FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Janel Causey 

January 26, 2010 jcausey@gopnm.org (505) 298-3662  

GOP Chair Recruits Errol Chavez to Run for State Auditor 

Chavez Pledges to Target Criminal Misuse & Waste of Taxpayer Dollars  

Albuquerque, NM -  Today, GOP Chairman Harvey Yates Jr. announced his recruitment 

of Errol Chavez to run as New Mexico State Auditor. 

"I am proud to announce that Errol Chavez has agreed to run as the Republican candidate 

for state auditor," stated Yates.  "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. 

"I am running for state auditor to ensure that government officials are using state taxpayer 

dollars wisely, not spending them in a wasteful, fraudulent or abusive manner," said 

Chavez.  "I am well equipped to perform the duties of this position and I pledge to use my 

experience to target criminal activity and expose any and all corruption revealed during 

the auditing process, for the good of the people of New Mexico." 

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. 

A life-long New Mexican, Errol Chavez graduated from UNM and currently resides in 

Las Cruces.