18 Facts About Toney Anaya

Toney Anaya was born on April 29,1941 and is an American politician and attorney who served as the 26th governor of New Mexico from 1983 to 1987.

Toney Anaya earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University and a Juris Doctor from American University's Washington College of Law in 1967.

Toney Anaya met his wife, Elaine Toney Anaya, in Washington DC during the 1960s while he was an aide to Senator Joseph Montoya and she was working for the United States Department of Labor.

Toney Anaya later established a private law practice in Santa Fe.

From 1975 to 1979, Toney Anaya served as New Mexico Attorney General.

Toney Anaya launched a nine-month investigation of the Penitentiary of New Mexico administration, resulting in a 27-page 1975 report.

In 1978, Toney Anaya ran for United States Senate, but was defeated by incumbent Republican Pete Domenici.

In 1986, after the election of his successor, Garrey Carruthers, Toney Anaya commuted the death sentences of all five death row inmates in New Mexico.

Toney Anaya made headlines on March 28,1986, by declaring New Mexico the nation's first "State of Sanctuary" for refugees from Central America.

Toney Anaya served one term as governor, from 1983 to 1987.

Since leaving office, Toney Anaya has served on numerous boards, commissions, and at nonprofit organizations, primarily focusing on Hispanic issues, education, and politics.

Toney Anaya contributed significantly to the Democratic National Committee and the North American Free Trade Agreement.

In that role, Toney Anaya was responsible for overseeing the spending of the $1.8 billion in federal stimulus money expected to be invested in New Mexico during the next two years.

Toney Anaya worked closely with state agencies to facilitate access to funding, assist with compliance, and promote transparency throughout the process.

From August 2009 to January 2011, Toney Anaya served as CEO of Natural Blue Resources, a Woburn, Massachusetts-based penny stock company specializing in investments in environmentally friendly companies, including a New Mexico-based initiative to sell purified water.

In July 2014, Toney Anaya was accused of serving as a front man for the company, which was actually controlled by an ex-convict who was legally barred from acting as an officer of a public company.

Toney Anaya entered into a civil settlement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission relating to charges that he committed fraud.

Under the terms of the settlement, Toney Anaya agreed to a five-year ban from penny stock offerings and a cease-and-desist order without admitting or denying the charges.