Curry County Commission candidate profiles
Editors Note: The Clovis News Journal asked the Curry County Commission candidates to answer the following questions in 200 words. The answers were edited for spelling and style. The general election is Nov. 4.
Commissioner District 2
Democrat
Charles Benny Adams
Age: 55
Occupation: Retired human resources, training and manufacturing manager in the computer chip industry
Previous elected offices: None
• What should be done to address staffing, security and administration issues at the county jail?
In addition to our acting warden we now have a number of excellent candidates from around the USA to fill the permanent warden position. That should be prioritized. The current commission has also approved additional staffing for the detention center. At the last commission meeting we heard there is renewed interest in qualified officers to fill our open positions. We will have addressed the staffing problem with these additional officers and more effective interviewing tactics. If after I join the commission and the turnover/quality problem still exists I will volunteer to spend time with the staff and help ensure the retention issues are resolved. I spent most of my career hiring and retaining outstanding employees and I know I will be able to add value to the process. Regarding security and administration, progress is being made. Using our own eyes as well as those of outside professionals we must identify and scrutinize every potential weakness in the system and react now. It is unfortunate and unacceptable that we ever got into this situation. I believe we have learned from this painful experience, if it happens again our county officials must be held accountable.
• Should the sheriff’s department operate the jail?
No. The sheriff’s department should be focused on apprehending people that break the law. That requires very specific skills and knowledge. The detention department should focus on keeping people detained until the courts release them. That too requires different, very specific skills and knowledge. The theories and science behind these two departments are different and I believe they should be managed separately.
• What should the county commission do to minimize losses from operating the special events center during its first years of operation?
Many of the citizens I talk to expect the special events center to lose money indefinitely. I do not believe we can afford that mindset. We must, at least, pay the bills of it being there and have a goal of making it profitable. We need to establish very specific revenue goals and work with the management firm to meet those goals. One subject that has been talked about is allowing beer to be served at the events center. We must get to the bottom of that subject as soon as possible. I cannot imagine how we can build a realistic vision and plan of how to manage this facility without knowing who we can count on for sponsorships. I believe beer sales at the events center should be decided by the citizens as soon as possible, so solid plans can be made. We will minimize losses, in the short term, by implementing a strategic plan and, again, holding ourselves accountable.
• Should the county implement a nuisance ordinance, and if so, what would be the key components?
Yes. Beyond Cannon, growth in our county is dependent on the economy (good jobs) and the desire of individuals and environmentally sensitive industry moving here. The value of all our property is impacted by that growth one way or another. I have served on site selection committees for large corporations in the past and there is no doubt that first impressions make a considerable difference. The key component to a nuisance ordinance I would support would be the entrances to Clovis. So far we have drafted an ordinance and it has been wordsmithed to death. We must take on tough issues and get the hard work done.
• What other issues do you think the county commission should address? List your top three priorities.
The youth of Curry County: I believe the highest priority we have in Curry County is to support in building the mind, spirit and bodies of our youth. Half our county budget goes toward catching and housing people who break the law. We must stop feeding that system. Among other work I will prioritize extracurricular alternatives for our youth in Curry County.
Leadership and fiscal responsibility: County commissioners should provide exemplary leadership to our employees, spend money responsibly and plan for an economic future that may be very different from the past. We must be worthy of our citizens respect and not be driven by special interests of our own or those that helped get us elected.
Plan and manage our future: We will achieve what we plan to achieve, conversely, we will not achieve what we do not plan to achieve. We must work with the city of Clovis to plan our future. We must have a solid plan to protect our natural resources while attracting industry. Starting with the special events center we need to build a vision of Curry County as a weekend destination for people from eastern New Mexico, West Texas, and beyond.
Republican
Daniel J. Stoddard
Age: 48
Occupation: Owner of Fairhaven Assisted Living Facility
Previous elected offices: None
Declined to participate.
Commissioner District 4
Democrat
Wendell Bostwick
Age: 62
Occupation: Semi-retired farmer/rancher/consultant
Previous elected offices: None
• What should be done to address staffing, security and administration issues at the county jail?
After attending the commissioners meeting Oct. 7, 2008, and with the information I currently have, which is the same information the general public has, I think some of the issues are being addressed.
The commissioners agreed to hire five additional jail personnel and a full-time jail investigator.
The county has or is in the process of installing additional cameras for surveillance in the jail, which should again help with watching what the inmates are doing.
The county manager has 13 applications for the jail administration position, and it is my understanding there are several highly qualified and experienced candidates in the applications.
The jail will always require special attention because there are anywhere from 200 to 250 inmates studying 24/7 on ways to get out of jail.
• Should the sheriff’s department operate the jail?
The sheriff’s department has assigned a deputy to assist the current interim jail administrator. When the new administrator is on board I think it would be a good idea for the sheriff’s department deputy and the new jail investigator to be a part of the administrator’s management team.
• What should the county commission do to minimize losses from operating the special events center during its first years of operation?
The county manager is currently putting together some of the basic operating expenses for the special events center (Insurance cost, heating cost, electrical cost) and other costs associated with the daily cost for the special events center to be closed down versus what it will cost to have an event. Once those costs are determined I hope we would try to book as many events as possible to cover the operating cost if possible (which is where I would propose starting). After visiting with different officials and Curry County citizens I am convinced there are going to be numerous local organizations as well as national events interested in utilizing the special events center. Many of these events will bring participants and fans from out of town, which will be a plus for the Clovis and Curry County economy. I am not as pessimistic as some in the community, because if we do a good job of selling our special events center there will be a day real soon when we can say to someone calling to book the special events center those dates are taken.
• Should the county implement a nuisance ordinance, and if so, what would be the key components?
I am not opposed to an ordinance that protects the citizens of Curry County against health and fire hazards. However, when it comes to a nuisance ordinance it becomes more difficult because your are trying to implement a single ordinance for two different communities (residential versus agriculture).
• What other issues do you think the county commission should address? List your top three priorities.
We have certainly covered some of the more currently pressing issues; however as a Curry County commissioner you not only have to address the current issues you have to understand the challenges and opportunities of the future.
The current economic situation will make it imperative to be mindful of the citizens’ tax dollars. We will need to make sure all departments and budgetary items are efficient with no wasteful spending.
When there are challenges there are also opportunities, and we should always make sure the opportunities and economic well-being is good for all Curry County residents.
Water is not only an issue today but it will become a bigger issue in the not too distant future. I know that water is a necessity. For Curry County to have a progressive and attractive future we will have to utilize constructive and realistic approaches to the present and future water issues.
None of the above is more important than the other and there are additional challenges and opportunities that will have to be addressed.
A Curry County commissioner has to be willing to devote the time and effort necessary to address all the challenges and opportunities of the county.
Republican
Seth H. Martin
Age: 35
Occupation: Farmer/ small business
Previous elected offices: None
• What should be done to address staffing, security and administration issues at the county jail?
These issues are already being addressed. Five new detention officers, and a special officer to handle investigation and classification within the detention center, are proposed. The security and safety within the adult detention center is also being evaluated. Built in 1993, the detention center is due for some modifications to bring it up to current security and safety standards. A new warden has yet to be hired, and there are currently 13 candidates that have interviewed for this position. This selection is critical and will determine how the detention center is ran.
• Should the sheriff’s department operate the jail?
No, the sheriff’s department is here to serve and protect the county and its residents.
• What should the county commission do to minimize losses from operating the special events center during its first years of operation?
Keeping management within the county we will have complete control of our special events center. Along these same lines the county has already saved $96,000 a year by not hiring Global Spectrum to run the facility. This will minimize losses throughout the year.
• Should the county implement a nuisance ordinance, and if so, what would be the key components?
The county is made up of a large number of property owners, each one having personal property rights. The county needs to be careful when infringing these rights. Only doing so when safety and health are endangered, or when damage is occurring from a neighboring land owner. We would all like to see our county beautiful, but “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
• What other issues do you think the county commission should address? List your top three priorities.
• Keep our property taxes and restrictions to a minimum.
• Finish current projects and keep the county operating within the budget.
• Integrating new businesses with our current industries.
Commissioner District 5
Democrat
Paul D. Barnes
Party affiliation: Democrat
Age: 65
Occupation: Farmer/rancher
Previous elected offices: Curry County Farm Bureau, Texico Board of Education, Curry County Commission
• What should be done to address staffing, security and administration issues at the county jail?
All employees should be screened through background checks and random drug testing. Using all necessary steps, including K-9 drug dog units, the detention center should be checked randomly for contraband. Cameras are a tool only to assist in observance. Detention officers must be observing inmates at all times. When the detention center was built in the early 90s, a professional firm told our board of commissioners that a facility such as this should be treated much like a day care center, in as much as watching these inmates constantly is important. These officers must be on their toes and observing at all times. The unfortunate recent escape was a direct result of lax observance of inmates and irresponsibility of detention administration and personnel. There should be extensive ongoing internal training for detention employees.
• Should the sheriff’s department operate the jail?
My opinion is no. The job of the sheriff’s department is to apprehend offenders and protect the community from crime. It is the detention center administration, courts, and judges’ job, thereafter, to work these offenders through the system and get these prisoners processed out to other facilities. Overcrowding is a direct result of problems within these facilities and moving these prisoners out quickly is important in alleviating this problem. The county must find reputable employees and pay them a reasonable wage, therefore, helping to alleviate some of these problems.
• What should the county commission do to minimize losses from operating the special events center during its first years of operation?
The entire fairground needs to be more user friendly for use by organizations and individuals at a user friendly price and without all the red tape to use it. There is a dedicated voluntary nine-member fair board elected, one from each of the four school districts, and one from each of the five commission districts, that should be utilized in administering the workings of the facilities. These members could be given a budget, with oversight by the commission. It worked at one time to let the fair board be in charge and could again be a solution. If there is a necessity for a manager, the search should utilize local talent who understands our community needs.
• Should the county implement a nuisance ordinance, and if so, what would be the key components?
State ordinances already in place are hard enough to enforce. Private property rights must be respected, although they must not offend others with respect to health and safety. Land owners should be put on the Land Use Committee. More regulations in today’s economy would be difficult and expensive to enforce. However, these issues should be addressed and a good solution could be to offer incentives such as free utilization of the landfill, county equipment and personnel, using work release detention inmates at any public works, fairground, etc., in order to clean up our county.
• What other issues do you think the county commission should address? List your top three priorities.
Observing the financial condition of our country, I feel that fiscal responsibility from the local to the highest level of government should be put in place. We need to spend our funds carefully. “Studies” are sometimes a detriment in that they delay the process, many times driving the cost of the initial project up, while costing unnecessary funds.
My number two priority is water conservation. Our water supply is rapidly declining. Rural and urban citizens must be made aware of how important it is to conserve water. Utilizing ideas from the five neighboring states within the Ogallala Aquifer, we should all work together to achieve water conservation goals. With tightened budgets, I am afraid that projects such as the Ute Water Project will take longer to pass Congress and implement, than we have time to waste. We must begin now to insure that our future generations have this precious resource. Thirdly, I would like to see a more “can do county government” that enhances county growth instead of restricting it with too many regulations. For our county to prosper, we should make growth a pleasant process, without unnecessary regulations that halt or slow progress.
Republican
Caleb Chandler
Age: 65
Occupation: Retired magistrate judge
Previous elected offices: Curry County magistrate judge, New Mexico senator
• What should be done to address staffing, security and administration issues at the county jail?
As your state senator, I chaired the Interim Criminal Justice Study Committee. This committee was assigned to investigate the 1980 New Mexico state penitentiary riots, the deadliest prison riots in the history of the United States in which 33 inmates were killed. We are fortunate not to have experienced a disaster of this magnitude; however, some of the underlying problems that led to the riots are the same we are experiencing with our detention center.
Additional officers should be hired and a management assessment should be conducted to explore the weakness within the facility. Procedures should be measured against the American Correctional Association’s standards. Everyone, including the detainees, must understand the rules and when the rules are broken disciplinary action must be immediate. An assessment of the facility should be conducted to determine faults in the design of the facility.
As I am on record of stating in April, county officials should carefully explore the possibility of privatization of the detention center. Privatization could result in improved services at a lower overall cost, eliminate high insurance premiums, and remove the county from the civil liabilities that come with the operations of the jail, ultimately saving county tax dollars for other needs.
• Should the sheriff’s department operate the jail?
After the recent escape of eight inmates from the Curry County Detention Center, the administration of the detention center was placed under the joint supervision of the county manger and the sheriff. I believe, under the circumstance, this was the proper procedure. A quick, temporary solution was necessary. The county manager is currently advertising for a detention center administrator. When the administrator is hired, he or she should be given the opportunity to correct the problems. The option of having the sheriff’s department operate the detention center should be left on the table. If the jail administrator proves that he or she can operate the detention center within the budget, in a way that keeps both the public and the inmates secure and safe, without incurring liability to the county, I do not think the sheriff’s department should operate the detention center.
Assuming operation of the Detention Center on a permanent basis spreads the manpower and other resources of the sheriff’s department too thin. The primary duty of the sheriff’s department should be to prevent and investigate crime in the county and otherwise keep Curry County citizens safe.
• What should the county commission do to minimize losses from operating the special events center during its first years of operation?
When the events center is 100 percent complete the county should contract with a professional company for management of the center. There are numerous advantages.
Current estimates are that the events center will lose $500,000 per year for the first few years without the sale of alcohol and $300,000 (a year) with the sale of alcohol. We also know that the economy affects our entertainment budget. If alcohol is sold, the liquor license should be leased to a managing company, therefore eliminating or reducing any liability to the county taxpayers. There should also be a family section where no alcohol is consumed. The contractor would also bear the cost of insurance. Scheduled maintenance should be written into the contract.
The county should sell sign advertisement and advertisement on ticket stubs. The price of advertising would increase as attendance increases.
Local annual events could be created, such as an agriculture fest or dairy fest. Rental of the center for local events could be negotiated if they occur at a slow time for the center. Negotiated rates during times when no events are scheduled would decrease losses and benefit local organizations.
Exclusive rights to concession products and bank ATMs could be sold.
• Should the county implement a nuisance ordinance, and if so, what would be the key components?
A nuisance ordinance is premature and should only be enacted as a last resort.
I do believe that we must take immediate action to clean up and beautify our main corridors. This should be done through a partnership of the city, county and state. Local and state governments must lead this effort by example. That is why I participated in the recent “Trek for Trash.” By leading the effort to keep public property clean and through a multi-phased plan of planting trees and other types of vegetation which require little water, we can motivate private property owners to do the same. The value of these properties should increase much more than the cost of improvements. I believe that many individuals and civic clubs will donate time to assist in this effort if they are convinced that it is a priority of our local governments.
We should explore the possibility of designating certain days when all county residents could take refuse to the landfill free of charge. Supervised non-violent inmates who are not a flight risk could clean roadways in return for good time credit.
Some ordinances may need to be modified to increase fines for dumping trash on county roads.
• What other issues do you think the county commission should address? List your top three priorities.
My highest priorities are to build, maintain and improve our county roads; work pro-actively to improve the quality of life for Curry County residents; set management policy and guidelines for the county manager to manage county departments, consistent with the needs of county residents, and preparation of a county budget that is consistent with a policy of operating within projected income, without raising taxes.
Maintaining and improving roads will require an aggressive lobby at the state legislature for money to improve roads and replace equipment at the road department.
Quality of life issues must include a smooth transition of Cannon Air Force Base. The plan to assist Cannon must include extraordinary efforts to include our military personnel in the family of Curry County citizens. Our military men and women must be included in the planning process.
We must also plan for phased improvements at the fairgrounds and a plan of action resulting in year round use of the fairgrounds and the special events center.
A plan to assure an adequate supply of water is essential.
