The governor's staff is once again looking for candidates for the state's top water job.

Current State Engineer John D'Antonio, confirmed under former Gov. Bill Richardson, is welcome to reapply for the job, said Scott Darnell, a spokesman for Gov. Susana Martinez.

"No decision has been made to replace Mr. D'Antonio, but the Governor wants to ensure that a wide range of options are considered before selecting a permanent State Engineer," Darnell said via email.

The state engineer oversees the measurement, appropriation and distribution of the state's water. The Cabinet-level official is appointed by the governor, as are other Cabinet secretaries. The state Senate must approve the appointment before it is official. But unlike other Cabinet secretaries, who serve at the pleasure of the governor, the state engineer, under state law, can only be canned for cause.

Earlier this year, a transition search committee appointed by Gov. Susana Martinez didn't lead to a final recommendation for a new state engineer.

Darnell denied the latest search had anything to do with D'Antonio's refusal to release more water from Elephant Butte Reservoir for Southern New Mexico farmers. Elephant Butte Irrigation District farmers, along with El Paso farmers, receive water from the reservoir under a Rio Grande interstate agreement. Drought and an earlier court settlement between the two groups left little water for release to New Mexico farmers. Instead, they are pumping their wells to irrigate.

Last week, attorney Steve Hernandez, who represents the Elephant Butte Irrigation District in various lawsuits, was among those who received a call from the governor's staff asking for state engineer recommendations. He said he'll recommend Michael Gabaldon, a longtime U.S. Bureau of Reclamation engineer, for the job. Gabaldon, a New Mexico native, is the agency's director of technical resources in Denver.

Hernandez said he was told he was part of a search committee. "They called us individually and asked us to submit names by today (Monday)," Hernandez said. "I was the first one called, so I assumed I would head the committee."

Darnell, however, said no formal search committee has been formed. "We are asking for input from people throughout the state who are familiar with the critical water issues facing New Mexico ... ," Darnell said. "Unlike the transition, this is not a formal search committee; rather, it is an effort to cast a wide net and be inclusive in seeking a full range of options regarding the State Engineer's Office. We have reached out to a number of individuals and groups seeking their input, ranging from farmers, business people, and even the New Mexico Environmental Law Center."

Douglas Meiklejohn, executive director of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, confirmed the organization was asked to submit names for state engineer. "We respectfully declined to be involved in that process," he said, also declining to comment on why.

Meiklejohn also declined to comment on whether or not he thought D'Antonio should be replaced.

Contact Staci Matlock at 986-3055 or smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.