Raul E. Burciaga: director of the New Mexico Legislative Council Service and NCSL staff chair.

• Author: Andrade, Jane Carroll
• Position: THE FINAL WORD - Biography - Interview

After 15 years administering federal health care programs and serving as a Medicare consultant, Raul Burciaga earned his law degree at the University of New Mexico School of Law. Upon graduation, he joined the New Mexico Legislative Council Service as a staff attorney in 2000, becoming its director in 2010. In addition to overseeing the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting, legal and research agency, he is in charge of maintaining the Capitol and its grounds. The diversity of responsibilities that come with this position is "my favorite part of my job," he says.

What are your priorities for NCSL? To recruit and retain staff for NCSL participation. Indirectly I'd like to help states with their own recruitment and retention of legislative staff, by making sure we continue to have good professional development seminars as A well as networking opportunities, online services and the like. Lastly is to focus on effective goals for the Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee, even if that means fewer goals. It's better to do a few things well than many things poorly.

What is a top goal? To make better use of social media and electronic communication in general. Everybody is so wired these days with tablets and handheld devices that we need to make information pertinent and available quickly and concisely--basically what the younger generation is used to.

How have legislative staff services evolved over the years? We have had to adjust to 24/7 news cycles and transparency demands. Don't get me wrong--I'm not against transparency. But the deliberative nature of a legislature demands discussion. One minor, innocent comment taken out of context can undo not only good legislation, but a legislator's reputation as well. Legislative staff have to help legislators deal with constantly being 'on."

What frustrates you the most? The public's perception of legislators and legislatures. It's difficult to explain why the legislature works the way it does, why it works slowly, why it's not reactive.

What advice do you give to new staff? Two things: No. 1 is to be responsible, and No. 2 is to be responsive. If it's a nonpartisan staffer, probably the most important thing is to check your political philosophy at the door. If you're a partisan staffer, it's to listen to the other side.

Do you have advice for newly elected legislators? The most important thing is that legislative staff care about protecting the legislative institution. It's a co-equal...