County Commission District 4 Profile: Seth Martin

Editor’s note: The CNJ sent out a questionnaire to candidates running for county positions up for election. Candidates had a 300 word-limit for each question and their responses are published as submitted.

Seth H. Martin

Party affiliation: Republican

Age: 35

Occupation: Farmer/ small business

Previous elected offices: None

What is your long-term vision for the county? And how will you plan for that?

We need to keep Curry County productive, progressing, and viable for current, and new industries.

Deal with relevant issues, and make sure they are not restrictive to one part of the county, just to appease another part. We need to handle all issues correctly the first time, so that time is not wasted later on dealing with the same issue.

Are you in favor of zoning or creating an ordinance to clean up the county?

Good in theory, but since it is applied to the entire county, it would leave the door open to impose new restrictions on agriculture and other industries in Curry County. There needs to be a more cooperative agreement between the residents and the county to get anything done.

What do you think the county should do to address water conservation?

We need to invest and secure enough water rights locally so that we are not totally reliant on an outside source to fill our needs.

What do you consider the county’s greatest need today? And how should we resolve that issue?

With the county recovering from the tornado last year, the water issue, new zoning, keeping the county detention center up to date and safe for its employees and inmates, and getting the event center finished and operating. It is hard to pin point one for priority. The main issue is making sure that they are all handled in a way that is best for the future of Curry County.

What is your stance on alcohol sales at the Curry County Special Events Center?

Being a dry county, I am against selling alcohol on any county grounds, even if they are in the city limits. More important than my personal view, is how the residents of Curry County feel. Among the current commissioners, three out of two voted to not allow alcohol sales. They voted that way, from the response they had gotten from the community.

What can county commissioners do to avoid any more “unaccounted for” funds in light of the money missing from the 2007 county fair?

A more accountable set of checks and balances need to be put in place, with at least two or more people involved in handling, counting, recording, and depositing the funds.

— Compiled by CNJ Staff Writer Gabriel Monte