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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The chief financial officer for New Mexico's largest school district has filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the district and the head of the state's Public Education Department.
The complaint filed Monday in state district court in Santa Fe marks the latest black eye for Albuquerque Public Schools, where Superintendent Luis Valentino is under fire for hiring a deputy superintendent who is facing child sex abuse charges in Colorado.
The lawsuit filed by Don Moya says Superintendent Luis Valentino placed him on administrative leave after he raised concerns about a contract awarded to a Denver company whose chief operating officer had worked with the newly hired deputy.
The lawsuit suggests Valentino's support for Moya eroded following a meeting with Public Education Secretary Hanna Skandera and Gov. Susana Martinez. It accuses the two public officials of expressing their displeasure with Moya's lack of support for the governor's education agenda.
Moya says in the lawsuit that a verbal offer for him to be named a deputy superintendent was subsequently rescinded and that Valentino instead hired Jason Martinez, who resigned last week and is now wanted by Colorado authorities.
"Because of his relationship with Governor Martinez and Skandera, Jason Martinez was hired by APS without a background check," the lawsuit states. "Valentino subsequently protected Jason Martinez from submitting a background check."
The governor's office called the accusations absurd and suggested the lawsuit was a political ploy by Moya, a vocal critic who previously served as a deputy education secretary in Democrat Gov. Bill Richardson's administration.
"This allegation is so false and over-the-top that we will be filing a complaint with the state bar against the lawyer and challenge her partner — who is an elected official — to agree to resign from office when he is unable to substantiate this absurd claim about the governor," Martinez spokesman Chris Sanchez said.
He was referring to Moya's attorney, Kate Ferlic, and her law partner, Rep. Brian Egolf, a Santa Fe Democrat who serves as minority floor leader in the House.
The Public Education Department and Valentino have also dismissed Moya's allegations.
The lawsuit says Valentino's meeting with the governor and Skandera was on May 29. However, Valentino had already announced publicly weeks earlier his decision to hire James Martinez at an annual salary of about $160,000.
At the time of his announcement, Valentino said he met James Martinez through a professional organization, the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, and talked with him frequently about educational issues.
Claiming emotional distress and a damaged reputation, Moya is requesting a jury trial. He's seeking damages and attorneys' fees.
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