RSS FeedGRANTS - Candidates running for office in Grants and Milan discussed their platforms at a public meeting at New Mexico State University-Grants campus Wednesday evening.
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Before the candidates were introduced, Grants City Manager Robert Horacek encouraged the audience to vote yes on the public safety tax initiative, which will appear on the March 7 ballot. If passed, the measure will raise $180,000 per year to fund salary increases for public safety officers. Horacek pointed out that the tax would add one penny to every eight-dollar purchase. “We want the Grants public safety agencies to be able to compete with the prisons and other police departments in wages,” he said.
Horacek also advocated changing the city charter to allow better oversight of city finances. He invited interested citizens to come to Grants City Hall to discuss the charter and tax initiative with him.
Each candidate was allowed an opening statement, followed by questions from the panel.
The question-and-answer portion of the forum will be covered in the Beacon’s special election section next Friday.
Milan candidates
The candidates were introduced in the order in which they will appear on the ballot. Milan Board of Trustees candidates spoke first.
George Knotts - “I served as Fire Chief of Milan for 25 years and have worked with the mayor and board of trustees during that period. Milan has come a long way but I’d like to see more economic growth and beneficial use of our land and water.”
Ellen Baca - “I want to give a voice back to the people. I was a UPS driver in Milan and really know the town and the people. I’d like to see the village grow and serve its citizens.”
Jose Ray Ortega - “I want to retain the seat I hold on the board because there are lots of unfinished projects. We’ve accomplished a lot. Our police have new vehicles and we have the best swimming pool in the county. The board has to work as a team.”
Mary Lundstrom - “I’ve lived in Milan for 40 years and served as a Milan municipal judge. I’ve always worked with the public and been a good listener. It takes a team to run the village and I’ll work with the mayor and village manager.”
Candidates for the Mayor of Milan spoke next.
Wiley Jean Austin - “The most important thing for the mayor to do is to work well with the board of trustees and village manager. I’d like to see stricter enforcement of drug laws and continue with street improvements and installation of more street lights.”
Dominick Vigil - “I’ve served as a trustee for four years and I believe that we need to let the department heads do their jobs without a lot of interference. We’ve seen a $500,000 increase in revenues and have cleaned up the village since I’ve been on the board.”
Tom Ortega - “The police and fire departments have received raises during the past four years when I’ve been mayor. I believe I can represent all factions in the village - cowboys, Hispanics, Native Americans, everyone.”
Grants candidates
The next candidates to speak were those running for Grants Municipal Judge.
Corrine Padilla - “I’ve served as Cibola County Probate Judge and worked for the Martinez Law Firm. Since I’ve been municipal judge, the court has acquired state-of-the-art equipment. We report on all DWI cases and work with the DWI Council, Drug Court and Teen Court. I would like to continue working on getting a new courthouse.”
Wesley Martin - “I’ve been a member of GPD and an assistant to Judge Padilla. I’d like to see stricter community service programs, a night court a few times a month and better relations with groups like MainStreet. If you do the crime here, you should have to do the [community service] time here. I’d work closely with the police chief.”
Candidates for Grants City Council were the fourth group to discuss their platforms.
Eugene Green - “As the District Two incumbent, I’ve worked with the state Commission on Aging and helped to get the new Head Start building. I’d like to see our infrastructure improved because it will help bring in new business even though there’s a big initial investment. I also think we can generate more funds through tourists and retirees.”
Martin “Modey” Hicks - “We talk a lot about infrastructure while our cops and firemen desperately need a raise. I want to see the ditches cleaned out in District Two to help prevent the flooding we saw last summer.”
Walter Jaramillo - “I’m running unopposed in my district. I’d like to see more economic development and improvement of the infrastructure.”
Finally candidates for Mayor of Grants were given the opportunity to speak.
Michael Lewis “We’re at a critical juncture in the history of Grants. We used to mine uranium, but now we can mine gold from all the people passing on I-40 and the growing number of retirees in town. We have a new hospital, a new high school, a good golf course and a renovated airport. These are all attractions for retirees and folks who want to relocate and we need to promote them.”
Shirley Taylor - “People in Grants have lost confidence in their government. We need to cut costs, but also give our public safety officers a raise. I think we should hire a city engineer and end our contract with OMI to save money. The trash in our community makes us look like a third world country…we need to clean it up.”
Joseph Murrietta - “I’ve served as Cibola County Treasurer and Manager, and as manager of the Village of Milan. I serve on the Rio San Jose Flood District Board and the Northwest New Mexico Solid Waste Board, so I’m aware of the problems in our community. We need economic development, infrastructure improvement and pay raises for our cops and firefighters. I would evaluate the city budget and contracts, promote community pride and encourage citizen involvement.”
Robert Ulibarri - “I promise to do the right thing for the people of Grants. I’ve been a Grants City Council member for six years so I have an idea of the needs of the community. I will assess the city departments and work for better pay [for city workers, police and firefighters]. I will work hard and bring integrity to the job.”
By Diane Fowler
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