No director nor officer, employee or agent of the authority may be interested in any contract or transaction with the authority except in his official representative capacity or as provided, except for any contract of employment with the authority. Neither the holding of any office or employment in the government of any public body or the federal government nor the owning of any property within the state, within or without the authority, may be deemed a disqualification for membership on the board or employment by the authority, nor a disqualification for compensation for services as an officer, employee or agent of the authority, except as provided in Section 17 [72-16-17 N.M. Stat. Ann.] hereof.