Toney Anaya facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Toney Anaya
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| 26th Governor of New Mexico | |
| In office January 1, 1983 – January 1, 1987 |
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| Lieutenant | Mike Runnels |
| Preceded by | Bruce King |
| Succeeded by | Garrey Carruthers |
| 24th Attorney General of New Mexico | |
| In office January 1, 1975 – January 1, 1979 |
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| Governor | Jerry Apodaca |
| Preceded by | David L. Norvell |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Bingaman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 29, 1941 Moriarty, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Elaine Anaya
(m. 1969; |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Georgetown University (BA) American University (JD) |
Toney Anaya (born April 29, 1941) is an American politician and lawyer. He served as the 26th governor of New Mexico from 1983 to 1987. Before becoming governor, he was the Attorney General for New Mexico.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Toney Anaya was born on April 29, 1941 in Moriarty, New Mexico. He went to Georgetown University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Later, he studied law at American University's Washington College of Law, getting his law degree in 1967.
Public Service Career
After finishing his studies, Anaya returned to New Mexico. He worked as a lawyer for Santa Fe County. He also served as an assistant district attorney. Later, he started his own law firm in Santa Fe.
Serving as Attorney General
From 1975 to 1979, Anaya was the Attorney General for New Mexico. In this role, he was the state's chief legal officer. He worked to improve conditions in the state's prison system. He helped create an agreement to make prisons better and safer.
In 1978, Anaya ran for a seat in the United States Senate. However, he was not elected. In 1982, he ran for governor and won. He became the 26th governor of New Mexico.
Governor of New Mexico
As governor, Toney Anaya focused on important issues for New Mexico. He worked on finding new energy sources and protecting the environment. He also focused on managing water resources and improving education. Anaya aimed to help New Mexico's economy grow, especially in technology.
One notable action as governor was his decision to change the sentences of all five people on death row in New Mexico. He was against the death penalty. He had spoken about this during his campaigns. He later said he had no regrets about this decision.
On March 28, 1986, Governor Anaya declared New Mexico the first "State of Sanctuary" for refugees. This meant the state welcomed people seeking safety from Central America.
Anaya served one term as governor, from 1983 to 1987. At that time, the New Mexico Constitution did not allow governors to serve two terms in a row. This rule changed later, allowing governors to serve two consecutive terms starting in 1991.
After Being Governor
After leaving office, Anaya continued to be active in public life. He joined many groups and organizations. These groups often focused on issues important to Hispanic communities, education, and politics. He also worked with the Democratic National Committee.
In 2009, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson asked Anaya to lead the state's Office of Recovery and Reinvestment. In this role, Anaya helped manage federal money given to New Mexico to boost the economy. He worked to make sure the money was used properly and openly.
His wife, former First Lady Elaine Anaya, passed away in November 2021.
See also
In Spanish: Toney Anaya para niños
