American politician
Charles Anthony Franco (born 1955) is an American politician. He was a game warden, police officer, Undersheriff for Doña Ana County, Judge on the Dona Ana County Magistrate Court, and the First Gentleman of New Mexico.[1][2]
Early life and education
Franco was born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, graduating from Las Cruces High School and earning a degree in criminal justice from New Mexico State University. He has an older brother and younger sister.[3]
Personal life
From 1991 to 2019, Franco was married to former Governor Susana Martínez.[4] Through Franco's job as an undercover investigator, he met Martinez while she was an assistant district attorney.[5] The two married in 1991.[6] Franco has one son, Carlo, who served in the United States Navy.[7] Franco is an advocate for Horses for Heroes and the Youth Diagnostic Development Center in Albuquerque."[8] Franco is a longtime supporter of the Weed and Seed program of the Community Capacity Development Office.[9] Franco is a hunter and fisherman.[10][11] In 1995, Martinez and he changed their affiliation from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.[12][13][14]
Career
Franco graduated from the police academy in 1978.[15] Franco has been a law enforcement officer for more than 30 years, and served as the Doña Ana County Undersheriff.[16] Franco began working in law enforcement, starting as a game warden.[17] In 1996, Franco ran for a position as Magistrate judge in Doña Ana County.[18] He won, and served for three years.[19][20] During his career, Franco has worked for "the Las Cruces Police Department, the city's Weed and Seed program and the New Mexico State University Police Department."[21] Franco was a police detective when the Las Cruces Bowling Alley massacre occurred.[22] "As part of the investigation, he had to videotape the scene."[23]
In 1992, Martínez was fired by then District Attorney Greg Valdez. Valdez stated that Martínez brought in a case that Franco was working on.[24] "A potential conflict of interest between Martínez and Franco was an issue in the late 1990s, when she first became district attorney. Franco was a magistrate judge, and some cases being prosecuted by the district attorney's office were assigned to him. Franco was running for re-election in 1996, the same year Martínez first ran for DA. His Democratic opponent and others said there would be a conflict if both were elected. But Franco and Martinez said Franco would recuse himself from all cases involving the DA's office."[25] Franco's relationship with Martinez was twice raised as a concern when, as District Attorney, "she had to decide whether officer-involved shootings were justified."[26]
Franco was a member of Martínez' search team for members of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.[27]
Presently, Franco is a retired career cop.[28] From January 1, 2011, to January 1, 2019, he served in the role of First Gentleman of New Mexico.[29][30]
In October 2018 Franco took a job with the Doña Ana County Assessor's office in Las Cruces.[31]
New Mexico Coalition for Literacy
Adult literacy is one of three main causes to which Franco has decided to dedicate his time.[32] New Mexico Coalition for Literacy is "a cause close to his heart from his work in Las Cruces under the federally funded Weed and Seed program to help at-risk youths. There he saw firsthand how improving reading skills helped kids succeed in school."[33] Franco stated that "'supporting the New Mexico Coalition for Literacy also complements Gov. Susana Martinez' push to improve K-12 education in the state'"[34] Franco observed, while working with troubled youth, "that their issues ran beyond behavioral problems. Having parents at home who couldn't read was one of them."[35]
References
External links
| Political offices
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| Preceded by
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First Gentleman of New Mexico
2011 – 2019
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Succeeded by Vacant
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