BLOCK'S DEGREE UNDER SCRUTINY.

Byline: STEVE TERRELL

PRC candidate under fire for misleading remarks on education

By Steve Terrell

The New Mexican 

Democratic Public Regulation Commission candidate Jerome Block Jr., who has been under fire for not telling The New Mexican and other newspapers the complete truth about his past arrests, also apparently gave misleading information in pre-primary interviews about his educational background.

When asked in May about his education, Block -- who went on to win a plurality in the six-candidate primary for the 3rd PRC District -- said he had attended classes at New Mexico State University but never graduated. But, he said, he went on to earn "the equivalent of an associate's degree" from "the Anderson School of Management at The University of New Mexico."

Block last week clarified to The New Mexican that the school's correct name is Western States School of Banking.

But the school -- once associated with The Robert O. Anderson School of Management, now associated with New Mexico State University's business college -- does not offer academic credit or any "degree." And the executive director of WSSB said Monday that completing the school's program is not the equivalent of an associate's degree.

"We're not a degree-granting entity," said executive director Mark Fidel.

Fidel said he couldn't discuss Block's time at WSSB -- or even confirm whether Block attended -- without a written release from Block.

Block on Monday said, "I have remained consistent in my message that I attended NMSU and graduated from UNM Anderson Western States School of Banking. This is the information that was stated while addressing large groups and is the same information that is on my campaign literature." He denied he ever said he had earned an associate's degree.

"I am very proud of my learning experience at WSSB," Block said. "The financial education I received helped me tremendously during my tenure as a banker, and I believe it will help me in evaluating cases at the PRC.

"I would like to extend my life experiences by serving the people of Northern New Mexico on the Public Regulation Commission. I will not let the recent attacks by the media and my opponent get in the way of my campaign and my desire to become Northern New Mexico's next PRC commissioner."

WSSB, according to its brochure, is a two-year course with classes conducted over two eight-day sessions in consecutive summers. It is aimed at bank employees -- mainly operational or middle management, Fidel said. Most instructors are consultants in the banking industry, he said.

Students live in college dorms during the course. Fidel said between 30 and 40 participants complete the course each year.

Block's opponent in the race for the $90,000-a-year job is Green Party candidate Rick Lass. There is no Republican PRC candidate in the heavily Democratic 3rd District.

Two weeks ago, Lass met with Gov. Bill Richardson to discuss the campaign. Gilbert Gallegos, a spokesman for Richardson, said the governor met with Block last week. Gallegos declined to comment further on the meeting or the controversies involving Block. Richardson, the titular head of the state Democratic Party, has yet to endorse any candidate in the PRC race and has said Block must win the trust of voters.

Block's answers about his arrest record in interviews before the June primary evoked controversy when it was revealed he didn't tell the whole truth. He admitted to being arrested for drunken driving in 1998 but said he'd been found not guilty by a court. In fact, the charge was dropped because the case wasn't prosecuted in a timely fashion. Block, in pre-primary newspaper interviews, never mentioned a later arrest and conviction for riding with a drunken driver.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or [e-mail].

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