SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE
During my 32 years as an elected official, 24 years as a State Senator and 8 years as a County Commissioner, I handled major legislation, held leadership positions, negotiated capital outlay expenditure bills, state and local budgets and developed propositions streamlining the governance of the State and County. As an attorney I served for six years as general counsel for the 280,000 member National Fraternal Order of Police and now represent private clients. I’m fortunate to be called upon frequently as a public speaker, master of ceremonies and host for various ballooning and non-profit fundraising events. I am a registered lobbyist in the State of New Mexico and, along with my son Jeremy, operate The Rutherford Group, a leading governmental affairs consultancy.

EDUCATION
Zia, Monte Vista Elementary, Jefferson Junior High, Highland High School,
Albuquerque High Night School 1954 – 1965
University of New Mexico, BBA, Marketing, Economics – 1970
University of New Mexico School of Law, Juris Doctorate – 1982

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Bernalillo County Commission, District Three, 2 Four Year Terms, 1997 to 2004
Chair, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003
Member of the New Mexico Senate – 1972 to 1996
Senate Majority Floor Leader – 1996
Senate Majority Whip – 1978 to 1988
Chair of the Rules Committee
Chair of Economic Development and New Technologies Interim Committee
Member of Science & Technology Oversight Committee
Member of the Southwest Regional Energy Council
Member of the Foreign Trade Advisory Committee and Board of Economic Development and Tourism
Faculty member, 2003 NM Legislature New Member Orientation, 2003, 2004 Alb Chamber Lobbying Seminar, 2007 N M Mining Assoc legis workshop
General Counsel, National Fraternal Order of Police - 1995 to 2001
Co-authored Amicus briefs filed with U.S. Supreme Court
Helped develop national and state legislative strategy
Lobbyist, Principal, The Rutherford Group - 1996 to present
Some present and former clients - Allied Signal, Anderson-Abruzzo Balloon Museum, NM Council of Guides & Outfitters, National Atomic Museum, Honeywell, Accenture, Dollar Rent A Car, United Blood Services, Unser Family Racing Museum, SAP, Bombardier, NM Lottery, University of New Mexico, ValueOptions, SAS, Pitney Bowes
Attorney Private Practice - 1982 to present
President – Rutherford & Associates – Public Relations, Lobbying, Consulting Firm - 1978 to 1996
Vice-President, World Balloon Corporation – 1972 to 1979
Operated hot air balloon flying, sales, advertising, balloon race production company
Radio Announcer - 1963 to 1972
Disc jockey, news announcer, station manager KARA, KLOS, KDEF, KOB-AM, KOB-FM

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Member, 2005 Albuquerque Mayor’s Film, Media, and Theatre Advisory Board
Graduate, class of 2004, Leadership New Mexico
Member, Board of Directors, National Association of County Officials (NACO), 1997-2004
Member, Board of Directors, New Mexico Association of Counties, 1997-2004
Steering Committee National Large Urban Counties Caucus
Member, NACO Governance Task Force, and Steering Committee for Environment, Energy, and Land Use
Member of the Board of Directors of Camp Sierra Blanca Youth Detention Facility
Member of the Board of Directors, Albuquerque Economic Development (AED)
Member of the Kirtland Partnership Committee
Member of Albuquerque Armed Forces Advisory Association
Nominee, 2004, 2005 UNM Anderson Schools of Management Hall of Fame
Nominee, Leadership New Mexico Distinguished Alumni
N.M. Business Weekly Top 100 New Mexico Power Brokers 1996-2004
N. M. Business Weekly Top 10 Lobbyists 1998-present
Who’s Who in the World, United States 1976-present
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Co-Founder, 1972
Original Inductee, Balloon Fiesta Hall of Fame
Assist non-profit charitable agencies with fundraising, including serving as Master of Ceremonies
Other leadership positions to benefit community organizations
Created a special license plate to benefit the New Mexico Children’s Trust Fund, aiding pilot programs for “at risk” youth
Former member of New Mexico Attorney General’s Environmental Advisory Committee
Past Chair of the Albuquerque Cable TV Advisory Board
Former member of New Mexico Governor’s Commission on Public Broadcasting
Former member Board of Directors of the Rocky Mountain Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Member of the American Council of Young Political Leaders, delegate to Austria, Hungary, and Greece
Trade Delegate to People’s Republic of China
Trade Delegate to Switzerland
New Mexico Broadcasters Association, scholar

PERSONAL
Date of Birth: March 3, 1947
Home Office: 1016 Monroe NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110-5822
Home Office Telephone: (505) 265-7129 Fax: (505) 265-8666
Mobile: (505) 710-8666
Email: tomrutherford@swcp.com