One of New Mexico’s most prominent state lawmakers is facing formal ethical scrutiny following allegations that he used his political position to advocate on behalf of his sons' road construction business with state transportation officials. Democratic State Sen. George Muñoz of Gallup, who oversees the state’s budget as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is the subject of an ethics complaint asserting that he contacted a state engineer regarding paving and road-striping work.
The formal complaint was submitted to the State Ethics Commission by former state Sen. Jacob Candelaria, an Albuquerque attorney. The filing targets Muñoz, the New Mexico Department of Transportation, and three individual department employees, questioning whether the interactions violated nepotism and conflict-of-interest statutes established under the state Governmental Conduct Act.
In response to the accusations, Muñoz has forcefully denied engaging in any ethical misconduct or improper lobbying. The veteran lawmaker maintained that he previously sought formal advisory guidance from the State Ethics Commission and adhered strictly to state standards, adding that he receives no financial compensation or profits from his sons' commercial enterprise.
Central to the dispute is Prestigious Paving, a business established in 2019 by Muñoz’s two sons in Gallup. Over the course of the last four-plus years, the firm has seen substantial growth, collecting more than $18.8 million through public contracts awarded by the State of New Mexico for various infrastructure and roadwork projects.
The ethics filing centers primarily on internal state transportation department correspondence detailing interactions between the lawmaker and agency personnel. Among the primary documents cited is a November 2022 email composed by district engineer Lisa Boyd Vega, in which she informed another transportation official that she had received a phone call from Muñoz concerning road striping specifications.
According to the written records referenced in the complaint, Prestigious Paving was seeking formal state approval to modify its planned road painting operations under an active department contract. Subsequent agency communications revealed that transportation officials authorized the requested change in plans, which accompanied an additional $175,000 in state funding allocated for road striping along U.S. 550.
While the complaint submitted by Candelaria does not level specific allegations of criminal conduct, it directly challenges the legality of the arrangement under the New Mexico Governmental Conduct Act. The statute sets forth strict regulations governing when state entities may contract with enterprises owned by legislators or their immediate family members, while also restricting lawmakers from representing private parties before executive agencies.
Muñoz previously addressed potential conflicts in 2022 by requesting an advisory opinion from the State Ethics Commission. At that time, the senator disclosed that he had rented storage space to his sons' venture, but asserted that he fully severed all business ties and involvement with Prestigious Paving before the firm began securing lucrative state contracts. Regarding the documented phone discussion with the state engineer, Muñoz stated that he has no memory of making the call.
Candelaria has rejected the lawmaker's explanations, asserting that claiming a lack of recollection regarding the communication defies common sense. The former senator emphasized the remarkably rapid rise of Prestigious Paving within the state procurement system as a development warranting thorough external scrutiny.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation responded to the matter by clarifying its operational and oversight procedures. Agency spokeswoman Kristine Mihelcic stated that while individual staff members might occasionally become aware of familial ties, the department does not track or maintain an internal registry detailing the family relations of private vendors or elected officials.
Mihelcic further emphasized that the agency strictly enforces procurement protocols and adheres to all mandates of the Governmental Conduct Act, rejecting the notion that any contractor receives favorable or preferential handling from transportation staff.
The controversy carries significant political weight given Muñoz’s stature in the Roundhouse. Currently serving his fifth term in the Senate, Muñoz has led the powerful Senate Finance Committee since 2021, granting him immense control over the state's fiscal priorities and its current $11.1 billion annual budget. He has also been a crucial legislative ally to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, working alongside her administration to enact universal childcare into state statute and restructure New Mexico's behavioral healthcare framework.
Beyond the administrative complaint, Candelaria has escalated the inquiry to law enforcement authorities. He forwarded documentation regarding the matter to New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, urging both offices to review the transactions. Furthermore, Candelaria’s legal practice has initiated a lawsuit against the state General Services Department, alleging public records noncompliance regarding open records requests for Prestigious Paving’s project bids.
The controversy has also generated sharp partisan reaction in the legislature. Senate Republican Floor Leader William Sharer of Farmington pointed to the complaint as evidence of an ongoing integrity problem within the Democratic majority. While acknowledging that Muñoz is entitled to a fair and exhaustive investigation, Sharer argued that the circumstances reflect a broader pattern of self-interest among legislative leaders.
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