The Influentials

New Mexico Business Journal, Nov, 2000

Of the 100 most influential Hispanics identified in Hispanic Business magazine, six are New Mexicans. One of our own isn't listed among these worthies, but that's because he is, according to the magazine, "the most influential Hispanic in the United States today." That would be Bill Richardson, Secretary of Energy and former congressman (who may well be a Democratic candidate for governor in a couple of years). The 100 are not ranked, but listed in alphabetical order. The New Mexicans are:

* Irene Chavira, former US West vice president for New Mexico and currently head of Telephone Pioneers of America, an 800,000-member association.

* Petra Jimenez Maes, the first Hispanic woman named to the New Mexico Supreme Court

* Patricia Madrid, the Attorney General.

* Miguel Rios, chairman and ceo of Orion International Technologies, Albuquerque,

* Felix Sanchez, president and coo of Orion.

* Raymond G. Sanchez, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

It should escape no one's notice that precisely half of the state's influentials are women.