Positions
Economic Development is Critical
Economic Growth is the most important issue for SC – It’s what funds our quality of life .
I’m running for re-election to the Sandoval County Commission to continue to build on the advances we’ve made (listed on Home Page)
Since the first of the year Sandoval County’s jobs have INCREASED by over 5%, while Jobs in New Mexico have DECLINED by over 8%. Sandoval County is now the fastest growing county in the state and there’s more to do to keep it growing…New jobs and businesses to support; Increase the Sheriff Department staffing to improve public safety; more Road construction to support economic growth, more Clean energy programs, promotion of a cleaner Local Environment and expansion of our animal shelter. Coming out of the Covid situation will require seasoned leadership.
We need to support Sandoval Economic Alliances’s study and our Community Economic Development Action Strategy "Futures Sandoval" to optimize our People, Resources and Financing for more Economic Based Jobs to bring more revenues into SC. We are working with the Sandoval County Economic Development Fund and Sandoval Economic Alliance to help small businesses grow and recover from the Coronavirus shut down.
Examples of economic development opportunities:
– Rust Hospital area - "The Village" 60 Acres
– Unit 10 development - Business Park 34 + acres and Los Diamantes Neighborhood including Westside Blvd. and Joe Harris Elementary School
- Rio Rancho City Center - Health Science Education and Services expansion to include Senior Center and Campus Park
- Enchanted Hills and businesses in the Town of Bernalillo area and Rio Rancho City Center
- Sandoval County Economic Development Fund has supported 4 business expansions which will account for over 240 good paying jobs.
-Sandoval County’s extension of Intel’s Industrial Revenue Bond resulted in hiring over 300 new employees plus the contracting of union construction workers.
Retail jobs are also important - they provide a range of job levels including entry level jobs which our youth can learn from as well as management level career opportunities while providing products and ser vies for our residents.
Health Care industry has a great potential to support economic growth
– the Sandoval County Health Collaborative provides a focus on enhancing the industry, improving the support to a growing senior population and provide good paying jobs for our younger generation.
-As the Chair for the Commission I led the negotiations with UNMSRMC to expand trauma, behavioral health and substance abuse services resulting in a significant increase in medical jobs.
We need to assure our Public Safety – Sheriff’s Office, County Fire and Detention Center – is properly funded so that we have competitive pay for our first responders and support staff and that we have the equipment for them to do their jobs. We've recently approved a COPS grant and budget increase that will add 5 more deupties.
We've implemented a comprehesive energy program including renewable energy, and leading technology that is saving 38% on county energy costs. We have approved 2 solar farms and there are more under consideration.
The Oil and Gas industry provides over $74 million for our schools and 100s of good paying jobs in Sandoval County. We need to seriously consider how we make a transition from an energy industry that provides over 30% of State funding to an energy industry that requires subsidies. We need to work together to figure out how we will fund our state and enhance our environement.
In 2017 and 2018 The County Commision considered an Oil and Gas ordinace for the County. We listened to many on both sides of the issue. We invested in a study by NM Tech. We listened to the concerns about the fragile condition of the Rio Grande Aquifer which provides water for over 800,000 people between Santa Fe and Socorro. The Commission did not pass an ordinance. We did defer to the Middle Rio Grande Council of Government who's Water Board has taken up a study The issue is really a regional maybe even a state issue. The Water Board has not yet completed their report.
About 20% of our county's population lives outside of Rio Rancho, Bernalillo, Corrales and Placitas (Aprox 28 K) This part of the county’s potential is Farming, Forest Management, Natural Resource Development and Tourism. We have launched a Biomass Project with assistance from the US Forest Service. This has the potential of creating hundreds of new rural jobs.
We need to help support the rest of the county and make effective use of our natural resources while making the protection of our water and quality of life a priority. Just like we in Rio Rancho promote Buy Rio Rancho we need to be encouraging Rio Rancho, Corrales, Bernalillo and Placitas residents to spend their business and recreational dollars in Cuba, Jemez Springs, Fenton Lake, Valle Caldera, and Bandelier National Monument and other communities.
We need to continue to support PdV which will give Rio Rancho & the SE corner of the County access to a major interstate and will help support more economic growth. PdV is critical to supporting more west side jobs so that county residents "Work, Live and Stay" in the county. Over 30,000 residents leave the county everyday to work across the river. Sandoval County is the fastest growing county in the state. We can't expect more river bridges, we must provide more west side jobs..a mission of "Futures Sandoval".
A big part of our county’s mission is Serving our seniors through our Senior health programs and Seniors nutrition programs. Sandoval County with it's two outstanding hospitals has become a sought out location for seniors to retire. We are assertively pursuing Bioscience businesses in proximity to our hospitals.
As a Member of the Sandoval County Juvenile Justice Board which helps at-risk-youth become productive & contributing citizens I am very aware of the importance of Supporting our youth and encouraging their positive development and providing opportunities.
We also must defend our First and Second Amendment Rights. For our founding fathers were smart enough to know that it is the Second Amendment which not only allows us to defend ourselves from criminals but also defend our First Amendment Rights.