The state agency that oversees the distribution of support services to low-income New Mexicans has a new leader.
The Senate on Wednesday unanimously confirmed Brent Earnest in a 38-0 vote as the secretary of the New Mexico Human Services Department.
Gov. Susana Martinez chose Earnest to replace Sidonie Squier, who resigned in November.
Earnest was the deputy secretary of the department from March 2011 until December 2013.
Earnest says he knows there is a large task ahead in managing a nearly $6 billion budget and reforming the state's public assistance programs.
Earnest also spent six years as a fiscal analyst for the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee.
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