ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The Republican Party of New Mexico has lodged a complaint saying the state auditor violated the public records act by ignoring a request for his emails and other information.
The complaint came after GOP spokesman Pat Garrett filed a request May 4 seeking all of Auditor Tim Keller’s emails, expense payments and cellphone records since Jan. 1, when Keller, a former Democratic state senator, took the new post.
“The bottom line is that we believe Tim Keller is breaking his commitment to New Mexicans to operate his office in a transparent and ethical manner and that’s why we are asking to review these public records,” Garrett said in a statement.
Garrett did not elaborate further on the reason for the request.
Keller’s spokeswoman Justine Freeman called the records request a political gimmick.
“However, we have nonetheless been working diligently to respond to this intentionally burdensome and overly broad request,” she said.
Republican Party Chairwoman Deborah Maestas filed the complaint with Attorney General Hector Balderas on Wednesday, saying Keller has ignored the records request.
Maestas is seeking the assistance of Balderas in requiring Keller to comply.
Balderas’ office says the complaint has been referred to his open government division for review.
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