Garrey Carruthers

Garrey Edward Carruthers (born August 29, 1939) is an American politician, academic, and former Governor of New Mexico who currently serves as president of New Mexico State University (NMSU). He previously served as special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1974 to 1975, director of the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute at NMSU, state chair of the Republican Party Of New Mexico from 1977 to 1979, and assistant Secretary of Interior for land and resources from 1981 to 1984.^[1]

He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from New Mexico State University and a Ph.D. in economics from Iowa State University.

A Republican, he was elected the 27th Governor of New Mexico in 1986. A major focal point of the race was reinstating the death penalty, resulting in outgoing Democratic Governor Toney Anaya commuting the sentences of all on death row in protest.^[2] His term ended in 1991: hecould not seek reelection, since at that time, New Mexico term limits did not allow governors to seek consecutive terms. Carruthers was replaced by former Democratic governor Bruce King.

After leaving office, he was president and CEO of the Cimarron Health Plan from 1993 to 2003.^[1] In 2003, he was named dean of NMSU's College of Business. He helped establish NMSU's economic development operation, the Arrowhead Center, and served as the university's vice president for economic development. He also helped found NMSU's Domenici Institute and serves as its director.^[3] In May 2013 he was elected president of NMSU by the Board of Regents in a 3-2 vote.^[4]

Views on Science

Questioned by faculty at an on-campus meeting on his candidacy to become NMSU president in 2013, Carruthers said that there was not a scientific consensus on climate change. He stated: "I don't know. I'm an economist. I don't do global warming. It's a scientific judgment that I can't make."^[5] Concerns were also raised about his role in a tobacco industry lobby, The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition (TASSC), which he chaired from 1993 to 1998.^[6]

In a letter, four state representatives said that science, particularly climate change, is an essential issue for NMSU. They raised concerns about Carruthers's involvement in TASSC. The state representatives said TASSC had "a clear history of industry involvement in staking out positions opposing now widely held beliefs regarding public health and the environment."^[7] In response, Carruthers expressed disagreement with the stance of TASSC on the risks of second-hand smoke. "I'm four-square against second-hand smoke," Carruthers said in an interview with the Albuquerque Journal. "I don't think people should smoke, and second-hand smoke is detrimental to other people's health."^[8]

References

Governors of New Mexico
U.S. Military Admin (1846–51)	Military Kearny Price Washington Munroe Civilian Bent Vigil Connelly
U.S. Territory (1851–1912)	Calhoun Lane Meriwether Rencher Connelly Mitchell Pile Giddings Axtell Wallace Sheldon Ross Prince Thornton Otero Hagerman Curry Mills
State (since 1912)	McDonald C. De Baca Lindsey Larrazolo M. Mechem Hinkle Hannett Dillon Seligman Hockenhull Tingley Miles Dempsey Mabry E. Mechem Simms E. Mechem Burroughs E. Mechem Bolack Campbell Cargo King Apodaca King Anaya Carruthers King Johnson Richardson Martínez
See also Mexican governors of New Mexico, Spanish governors of New Mexico