Gov. Susana Martinez has named a state legislator, a health care official and insurance industry representatives to a panel that will select New Mexico's top insurance regulator.
The governor on Friday appointed Republican Rep. Zach Cook, a Ruidoso lawyer; and Babette Saenz, who is academic dean at Southwest Acupuncture College in Albuquerque.
Also appointed were Presbyterian Healthcare Services lawyer Gabriel Parra and New Mexico Mutual CEO Norman Becker, whose company is the state's largest workers' compensation insurer.
A nine-member committee will name the superintendent of insurance to run an independent regulatory office starting in July. The Public Regulation Commission currently picks the insurance superintendent.
A legislative group will appoint four members of the selection committee, and a ninth member is be appointed by others on the panel.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.