OFFICE OF THE TREASURER Se oar ee So tans Maren 22, 2018 Reverend Charles E. Beckrell, Sr., PhD Southern Christian Leadership Conference of New Mexico PO Box 44565 Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4565 Dear Reverend Becknell: In response to your letter of March 11 1. The New Mexico State Treasurer's Office had three Aftican Americans on staff until January 1, 2019. Currently we have two African American staff members. STO has 28 ‘staff members in total 2. Since State Treasurer Tm Eichenberg took office on Januaty 1, 2015, STO has hired one African American, 3, STO does not know how many African Americans have been interviewed since Treasurer Eichenberg took office. 4, The State Treasurer's Ofice has always been inclusive in its hiring practices and ‘sensitive to creating diversity in the workplace, in compliance with all State and/or Federal recruitment policies/rules and statutory laws, Sincerely, Mk fara Lujan Human Resources Director Sj Tht 12055 Suh Pacheco Sts, Sue 00 Sara Fe, Now Mico E05 + Phone 509) 956-4180 + Fe 05) 96-110scicnm Southern Christian Loalership Conference of NM Mareh 11, 2019 ECEIVE WAR 16 2019 im Fichenberg, State Tresuer 2055 S, Pacheco St Stes 1(0 & 200 Santa Fe, NM 87505 Dear State Tresurer Eichenderg: As the president of the SCLCNM, Ihave enclosed a letter that am circulating to the SCLCNM. ‘members and to the leaders in the Aftican American community. The information contained reflects the reality of what is going on after the 2018 election. Before I move further with my ‘cancer, lam requesting that you respond to the following questions: How many African Americans do you have on your staff? How many African Americans have you hired since your election? How many African Americans have you interviewed since your election? ‘Do you intend to become more inclusive inthe Future? (Please explain.) A response ftom you will be greatly appreciated, Sincerely, Chih 2 Bectuslf by Reverend Charles E. Beskrll, Se, PhD President A New Day — A New WaySouthern Christian Inthe vemacular of our Aftean American ancestors, “We have been took.” They may not have tused “proper” English, but we understood what “took” meant. have lived in New Mexico all of any life and have been a registered Democrat forall of my adult life. While growing up in Hobbs, 1 remember my dad vas a stong supporter of the Democratic Party. Consequently, politicians ‘would come into our commanity during elections, shake hands like we were long lost brothers, put ‘up signs, make a short speech and provide us with barbeque, red sodas, her and plenty of watermelons After making promises they had no intentions of keeping and had gotten the support from the community leaders they shook hands again and rode off into the sunset, not to be seen again until ‘the next election. This scenario has been repeated election after election, and after each election, ‘we were “took.” ‘We have been some ofthe most loyal supporters ofthe Democratic Party and in 2018, we voted overwhelmingly for candidtes who represented the party, based on promises made and sadly have not boon kept. These candidates asked for our vote and we delivered. Again, we have been “took,” ‘They got what they wanted and just rode off into the sunset, ‘During the last administration, we were shut out of State goverment postions. We as Black Democrats put all of our egzs in one basket and we should not have been too disappointed because ‘the last governor made no prior commitment to us. However, in the 2018 election commitments wore made and it did not take long for us to realize that we had been “took” again. We have been elfectively excluded fiom State government again. All the appointed top level positions have been filled and all we have received isa burrito and the directions out of Santa Fe. AAs president of the Southem Christian Leadership Conference of New Mexico, lam calling on our newly elected Democrats to answer the following: ‘© How many African Americans do you have on your stall? ‘© How many African Americans have you hired since your election? ‘+ How many African Americans have you interviewee since your election? ‘+ Do you intend to become more inclusive in future hiring? (Please explain.) A New Day — A New Way‘The conventional thinking is that Aftican Americans are small in number. When I hear the word “small,” [hear insignifican In close statewide election African Americans can and have made ‘difference. Our problem is that we do not hold our elected officials accountable. have a few questions for my community: = How long will ve place all our eggs in one basket? = How long will ve continue to allow ourselves to be “took”? = Will we settle fora burito or will we demand a place atthe table? We expect more from our party. We can do beter. Sincerely, irdeto ache Boseell Ce: Marg Elliston, Chair Democratic Party NM Dr. Harold Bailey, President, NAACP Albuquerque Chapter Reverend N. D. Smith, President, Baptist Ministers Union Reverend Wendall Benford, President, Ministers Fellowship Mayor Tim Keller Cecilia Webb, President, National Council of Negro Women