A state agency has hired Gov. Bill Richardson's brother-in-law as a deputy director. The New Mexico Retiree Health Care Authority in November hired William B. Walsh, who is married to a sister of first lady Barbara Richardson.

"The agency utilized a competitive hiring process and hired the most qualified candidate for the job," Richardson spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said Tuesday.

Gallegos said he doesn't know how much Walsh is being paid. Neither Walsh nor Retiree Health Care Authority Director Wayne Probst could be reached for comment Tuesday. The New Mexico Independent, an online publication, reported Walsh's salary at $85,000 a year.

The position is exempt, which means Walsh serves at the pleasure of the governor. Minutes of the authority's meetings before Walsh was hired indicate the position had been classified instead of exempt, which means the previous deputy director could only be fired for cause.

The authority, according to its Web site, is responsible for providing comprehensive and affordable group health insurance to eligible retirees of certain public-service employers in New Mexico and their spouses and dependents.

Among the deputy director's duties are "incorporating health policy/health systems analysis" in the agency's programs monitoring state and national health policy reforms; and assisting as a liaison between governmental agencies and the authority's board.

According to Walsh's résumé, which was posted online by The Independent, before getting his current job, Walsh worked two years for the New Mexico Primary Care Association. Between 2002 and 2005, he worked for the Presidential Child Literacy Initiative for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Between 2000 and 2002, Walsh worked for Peregrine Systems in San Diego as "area vice president for business development, Asia Pacific."

His résumé describes the company as "a leading software company in infrastructure resource management and employee self-help solutions." But Peregrine is better known for the scandal that brought down the president of the company, Stephen Gardner, who also is a brother-in-law of Richardson. Gardner was sentenced last year to more than eight years in federal prison for his role in a scheme to defraud Peregrine shareholders. He was convicted on charges of securities fraud, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

The company was acquired by Hewlett-Packard in 2005.

Richardson served on Peregrine's board of directors from 2001 until 2002, the year he first ran for governor. Republicans in that election pounded him for his role on the Peregrine Board, but the attacks didn't resonate with voters. Though he was named in some civil suits by investors, Richardson never was charged with any criminal wrongdoing for his time at Peregrine. Walsh also never was accused of wrongdoing at the software company.

Before his time at Peregrine, Walsh worked 25 years for Project Hope, including nine years as president and chief executive officer. Project Hope, according to Walsh's résumé, is "an international foundation, which improves the lives of disadvantaged peoples through health-sciences education, facilities development, emergency assistance, and health-policy programs."

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com. Read his political blog at roundhouseroundup.com.