New Allegations of Bullying, Physical Intimidation Tactics By Gov. Martinez’s Top Staffer

DPNM: Chief of Staff Keith Gardner Unfit to Serve

Contact: Matt Ross, (505) 263-4879

Albuquerque, NM - Gov. Susana Martinez is getting a reputation for bullying, attacking and refusing to work with political opponents. Operatives like McCleskey, Darnell and Gardner make news because they attempt to advance their policies with every conceivable form of intimidation.

Now, in a front page Albuquerque Journal story, Martinez’s top staffer, "Gentle Giant" Keith Gardner, has been caught once again attempting to influence the other side of a debate with bullying and intimidation. And this time it got physical, when Gardner “painfully gripped [Menapace’s] arm and yelled at her in ‘in an extremely threatening manner’” that the "bowels of hell were about to open up."

Coming just a month after tapes were released putting Gardner’s darker side on full display, it is now clear that Chief of Staff Keith Gardner has become a serious liability for Gov. Martinez. His temper – at someone who did nothing more than oppose his personal agenda – makes it impossible for him to work with the legislature to make progress on just about anything. Keith Gardner is unfit for service in any position funded by taxpayers, much less as the top government staffer in the state. If Gov. Martinez is at all serious about moving an agenda forward, it is time for her to fire Keith Gardner.

The following is a statement from DPNM Executive Director, Scott Forrester, on Gardner’s actions and the response from Governor Martinez’s office:

"Keith's actions are truly unfortunate for the State of New Mexico. It is now abundantly clear that his temperament, bullying and intimidation make him unfit to serve in such an important role governing this State. It’s time for him to go.  

"New Mexicans gave control of their government to both parties expecting us to come together. How can Susana expect us to take her seriously when her top representative has been recorded speaking with such disrespect and hatred about Senate Pro Tem Tim Jennings and thinks it is appropriate to literally grab and shake a woman over something as simple as a disagreement over education policy? Instead of sitting down at the table to have a reasonable discussion, Martinez and her lackeys are lashing out at anyone who dares to disagree with her, and that’s no way to run a government.”

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