Challenging the rules governing the elected, five-member New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, one of its charter commissioners is trying to get on the ballot for a third term. Currently the 1998 law forming the commission restricts commissioners to two four-year terms. The state attorney general’s office is conducting an investigation to see if a third term is in the cards for Jerome Block.

At the outset of the elected commission in 1998, terms of the regulators were staggered after they won election, with each winner drawing lots for two- and four-year terms. Block drew a two-year term, and was subsequently re-elected to a four-year term. He now argues the law entitles him to “two four-year terms.”

“The matter is still under review and a final determination has yet to be made,” said a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office, as quoted last Friday in the Albuquerque Journal.

Nevertheless, Block told news media he thinks the matter is “cut-and dried,” and he will be allowed to serve a second four-year term. He is already hosting fund-raising events for his re-election campaign.

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