The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government announced the election of new members to its Board of Directors and the appointment of Karen Moses, the editor of the Albuquerque Journal, to board president beginning January 1, 2018.

Moses, a University of New Mexico journalism graduate, replaces Greg Williams, NMFOG’s Board President for the past three years. He will remain on the board as immediate past president and be active on NMFOG’s legal panel.

Susan Boe, the executive director for Searchlight New Mexico, an online news portal based in Santa Fe, was appointed to serve as Vice President after being elected to the board December 11. Boe previously served as NMFOG’s executive director for three years before retiring last December.

“Transparency is essential for honest government because it has always been true that sunshine is the best disinfectant,” said Moses, a past president of the New Mexico Press Association and a member of the University of New Mexico Alumni Association Board.

“We need it now more than ever,” Boe said, adding she decided to renew her service to FOG based on the nonprofit’s “long tradition of leading the fight for government in the sunshine.”

The newly elected at-large board members include:

Tom Johnson (Santa Fe), former deputy editor St. Louis Post Dispatch, New Mexico director The People’s Data.
Henry Lopez (Santa Fe), digital editor Santa Fe New Mexican.
Sammy Lopez (Farmington), publisher Farmington Daily Times and former Dixon award winner.
Paula Maes (Albuquerque), President and CEO New Mexico Broadcasters Association.
Rory McClannahan (Albuquerque), Executive Director of the New Mexico Press Association,
Steve McKee (Albuquerque), President McKee, Wallwork & Co., an advertising and maketing firm.
Mary Lynn Roper (Albuquerque), President/General Manager KOAT-TV.
Hal Stratton (Albuquerque), former state Attorney General, now shareholder Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.

Hobbs businesswoman Kathi Bearden, former state Sen. Dede Feldman, Think New Mexico Executive Director Fred Nathan, Albuquerque attorneys Chuck Peifer and Charles “Kip” Purcell, and journalist Sylvia Ulloa were re-elected to new three-year terms.

Former New Mexico Deputy Auditor and CPA Carl Baldwin, Communications Consultant Jeri Clausing, Common Cause Executive Director Viki Harrison, Public Relations Consultant Melanie Majors, Retired Publishing Executive Michael Melody, Rio Grande Sun Publisher Bob Trapp, Santa Fe Attorney Daniel Yohalem and Hobbs Attorney Joseph Zebas remain on the board in 2018.

Board Secretary Billie Blair did not run for a fourth consecutive term. Former state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones, a board director since 2014, announced she is leaving the board to run as Republican candidate for Congress in 2018.