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Jerome Block may consider resigning from his role in the Public Regulation Commission, he told SFR yesterday after being pulled aside from a PRC meeting.
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Block's been facing scrutiny most of the summer for allegations of spending $8,000 on his
government-issued gas card, not returning a rented car and misusing
public campaign money. Gov. Susana Martinez, the state Democratic Party and his fellow commissioners have called for his resignation, but through it all, Block has maintained he'd stay on.
Yesterday he said his two and a half years as commissioner have been tough on him and his family.
"I'm looking forward to being whole again," Block says, "and if it takes a resignation from me to get some piece of mind, then that might be something I need to look into the next few weeks."
Block denies the allegations and says the state House impeachment process, for which $1 million has been set aside for, is an unfair burden to state taxpayers.
When asked how long he thinks the impeachment process will take, Block says he hopes not too long. "I do feel for the taxpayers who have to foot that bill," he says. "That will weigh in my decision whether I stay or not."
Block adds he would have stepped down immediately if he were charged or indicted.
The full exchange:
Jerome Block: It’s been tough. I’ll be honest, the whole two and a half years I’ve been here it’s been tough. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Believe me, I believe if this storm is weathered, it’ll be something else next week. And it’s frustrating. It’s tough on my family. Personally, it’s caused some health deterioration. And I’m looking forward to being whole again, and if it takes a resignation from me to get some piece of mind, then that might be something I need to look into the next few weeks.
SFR: What do you think the likelihood of that is?
Block: Pretty good.
SFR: That you would resign?
Block: I’m not gonna say I will or I won’t, but if that’s a factor that contributes to me being whole again and sane and my family being sane and whole, then that’s something I’ll consider.
Later on...
SFR: How long do you think [the impeachment subcommittee process] will take?
Block: I’m hoping it doesn’t take too long and I do feel for the taxpayers who have to foot that bill. That will weigh in my decision whether I stay or not. Because I don’t feel it’s up to the taxpayers to have to pay for allegations to be answered. If there were charges, if there were an indictment, I’d step down immediately.
Santa Fe Reporter