Gov. Bill Richardson on Wednesday named two new members to the State Investment Council and re-appointed a current member.

Doug Brown, whom the governor had appointed as interim state treasurer in 2005 after Robert Vigil resigned as treasurer in the face of a kickback scandal, will become a "public member," as will Santa Fe banker Catherine Allen.

Richardson re-appointed David Harris, currently a vice president at The University of New Mexico, to represent higher education on the council, which oversees the investment of billions of dollars in state funds.

"Catherine Allen and Doug Brown bring valuable financial and investment experience and a fresh perspective to the new State Investment Council," Richardson said in a news release. "I look forward to working with them as we continue to grow the state's permanent funds, which have increased from $8.9 billion to $13 billion during my administration."

All are political contributors to Richardson, although a spokesman said that had no bearing on the appointments.

The appointments come a week after Richardson signed a bill changing the makeup of the State Investment Council. Under the new law, which was sparked by scandals over state investments last year, the governor now names three members instead of four.

Leaders of the state Legislature now get to appoint a total of four members to the council. They have until early next month to make those appointments.

The governor still serves as chairman of the council. Other members include: Katherine Miller, secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration; State Treasurer James Lewis; and State Land Commissioner Pat Lyons.

For several months, the FBI and the Securities Exchange Commission have been investigating the SIC over finder's fees that went to Santa Fe investor Marc Correra, who is politically connected to Richardson and former state investment officer Gary Bland. Correra shared in as much as $22 million in third-party marketer fees.

Allen currently serves as chairman and CEO of the Santa Fe Group, a consulting company she founded. Prior to that, she was the founding CEO of the financial services industry consortium BITS.

Brown is the dean of UNM's Anderson School of Management. Richardson appointed him last fall to lead the search for a new state investment officer to replace Bland, who resigned in the face of a vote of no confidence.

Harris has held various state government jobs, including director of the Legislative Finance Committee, secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration, deputy chief of staff for Richardson and executive director of the New Mexico Finance Authority.

It was in that capacity that Harris became a subject of a federal investigation into an alleged pay-to-play scheme of a California firm that got about $1.5 million as a financial adviser on state transportation bond deals starting in 2004. The CDR firm got that work about the time it gave Richardson and his political committees contributions totaling $110,000. The U.S. Justice Department decided not to prosecute the CDR case, but only after Richardson withdrew as President Barack Obama's nominee as U.S. commerce secretary.

One thing the new Richardson appointments have in common: All three have contributed thousand of dollars to Richardson's campaigns, both gubernatorial and presidential.

Allen has contributed more than $17,000 to Richardson's gubernatorial races, plus $4,600 to his 2008 presidential campaign ($2,300 of that, which was earmarked for the general election, was refunded, as is the law for contributions to candidates who don't make it past the primaries.)

Brown also gave the governor more than $17,000 for his two state races and $4,600 to Richardson's '08 campaign, $2,300 of which was refunded.

Harris gave Richardson's 2006 campaign $2,500 and his presidential campaign $2,300.

Allen and Brown also have contributed thousands to Lt. Gov. Diane Denish's campaigns through the years. Allen has contributed more than $10,600 to Denish, who is running this year for the Democratic nomination as governor. Brown has contributed $1,500 to Denish.

Asked about the contributions, Richardson spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said Wednesday, "They all have stellar reputations in the community and extensive financial experience that make them ideal for a seat on the State Investment Council. In addition, both Brown (who is a Republican) and Harris have served the state in various ways with distinction. Harris, of course, has served in Democratic and Republican administrations."

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