By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post
bjgordon@ladailypost.com
The online Candidate Forum for various offices was hosted by the Los Alamos League of Women Voters Monday evening.
Barbara Calef chaired the forum, with assistance from Lynn Jones. This forum included the remaining offices where the candidates face primary opposition. All of the candidates are Democrats because candidates in the other parties do not face opposition.
Los Alamos is divided between two state senate districts. Two Democrats are running for the District 5 seat. Incumbent Richard C. Martinez is challenged by Leo Jaramillo. Martinez stressed his 19 years of experience as a senator.
Jaramillo emphasized his experience as a County Commissioner for Rio Arriba County. He pointed to his successful battle with the EPA to stay in Rio Arriba County when they threatened to walk away from a discovery of contaminated water. Jaramillo said affordable housing and education are important issues to him. Jaramillo works for Los Alamos National Laboratory.
“I’m a northern New Mexican like you,” he said. “Together we’ll move New Mexico forward.”
When asked about changes to the New Mexico voter system, Martinez said that legislative changes should be made to legalize mail-in voting. Jaramillo supports looking at ways to increase voter participation. He is open to mail-in voting and possibly changing to an open primary system. Both candidates said New Mexico is too dependent on oil, gas and mining revenues. Both said they would champion renewable energy options as possible revenue streams. On the issue of reforms to the tax system, Martinez said the committee in charge of tax reform “hasn’t done much”. This is one reason he feels committee assignments should be rotated between senators. Jaramillo said big corporations get tax breaks, but “mom and pop shops” are left out. He’d like to change that. Jaramillo also favors revising the tax structure for higher income tax payers.
Both candidates said they would pay attention to the need to expand broadband access in New Mexico. Jaramillo said there is also a problem with access to technology, for poorer New Mexicans. Students and seniors need to be connected, especially during the current pandemic, he said.
Both candidates support some form of gun control. Jaramillo chided Martinez about his vote against the “Red Flag” law legislation that will allow courts to order the temporary seizure of firearms from individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. The governor recently signed the bill. Both candidates support background checks for gun purchases. Jaramillo said he understands “hunting culture” but also feels some controls on guns are needed, including the Red Flag law. Martinez said he thought protections already in place were sufficient without it.
Martinez said he wished to retain his seat in order to continue introduction legislation that benefits citizens.
He said he’s “proud of my record”. He is especially proud of introducing legislation to regulate oil and gas.
“I’m sorry I made a mistake, but now I’m moving forward,” Martinez said of his DWI conviction in December.
Jaramillo pointed out that the governor asked Martinez to resign and that he had to step down from his leadership roles in the senate.
“I’ve always been a community advocate,” Jaramillo said. “I don’t have children, so I think of the community as my child. I have the drive and passion to move New Mexico forward.”
Both candidates for Public Regulation Commission, District 3 touted their experience and credentials. Brian Edward Harris has been an attorney for 29 years, including two years as a PRC telecommunications expert and 10 years as ratepayer advocate for the attorney general’s office. Harris said his commitment to public service dates to his Peace Corps service in Central Africa as a young man. He is “fully committed” to serving on the PRC.
Joseph M. Maestas has been a licensed engineer for 33 years. He served in the Federal government in the Departments of the Interior and Transportation before leaving for the private sector, Maestas said. He has served as a city councilor and mayor of Espanola as well as “many other leadership roles.” He is proud to be the only publicly financed candidate in the race, Maestas said.
Asked about the decision to delay approval of two solar projects, both candidates disagreed with the decision, feeling that legal issues surrounding the projects could be overcome.
Harris supports including “mom and pop” providers in the expansion of broadband in New Mexico. Maestas said he would support increasing funds to pay for broadband in rural areas for $26 million to $30 million. Recently proposed legislation to change the PRC to an appointed rather than elected office is opposed by Maestas. He said it has been shown that areas with elected officials have lower rates for services.
Harris supports the change. “You need someone who has expertise in this area,” he said. “I’m confident the governor can appoint the right person.”
Candidates for district attorney in the first district stressed their expertise. Mary V. Carmack-Altwies touted her experience on “both sides of the courtroom” as a public defender and criminal defense attorney before moving to the Santa Fe District Attorney’s Office to head the Special Victim and Violent Crimes Division.
Scott Fuqua was director of the Litigation Division in the Attorney General’s Office from 2010 to 2014. He has argued a number of cases before the N.M. Supreme Court, including the bill that legalized same-sex marriage in New Mexico, he said. While Carmack-Altwies stressed her criminal law experience, Fuqua emphasized his management and leadership skills. Both candidates advocate the concept of “mental health and wellness courts” to deal with offenders who are addicts or mentally ill. They both stress treatment as an alternative to jail time for non-violent offenders of this type.
The four Democrats running for County Council were the next candidates in the spotlight. Denise Derkacs said the most critical issues facing the County are housing and community services. Derkacs is a 38-year resident of Los Alamos and retired from a senior management role at Los Alamos National Laboratory. She serves on the Community Development Advisory Board and has been attending County Council meetings for two years, Derkacs said.
Greg White said he is “fed up with the ‘can’t do’ attitude of the County Council and County staff.” He said downtown is becoming a “concrete jungle” devoid of trees and grass. Helping small businesses and fighting blight are big issues for White.
Sean Jameson Williams is a small business owner (Automotive Professionals) and former LANL employee. He serves on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Low income housing, the state of business and revitalizing downtown are his major concerns.
Rodney Gerode Roberson had a 20-year military career before serving as a management professional at all levels of government. He is currently at FEMA. Roberson said he wants to use his skills to serve Los Alamos.
All the candidates support the $15 minimum wage for County employees that recently passed, though White said he would like to discuss it with local business owners to make sure it would not negatively impact them.
On the subject of vacant or substandard business locations, Williams said he supports imposing modern design standards on existing structures.
“The County allows negligence to be cheap. I support making it expensive,” he said.
Roberson agreed that “blight sends the wrong message” to Los Alamos visitors. Derkacs pointed out vacancies mean lower gross receipts taxes for the town. White supports taking over the former Smith’s location by “emminent domain”.
The only candidate to fully support banning plastic bags and Styrofoam was Williams. Derkacs said she would support a ban if the community supported it. The candidates offered several solutions to the problem of high rents for business spaces. Roberson supports investigating incentives and subsidies to small businesses, while White suggested loans from the County to purchase the premises housing small businesses. Derkacs said she is open to zoning changes downtown.
Williams supports a change in zoning to prohibit first floor offices to take small businesses out of competition with LANL.
“Rents are driven by the lab,” he said.
On the issue of economic development, White touted bringing events such as the NHL Hockey Classic to town. Williams disagreed, saying cleaning up downtown must come first.
“Breaking the power of the landlords” is key, he said.
Roberson said he was surprised by the lack of recreational businesses for youth and large chains. Derkacs said Los Alamos needs to look at high rents. All the candidates agreed that the Council must tackle this issue.