The Secretary of State’s Office has finally filled the position of state elections director, a person who helps certify elections results. And it just happens to be Tom Udall’s son-in-law.

As in Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tom Udall.

James Noel, the director of the state’s Judicial Standards Commission, was hired late Friday to fill the position that has been vacant for most of the year, Secretary of State spokesman James Flores said late Monday morning. 

Noel is married to Amanda Cooper, who is the daughter of Tom Udall and is Udall’s campaign manager. Udall is facing Republican Steve Pearce in the Senate race.

The New Mexico Republican Party blasted the decision, calling it a "stunning conflict of interest."

"The hiring of Tom Udall’s son in law as state elections director is a stunning conflict of interest during an election that will be entirely competitive," said Shira Rawlinson, communications director for the state Republican Party. "It’s just entirely inappropriate that a close family member of one of the candidates is in charge of counting the votes. Just when we thought the Secretary of State could not be any more partisan or incompetent she proves us wrong again."

A spokesman for Secretary of State Mary Herrera said she "selected the most qualified of the candidates."

Noel has 10 years in elections related matters, spokesman James Flores said. "He has a law degree. Every body in the agency is treated fairly."

Flores went on to say that both Republicans and Democrats work at the Secretary of State’s Office.

"The director of the bureau of elections does not count votes," Flores added.

Noel declined to talk, deferring to Flores.

Pearce’s campaign had no comment.

The state elections director will help to coordinate this year’s historic elections year.

Noel took over as executive director and general counsel of the state’s Judicial Standards Commission in 2004. Before that, he was an attorney at the Branch Law Firm in Albuquerque from 2001 to 2003.

Cooper, as well as being Udall’s daughter, is close to Gov. Bill Richardson. She was deputy campaign manager for Richardson’s presidential run and was campaign manager for Richardson’s 2006 re-election effort.

According to his resume, Noel has served as Richardson’s election law adviser since 2003 and was appointed by the governor to serve on a state Election Reform Task Force.

But his resume does not list any experience handling or running elections. It does say that Noel served as an Election Day Attorney for New Mexico State Democratic Party in 2002.