County Clerks, Commissioners, Treasurers 

SANTA FE – Over 100 newly elected officials and current county clerks, commissioners, and treasurers from around the state will participate in the 2020 Better Informed Public Officials (BIPO) Conference, December  1-2, and December 7-8, 2020 virtually due to current health orders. The New Mexico Counties in cooperation with NM EDGE will host the conference. As elected officials won’t be mingling in person this year, they can virtually learn about their new role and responsibilities,  available resources, public meeting conduct, general HR law, and  professional codes of ethics to name a few. 

Held every two years, BIPO conferences help educate newly elected officials who take office January 1. They learn from their peers, earn credit toward certificates in specific fields, and leave with a better knowledge of their respective duties of office.

Outside of the classes, they have an opportunity to attend a veterans’ panel to hear what experienced elected officials have endured while balancing the demands of their county role with their personal life and a media panel on how to effectively  communicate to the public and build good relationships with the press. 

Devin Neeley, San Juan County Public Relations Manager, will moderate the media panel with KOAT Action News 7 Anchor/Reporter, Albuquerque Journal Capitol Bureau Reporter Dan McKay, NM In Depth Deputy  Director Marjorie Childress, and Gila Mimbres Community Radio host  Grant County Assessor Raul Turrieta. 

Amber Hamilton, Roosevelt County Manager, will moderate the veterans’  panel with Bernalillo County Manager Julie Baca, Eddy County Sheriff and NMC Past President Mark Cage, Colfax County Clerk Rayetta Ledoux  Trujillo, Lea County Commission Chair Rebecca Long, and Sandoval  County Treasurer Laura Montoya.