Adeline Murthy

Much at stake in heated Land Commissioner race

The Land Commissioner is one of the most important public offices, but most voters are only faintly aware of how the management of state lands impacts wildlife and ecosystem function. The State Land Office manages 13 million subsurface acres and 9 million surface acres of public trust land for the benefit of New Mexico’s public schools and hospitals. In the 2012-13 fiscal years alone, UNM received $8.9 million from the State Land Office.