[ACLU-NM] Press Release: ACLU Asks Homans to Retract Statement

[Kimberly Lavender]

~ ACLU-NM NEWS RELEASE ~



For Immediate Release, February 24nd, 2005



Contact:        Peter Simonson, ACLU-NM Executive Director, 266-4622

`           George Bach, ACLU-NM Staff Attorney, 266-4622





ACLU Asks Development Secretary Homans
to Retract Statement


Albuquerque—Today the ACLU of New Mexico sent a letter to the Secretary of
the NM Department for Economic Development Rick Homans requesting that he
retract a directive prohibiting all departmental employees from visiting the
capital on their own time during the current legislative session.  The ACLU’
s letter reads, “It is our opinion that the directive imposing a blanket ban
on employees, as private citizens and on their own time, from contacting
legislators or appearing in a public forum to advocate for their personal
beliefs on matters of public concern violates protections of free speech and
free association under the federal and state constitutions.”



The letter was copied to the Office of Governor Bill Richardson and includes
a request under the Inspection of Public Records Act for “any written
policies that dictate what employees of the Economic Development Department
may and may not do with regard to contact with legislators and other venues
for public expression.”



“We understand perfectly the requirement that employees obtain the Secretary
’s approval before visiting the legislature in their capacity as
departmental employees,” said ACLU-NM Executive Director Peter Simonson.
“However, their freedom cannot be restricted in their capacity as private
citizens.  The Secretary’s authority does not reach that far.”



A copy of the ACLU-NM’s letter accompanies this release.



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Peter G. Simonson

Executive Director, ACLU of New Mexico

PO Box 80915 | Albuquerque, NM 87198

Tel: (505) 266-5915 | Fax: 266-5916


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