NM State Auditor Bio

As a professional engineer and longtime public servant, State Auditor Joseph M. Maestas has a long track record of solving problems and challenging the status quo.

Prior to taking office as the State Auditor, he served as a chair and vice-chair of the Public Regulation Commission. During his tenure as a commissioner, he championed community access to solar energy and a just and equitable energy transition that both protects the workers and communities most affected by the state’s move toward renewable energy.

Before embarking on his journey as a New Mexico elected official, the Auditor served for more than 30 years as a federal civil servant. As a city councilor in both Santa Fe and Española, and as the mayor of Española, Auditor Maestas fought for and implemented reforms and continued his career-long history of fixing problems and making systems more efficient and effective.

Joseph is bringing that same focus on changemaking to the Office of the State Auditor. As the state’s top financial watchdog, he plans to study the advisability of moving the state toward a single state agency audit; to partner with stakeholders and agencies statewide to build capacity among public entities to ensure they get and stay financially compliant; to eliminate the Office’s “At-Risk” lists by advocating for greater financial assistance for small political subdivisions; and to improve and streamline the process of reporting and investigating government fraud, waste, and abuse.