Garrey Carruthers | |
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27th Governor of New Mexico | |
In office January 1, 1987 – January 1, 1991 |
|
Lieutenant | Mike Runnels |
Preceded by | Toney Anaya |
Succeeded by | Bruce King |
Personal details | |
Born |
Garrey Edward Carruthers August 29, 1939 Alamosa, Colorado, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Profession | Professor |
Garrey Edward Carruthers (born August 29, 1939) is an American politician, academic, and former Governor of New Mexico who currently serves as president of New Mexico State University (NMSU). He previously served as special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 1974 to 1975, director of the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute at NMSU, state chair of the Republican Party Of New Mexico from 1977 to 1979, and assistant Secretary of Interior for land and resources from 1981 to 1984.
He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from New Mexico State University and a Ph.D. in economics from Iowa State University.
A Republican, he was elected the 27th Governor of New Mexico in 1986. A major focal point of the race was reinstating the death penalty, resulting in outgoing Democratic Governor Toney Anaya commuting the sentences of all on death row in protest. His term ended in 1991: he could not seek reelection, since at that time, New Mexico term limits did not allow governors to seek consecutive terms. Carruthers was replaced by former Democratic governor Bruce King.
After leaving office, he was president and CEO of the Cimarron Health Plan from 1993 to 2003. In 2003, he was named dean of NMSU's College of Business. He helped establish NMSU's economic development operation, the Arrowhead Center, and served as the university's vice president for economic development. He also helped found NMSU's Domenici Institute and serves as its director. In May 2013 he was elected president of NMSU by the Board of Regents in a 3-2 vote.
Questioned by faculty at an on-campus meeting on his candidacy to become NMSU president in 2013, Carruthers said that there was not a scientific consensus on climate change. He stated: "I don't know. I'm an economist. I don't do global warming. It's a scientific judgment that I can't make." Concerns were also raised about his role in a tobacco industry lobby, The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition (TASSC), which he chaired from 1993 to 1998.