Toney Anaya

Toney Anaya ( born April 29, 1941 in Moriarty, Torrance County, New Mexico) is an American politician. He was from 1983 to 1987 Governor of the State of New Mexico.

Early years and political rise

Toney Anaya attended Highlands University and then to 1963 Georgetown University. He then studied at the Washington College of Law, American University. In 1967 he made his law degree there. He also worked for the former U.S. Senator Dennis Chavez, as well as a clerk for the U.S. State Department. Between 1966 and 1969 he was legal adviser to Senator Joseph Montoya.

In 1971 he worked in the administration to Governor Bruce King. After that, he was district attorney in Santa Fe County. In addition, he also practiced in Santa Fe as a regular lawyer. Between 1975 and 1978 he was Minister of Justice ( Attorney General ) of New Mexico.

Governor of New Mexico

In 1982, Anaya was elected as a candidate of the Democratic Party as the new governor of his state, where he prevailed with nearly 53 percent of the vote to Republican John B. Irick. He began his four-year term on 1 January 1983. As Governor Anaya was strongly opposed to the death penalty. He offered refugees from Latin America an asylum in his country and opposed the new immigration law of the Federal Government, which made ​​it difficult to immigration from these areas.

After the end of his term Anaya was a member of many committees and boards. Many of them were non-profit and supported the interests of Hispanics. He has influenced the further policy of his party and was involved in the free trade agreement in North America. Toney Anaya is married to Elaine Anaya, with whom he has three children.