Rebecca Vigil-Giron
Encyclopedia
Rebecca Vigil-Giron is an American
politician
, who served as a Democratic
Secretary of State in New Mexico
from 1987 to 1990, and from 1999 to 2006. She is the longest serving Secretary of State in New Mexico History.
, Vigil-Giron is an 11th generation New Mexican. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in French
and Social Science from New Mexico Highlands University
and is a graduate of the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University
.
Vigil-Giron was first elected New Mexico Secretary of State in 1986 at age 31, becoming the highest ranking Hispanic woman statewide elected official in the country. Vigil-Giron ran unsuccessfully against Republican Congressman Steve Schiff for a seat in the United States House of Representatives
in 1990. She was re-elected New Mexico Secretary of State in 1998 and served through 2006 when she was term-limited.
In 2004, Vigil-Giron became the first Hispanic President in the 100 year history of the National Association of Secretaries of State
. She has
served as a member of the United States Election Assistance Commission
’s (EAC) Standards Board and Board of Advisors.
Vigil-Giron once said she became interested in politics after running a successful campaign for homecoming queen at New Mexico Highlands University in 1975. In a 1998 interview she claims to have run a full-fledged campaign for the spot going, "door to dormitory door," with the help of the campus Young Democrats who sponsored her effort.
(IFES) in Nicaragua
, Equatorial Guinea
, and the Dominican Republic
. She also served as a Member State Delegate with the United Nations in Angola, Africa’s presidential elections, and as Executive Director of the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women.
from 2004–2005, the first Latino to serve in that capacity. She served on the Standards Board of the US Election Assistance Commission until 2006. Vigil-Giron aided Governor Bill Richardson in the passage of a paper-ballot requirement in New Mexico in 2006.
In response Vigil Giron was quoted as saying "It's OK to validate or exonerate the fact that I did everything I was supposed to do.... I did not do anything I was not supposed to do."
has come under serious scrutiny by the local media for lack of evidence connecting Vigil-Giron to wrongdoing. On March 16, 2011, New Mexico District Judge Albert S. "Pat" Murdoch barred AG Gary King
from prosecuting Vigil-Giron's case, citing "perceptions of a conflict of interest".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who served as a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Secretary of State in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
from 1987 to 1990, and from 1999 to 2006. She is the longest serving Secretary of State in New Mexico History.
Background
Born and raised in Taos, New MexicoTaos, New Mexico
Taos is a town in Taos County in the north-central region of New Mexico, incorporated in 1934. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4,700. Other nearby communities include Ranchos de Taos, Cañon, Taos Canyon, Ranchitos, and El Prado. The town is close to Taos Pueblo, the Native American...
, Vigil-Giron is an 11th generation New Mexican. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Social Science from New Mexico Highlands University
New Mexico Highlands University
New Mexico Highlands University is a public university located in Las Vegas, New Mexico.-History:The university was first established as New Mexico Normal School in 1893, with the prominent archaeologist Edgar Lee Hewett serving as its first president...
and is a graduate of the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Vigil-Giron was first elected New Mexico Secretary of State in 1986 at age 31, becoming the highest ranking Hispanic woman statewide elected official in the country. Vigil-Giron ran unsuccessfully against Republican Congressman Steve Schiff for a seat in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1990. She was re-elected New Mexico Secretary of State in 1998 and served through 2006 when she was term-limited.
In 2004, Vigil-Giron became the first Hispanic President in the 100 year history of the National Association of Secretaries of State
National Association of Secretaries of State
The National Association of Secretaries of State , founded in 1904, is the oldest non-partisan professional organization of public officials in the United States, composed of the Secretaries of State of U.S. states and territories. Currently, all secretaries of state, including Washington D.C.,...
. She has
served as a member of the United States Election Assistance Commission
Election Assistance Commission
The Election Assistance Commission is an independent agency of the United States government created by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 . The Commission serves as a national clearinghouse and resource of information regarding election administration...
’s (EAC) Standards Board and Board of Advisors.
Vigil-Giron once said she became interested in politics after running a successful campaign for homecoming queen at New Mexico Highlands University in 1975. In a 1998 interview she claims to have run a full-fledged campaign for the spot going, "door to dormitory door," with the help of the campus Young Democrats who sponsored her effort.
First term
After being elected in 1986, she was successful in changing some of New Mexico's restrictive voter registration requirements. New Mexico had the second-most restrictive voter registration requirements in the United States at that time. Voters were required to register 46 days prior to election day to be eligible to vote (only Arizona had more restrictive laws with a 50-day registration requirement). Vigil-Giron campaigned for the law to be amended to a 14-day minimum registration period, but was forced to compromise with New Mexico legislators and the registration requirement was changed to 28 days prior to election day, which is the current law.Between terms
Vigil-Giron left office in 1990, limited to one term by New Mexico law. New Mexico would later change that law allowing her to serve two additional terms. Vigil-Giron ran unsuccessfully for Congress against Republican Steve Schiff in 1990, and worked as a consultant for the International Foundation for Electoral SystemsInternational Foundation for Electoral Systems
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems is an international, non-profit organization founded in 1987. This Washington, D. C.-based development organization provides assistance and support for elections in new and emerging democracies...
(IFES) in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
, Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea where the capital Malabo is situated.Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the...
, and the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. She also served as a Member State Delegate with the United Nations in Angola, Africa’s presidential elections, and as Executive Director of the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women.
Second and third terms
Vigil-Giron made New Mexico history in 2003, by becoming the first Secretary of State in New Mexico elected to three terms. She was elected President of the National Association of Secretaries of StateNational Association of Secretaries of State
The National Association of Secretaries of State , founded in 1904, is the oldest non-partisan professional organization of public officials in the United States, composed of the Secretaries of State of U.S. states and territories. Currently, all secretaries of state, including Washington D.C.,...
from 2004–2005, the first Latino to serve in that capacity. She served on the Standards Board of the US Election Assistance Commission until 2006. Vigil-Giron aided Governor Bill Richardson in the passage of a paper-ballot requirement in New Mexico in 2006.
Paper ballots
Vigil-Giron implemented paper ballots statewide in New Mexico for the 2006 General Election. She was criticised by Republicans in the New Mexico State Legislature for mismanagement of funds for that election. As a result a full audit of her old office was ordered by NM Governor Bill Richardson. Richardson withdrew his appointment of her as director of the NM Film Museum until she had been cleared of all wrongdoing.In response Vigil Giron was quoted as saying "It's OK to validate or exonerate the fact that I did everything I was supposed to do.... I did not do anything I was not supposed to do."
Indictment by the New Mexico Attorney General
Vigil-Giron and others were indicted on August 19, 2009 relating to an audit over voter education PSA's produced by a New Mexico media consultant for the Secretary of State's office. There have been numerous disputes about the political motivations behind these indictments. New Mexico Attorney General Gary KingGary King (politician)
Gary King is the Attorney General of New Mexico, first elected in 2006. His current term will end January 2011. His father, Bruce King, was a three-time Governor of New Mexico. His mother, Alice King, was a three-time First Lady of New Mexico.King attended New Mexico State University and obtained...
has come under serious scrutiny by the local media for lack of evidence connecting Vigil-Giron to wrongdoing. On March 16, 2011, New Mexico District Judge Albert S. "Pat" Murdoch barred AG Gary King
Gary King (politician)
Gary King is the Attorney General of New Mexico, first elected in 2006. His current term will end January 2011. His father, Bruce King, was a three-time Governor of New Mexico. His mother, Alice King, was a three-time First Lady of New Mexico.King attended New Mexico State University and obtained...
from prosecuting Vigil-Giron's case, citing "perceptions of a conflict of interest".