County Commissioner Michael Anaya was thrust into the spotlight recently when an Española man filed a tort claim notice accusing Anaya of having inappropriate sexual relations with the man's wife while on taxpayer's time.

The man has so far not filed a lawsuit in the case. When the story first surfaced, Anaya referred questions about the notice to his attorney, who did not return calls seeking comment.

The New Mexican recently requested documents to determine if Santa Fe County had paid for Anaya to attend the same out-of-town conferences as the man's wife, Renee Baker-Archuleta.

Santa Fe County readily supplied records regarding Anaya's travels. But the New Mexico Association of Counties, where Baker-Archuleta works as an assistant to the director, declined to do the same. The organization's attorney, Steve Kopelman — a former Santa Fe County attorney — told The New Mexican that as a private nonprofit the association is not obligated to comply with such requests.

According to the group's Web site, the New Mexico Association of Counties is an "advocate for county government" and serves as an "umbrella organization" providing legal representation, general research and training aimed at improving methods of administering county government.

The association's activities — which include numerous multiday conferences — are funded largely by the taxpayer-supported county governments, which pay for elected officials to participate.

County governments pay annual dues based on their tax collections. Santa Fe County has paid the association about $675 in dues and registration fees in the past year.

The county also belongs to the National Association of Counties, to which it paid about $3,000 in dues and registration fees in the past year.

According to the records provided by Santa Fe County, much of Anaya's travel in the past few years was related to events put on by Leadership New Mexico, a nonprofit organization that educates elected officials and others on such issues as health care, economic development and natural resources, according to Patty Komko, the president. Santa Fe County has paid about $1,300 for Anaya to travel to Leadership New Mexico events since he took office in 2003. That figure does not include registration fees.

One of Anaya's most expensive trips was one he took to the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials conference in Hollywood, Calif., in June. Santa Fe County paid $408 for Anaya's airfare and another $908 for the commissioner to spend four nights at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel and Spa in Hollywood.

Santa Fe County also paid $563 for Anaya to fly to a NALEO conference in Orlando, Fla., in June 2007 and $494 for him to go to a National Association of Counties retreat in Bozeman, Mont., in January 2007.

Anaya, who lives in Stanley, has also spent several nights at county expense in Santa Fe hotels during his six years on the commission, including The Eldorado Hotel and Spa and The Lodge at Santa Fe.

Anaya did not return calls seeking comment on his travel expenses.

The New Mexican did not request detailed travel data for the other commissioners, but according to annual totals provided by Santa Fe County, two other commissioners — Virginia Vigil and Harry Montoya — spent more than Anaya did on travel between fiscal year 2005 and fiscal year 2008. Two others, Paul Campos and Jack Sullivan, spent less.

Vigil was the top spender, with an average of $3,379 worth of travel expenses each year. Montoya was in second place, with an annual average spending of $2,732. Mike Anaya was in the middle of the field for travel expenses, costing the county about $1,735 per year. Jack Sullivan and Paul Campos spent considerably less, with average annual expenditures of $593 and $49 per year respectively.

Liz Stefanics and Kathleen Holian, who both took office less than a year ago, were not included in this tally.

Contact Phaedra Haywood at 986-3068 or phaywood@sfnewmexican.com.