A. The “New Mexico real estate commission” is created. The commission shall be appointed by the governor and shall consist of five members who shall have been residents of the state for three consecutive years immediately prior to their appointment, four of whom shall have been associate brokers or qualifying brokers licensed in New Mexico and one of whom shall be a member of the public who has never been licensed as an associate broker or a qualifying broker; provided that not more than one member shall be from any one county within the state. The members of the commission shall serve for a period of five years or until their successors are appointed and qualified.

The governor may remove a member for cause. In the event of vacancies, the governor shall appoint members to complete unexpired terms.

B. The commission shall possess all the powers and perform all the duties prescribed by N.M. Stat. Ann. Chapter 61, Article 29 and as otherwise provided by law, and it is expressly vested with power and authority to promulgate rules in accordance with the State Rules Act [N.M. Stat. Ann. Chapter 14, Article 4] and enforce those rules to carry out the provisions of that article.