Gov. Martinez brings up old feud in RNC speech
On Wednesday night, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez addressed the nation at the Republican National Convention in Florida.
During her speech, Martinez focused on what made her who she is today.
She made reference to a struggle with a former boss from more than a decade ago. It was all to inspire other politicians to have courage no matter the consequences.
“Sometimes you pay a price for standing up. When I was a young prosecutor, I got called to testify against my boss. I could have backed down. But I didn’t,” Martinez said in her speech.
Martinez is referring to Greg Valdez, former district attorney for Doa Ana County and her boss back in 1992.
“It’s been more than 15, 16 years ago that I had anything to do with Martinez. I’m a little bit surprised,” Valdez told ABC-7.
Valdez said he didn’t understand the relevance of mentioning him, but Martinez felt it was important to tell the nation.
“I stood up to him and he fired me for it. So I took him on. I ran against him for District Attorney and beat him by a landslide,” Martinez said in her speech.
Valdez said he remembers things differently.
“I actually fired Ms. Martinez because she couldn’t follow the rules of the office. She was a prosecutor and her husband was a detective. I was worried about the ethical point of a prosecutor spouse reviewing the materials of a police officer spouse,” Valdez said.
ABC-7 asked Martinez about it in a live interview on Thursday.
“No, I didn’t call him out last night. I called him out in 1995 and 1996 when I said I was running against him and beat him,” Martinez replied.
Valdez said it’s time for Martinez to just let it go.
“If she could dwell on the problems she has to solve right now, we would all be better off. She surely would be better off if she focused on tomorrow instead of 16 years past,” Valdez said.
Valdez added he was flattered the governor even remembered him after all this time.
Since leaving the prosecutor’s office, Valdez has continued his career as a defense attorney.
