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Auditor Candidate From Las Cruces Dies

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle asked the New Mexico State Senate for a moment of silence this morning in respect of former Republican Auditor candidate Errol Chavez who passed away last night with his family at his side.

According to the Santa Fe Federated Republican Women (SFFRW), Chavez was diagnosed with mostly inoperable brain cancer in October while he was on the campaign trail in the State Auditor race.

Back in January of 2010 when GOP Chairman Harvey Yates, Jr. announced his recruitment of Errol Chavez to run for New Mexico State Auditor he said, "While Errol's talents and commitment to New Mexico would be well utilized in many areas of public service, I believe that his extensive investigative and administrative experience uniquely qualify him to serve as the state's next auditor."

During his thirty-one-year tenure at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Chavez conducted money laundering investigations; directed the administration's policy implementation in Europe, Latin America and the United States; and supervised several hundred agents in various assignments.

After retiring from DEA, Chavez became the executive director of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), a federal drug-prohibition enforcement program. In this position, Chavez was responsible for administering and auditing $11 million of federal funds directed to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in New Mexico.

Chavez served as president of both the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association and the International Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association, an international law enforcement organization with 12,000 members.

Senator Ingle said the state of New Mexico appreciated Chavez' willingness to serve the public his entire life. He said the state and the country is grateful to Errol Chavez.

The SFFRW will post funeral information on its website when it is available.