Ray Powell (New Mexico politician)

Ray Bennett Powell is an American Democratic politician and veterinarian from the state of New Mexico. He served as New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands from 1993 until 2003, and again from 2011 until 2015.

Ray Powell
24th and 26th New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands
In office January 1, 2011 – January 1, 2015
Governor	Susana Martinez
Preceded by	Patrick H. Lyons
Succeeded by	Aubrey Dunn Jr.
In office May 19, 1993 – January 1, 2003
Governor	Bruce King Gary Johnson
Preceded by	Jim Baca
Succeeded by	Patrick H. Lyons
Personal details
Born	Ray Bennett Powell Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Jean Sivikly
Alma mater	University of New Mexico Tufts University

Career

Powell was born in Albuquerque. He graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1977, receiving a bachelor's degree in anthropology and biology. In 1980, Powell received a master's degree from the University in botany and plant ecology. In 1985, he received a doctorate from Tufts University in veterinary medicine.[1]

Powell entered politics in 1993 after he was appointed New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands by Governor Bruce King. He was elected to a full term in 1994 and reelected in 1998. Due to term limits, Powell could not run again in 2002.[1] He ran again in 2006 and narrowly lost to Jim Baca, whom he had succeeded in 1993, in the Democratic primary. Powell ran once again in 2010 and this time was successful. He lost in 2014 to Republican Aubrey Dunn Jr. by a margin of 704 votes out of nearly 500,000 cast.[2][3] Between his terms as Land Commissioner, Powell served as a member of the Department of Agriculture's Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases.[4]

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Biology from University of New Mexico.

Master’s degree in Botany and Plant Ecology from the University of New Mexico.

Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Tufts University, with an emphasis in Wildlife Medicine.

Ray Powell is a veterinarian. He received his doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Tufts University, with an emphasis in Wildlife Medicine. Prior to his election as Commissioner in 2010, Powell worked with world-renowned scientist and humanitarian Dr. Jane Goodall and the Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research Education and Conservation. Today, the Institute’s youth service-learning program, Roots and Shoots, serves young people from preschool through college in more than 160 countries. Powell also served as the Executive Director of the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Powell served as the elected State Land Commissioner for three terms from 1993-2002 and from 2011-2014. He was the president and vice-president of the 22-member Western States Land Commissioners Association from 1996-1998. He worked closely with federal cabinet members, governors, members of Congress, and tribal leaders to improve public policy on trust lands nationwide. During his tenure as State Land Commissioner Ray received numerous accolades and awards from business, agriculture, sportsmen, schools, universities, sovereign tribal governments, and environmental groups. He served for nearly a decade as a member of the State Investment Council, Mining Commission, Oil and Conservation Commission, the Youth Conservation Corps Commission, and the Capitol Buildings Planning Commission. Prior to that, he served as a special assistant to Governor Bruce King with responsibility for environment, natural resources, health, and recreation. Commissioner Powell served two terms as a member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases. In this capacity he gained significant expertise in understanding the impacts of disease and other pathogens on our human and domestic and wild animal populations. Powell served as a member of the New Mexico Board of Veterinary Regulation and Licensing from 2002 – 2010. He was the chairman of the Board for much of his tenure. He worked tirelessly to enhance the humane treatment of animals. Powell is a native of Albuquerque and attended Albuquerque Public Schools. Powell is married to Jean Civikly-Powell, a professor emerita of Communication at the University of New Mexico. She has served as Ombudsperson for the UNM faculty since 1999.

References

1. Gonzalez, Isabel (October 13, 2014). "Land Commissioner is Living the Wildlife". New Mexico News Port. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
2. "NM Commissioner of Public Lands 2014". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
3. Gonzalez, Isabel (December 11, 2014). "Powell: mudslinging in ads sullied land commissioner race". New Mexico News Port. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
4. "Ray Powell's Biography". Project VoteSmart. Retrieved December 15, 2016.