by Mark Schaaf
Daily Lobo
After 26 years in private and public practice, Albuquerque lawyer Patrick Apodaca has seen his share of the spotlight.
As the lead attorney with Keleher & McLeod, PS, Apodaca's experience includes working in President Jimmy Carter's administration as a junior lawyer, where he dealt with the FBI and background checks for presidential nominees.
He was also an independent attorney for the city of Albuquerque, where he dealt with several high-profile cases, including complaints about guard abuse at the Bernalillo County Detention Center.
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Monday, he told a small audience of seven, including two students who worked in the University Counsel Office, why that experience would benefit the University counsel position.
Apodaca was the third and final counsel candidate to meet with the public in the Fiesta Room in the SUB. Acting UNM President David Harris will recommend a candidate to the Board of Regents, which is expected to vote at its April meeting.
Roland Wildman, operations manager for the Center for High Tech Materials at UNM, attended all three forums and was impressed by each candidate.
"I thought that they were of good caliber," Wildman said. "I think each one brings something different, and it'd be interesting to hear the take by the different constituents of the University as the interview process progresses."
The position of University counsel, Apodaca said, would bring his skills in management together.
"I've always had an interest in public-sector service," said Apodaca, who ran twice unsuccessfully for New Mexico attorney general. "I feel I can contribute directly, not just as counsel, but as part of the president's 'kitchen cabinet.'"
Apodaca was born in Las Cruces. With his dad a teacher and principal, he said he values education, another reason he is interested in the counsel position.
Apodaca said the most important task for the role of counsel was to manage a large group of lawyers. At Keleher & McLeod, he helps manage a group of about 30 attorneys and an overall staff that fluctuates between 65 and 100 people.
In his role as independent counsel for Albuquerque, he would often work 25 hours on top of his full-time job at Keleher & McLeod, he said.
With that experience, he said he is prepared for the hefty workload of University counsel, which is often bigger than in the private sector.
"I felt I did a good job, and I'm glad I did it," he said of his eight years with the city.
Apodaca also advocated an "open-door" policy, meaning the University should not hesitate in coming to him should problems arise.
"I'd rather know about it earlier," he said. "I'd like to try and solve it."
Mark Peceny, chairman of the political science department, said Apodaca was the only candidate he was able to hear speak, but thought all of the candidates looked good on paper.
"My sense is that the University would do well with any of the folks," Peceny said. "They all seem to be very strong candidates, and they have diverse skills and backgrounds."
