NEW BOARD MEMBERS JOIN THE NEW MEXICO FOUNDATION FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT
Wednesday, January 17, 2023
Organization Press Release – From the New Mexico Foundation For Open Government
Albuquerque, N.M. – The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government has elected two new members to its Board of Directors. They are: Wende Schwingendorf, the managing editor of Albuquerque Business First, andBarbara Vigil, former Supreme Court Justice and District Court Judge.
Schwingendorf has extensive experience in the business sector and is also deeply passionate about addressing transparency issues that impact the lives of New Mexicans. She is a lifelong New Mexican with strong ties to media, business and government decision-makers, nonprofits, and community organization memberships and leadership.
Vigil’s legal career has spanned over three decades. After initially serving as a civil practitioner, she pivoted to pursue discrimination and civil rights claims for countless clients. She was appointed and the elected to serve as a District Court Judge in the First Judicial District covering Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Los Alamos counties and in 2012, Barbara was elected to serve on the New Mexico Supreme Court where she served as Chief Justice from 2014-2016.
In addition to the new members, the FOG board elected new officers for the 2024 year. They include Jessica Onsurez, news director for the USA TODAY Network-New Mexico, president; Lucas Peerman, Albuquerque Journal sports editor, vice president; Rashad Mahmood, New Mexico Local News Fund co-director, secretary; and Sammy Lopez, executive director New Mexico Press Association, treasurer. As Immediate Past President, Karen Moses, retired Albuquerque Journal editor, is also a member of the board. Daniel Yohalem, Santa Fe attorney, and Mary Lynn Roper, retired general manager of KOAT TV 7, are at-large board members.
As an advocate for transparency in government, FOG is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that serves the open government interests of the general public, the business community, elected officials, journalists and lawyers. Call the FOG hotline at 1-505-764-3750 for questions or concerns regarding Inspection of Public Records Act of the Open Meeting Act.