New Mexico Lottery: New Mexico Lottery names new CEO
The New Mexico Lottery Authority board of directors met today and named Tom Romero as its new chief executive officer. Romero becomes the New Mexico Lottery's fourth CEO since its 1996 inception.
Romero, 48, was chosen from among 67 applicants in a statewide and nationwide search. As CEO, Romero will direct the Lottery's day-to-day management responsibilities and oversee its 62 employees. He has served as interim CEO since November and will be paid an annual base salary of $165,000 in his new position.
Contract negotiations are still in progress and should be complete by the next board of directors meeting scheduled for June 15.
He has been the executive vice president of security for the Lottery since its inception. He started his law enforcement career in New Mexico with the Tucumcari Police Department serving as dispatcher, patrolman, sergeant and lieutenant from 1976 to 1988. He then joined the New Mexico Department of Public Safety in 1989 as an instructor and was later promoted to bureau chief of the NM Law Enforcement Academy Bureau. He also served as bureau chief in the Investigations Bureau.
"Tom has the full support of the board. We are confident that he will bring the talent, vision, and dedication to his new position that he has demonstrated over the past 10 years," said board chair Reta Jones."
"I'm honored to fill this position. As CEO, my principal goal will be to grow and strengthen the New Mexico Lottery, in order to maximize net revenue for New Mexico public education." Romero said.
Romero and his wife Kathy have an adult daughter and son.
Since inception in April 1996, the New Mexico Lottery has raised more than $280 million for public education in the state, including more than $213 million for the Lottery Success Scholarship program. According to statistics provided by the Department of Higher Education, as of the Spring 2005 semester, nearly 38,000 students have received in-state tuition for college from this merit-based scholarship program. Previously, another $66.5 million was earmarked for school construction and repairs in grades K-12, assisting 61 school districts.
