.
Backed by: New Mexico Business Coalition, American Federation of Teachers - New Mexico
The case against
- It limits the governor's choice of qualified candidates.
- Unelected committees could add delay and reduce accountability.
- The party rule could exclude otherwise qualified people.
Opposed by: Republican Party of New Mexico
- Money
- There is no direct cost or tax effect stated; the cost of operating the committees is not estimated.
- Don't be misled
- The governor would still appoint regents, and the Senate would still confirm them, so this is not a complete transfer of appointment power.