Well, you do have a point. But in the opinion of many here in NM, he has been particularly ruthless in doing so.
Regarding, cronyism, it was not just filling civil-service exempt positions which every governor does, it was requiring all appointees to submit resignations and accepting those generally without respect to qualifications. Further, he has created many dozens of relatively high-paying state jobs just so he can fill them with the remaining friends who were left out when all the existing appointments were filled.
He rode a Blazing Saddle
He wore a shining star