County candidates tout histories

By Jim Maniaci
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — A total of 14 political candidates touted their deep-felt ties to the area during the Grants-Cibola County Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon Wednesday.

Ten of the 17 candidates for county positions and four candidates for state offices spoke to about 50 people at the Best Western Inn & Suites.

Candidates are presented in the order they spoke.

District 1 county commission candidate Lawrence Sanchez pointed to his residency since 1990 and his New Mexico State University bachelor's degree in regional planning plus work towards a master's degree in public administration. He once worked as a government grants writer and now owns an insurance agency. He currently serves as St. Teresa's school board president, chamber board member, St. Teresa's Foundation charter board member, Casa de San Jose board member, Cibola Communities Economic Development Foundation board president and vice chair of Cibola County Hospital board.

He said he is taking on more because public service was always ingrained into him by his parents. He said there's always a way to reach out and leave one's community better than when one arrived. Teamwork is what makes any board work, what makes any community work, he maintained. As an example, he said he was on the selection committee for the new chief executive officer of NMSU-Grants. Felicia Casados, he said, is addressing the needs of the community, such as beginning a bachelor of science in nursing program here.

District 1 candidate Ralph McQueary cited his history as a businessman, playing a major role in the formation of Cibola County, being the county manager and a former county commissioner. He directed people to his one-page brochure.

County assessor candidate Pablo "Tato" Saavedra Jr. pointed to his five years as a county appraiser, holding the rank of state certified appraiser one. His slogan is "Time for a change." He noted he's probably been to every taxable property in the county several times.

Chief deputy assessor Pauline A. Chavez emphasized her goal to continue to operate a well-managed office with expert, qualified staff, fair and equitable assessments of real and personal property and to give local governments with a well-maintained tax base. The field work is critical, she indicated.

Her background includes being a life-long county resident, 18 years with the 13th Judicial District and former county Democratic Party secretary.

Since being appointed chief deputy in August 2004, she has started a new computer system and initiated the global information system for addressing. Outgoing Assessor Theresa A. Garcia has endorsed her.

Probate judge candidate Cecil Brown came to Grants in 1963, has done many different things and currently is on the county's Personnel Board, the city's Planning-Zoning Commission and the city's Main Street Program board. He also served eight years as the county Democratic Party chair and two years as undersheriff, bridging the administrations of Larry Diaz and Manuel Lujan.

Magistrate judge candidate Lujan said his history includes being in the Grants area since 1959 and a 1970 Grants High School graduate, along with 23 years law enforcement experience with the Grants, Milan and Cibola County departments and seven years with the uranium mining industry. He credits the improvements during his eight years as sheriff to his family, staff and elected officials including the legislators. His background, he said, gives him the right tools to succeed as the magistrate in Division 2. He said he is hard working, fair and honest, and he has integrity. He said this is what citizens want and expect.

Incumbent Magistrate Eliseo Lee Alcon is seeking his third term, then will retire. He prides himself on a job well done, saying he has always treated everyone fairly and with respect, no matter the crime of which the defendant is accused, nor the person's background. He said this is the way he has lived his life.

He served as Milan's municipal judge before being elected magistrate. When first elected magistrate, he said, he and Judge Jackie Fisher shared one courtroom; so, he has achieved one of his main goals, a new justice center.

A compliance program is one he began and it has reduced repeaters, he said. He also volunteers in Gallup as a drunk driving-drug court judge so he can bring the program to Cibola County. He said the 14-month program surprised him with its success. If the defendant succeeds in completing it, the record is wiped out.

Sheriff's Sgt. Steve Marquez cited his 18-year law enforcement experience and being a county native. He said he is fair, honest, respected and dependable. His experience began in Grants as a reserve. He also has done, during off-duty hours, a great deal of youth sports coaching.

Jimmy Baca was the second of the three sheriff's candidates and also spoke only briefly. He said he is a life-long county resident who was raised in San Mateo. The department needs teamwork, both within the department and with other agencies. He said he has 15 years law enforcement experience.

Undersheriff Johnny Valdez has been the number two man for Sheriff Lujan for the past eight years and began his cop's career with village of Milan. He came to the county in 1983 from college and has done a great deal of youth sports coaching and other kids projects. He pointed to the progress made in improving the department the past eight years, noting work with the schools and other agencies to show kids that doing wrong is not the thing to do.

To contact reporter Jim Maniaci in Grants, telephone 285-6184 or (505) 870-7775 (cell).