Paul Curry says farewell to county commission

Doña Ana County Commissioner Paul Curry, who first dreamed up the idea of the new government center on Motel Boulevard and led the city and county through a reorganization of Memorial Medical Center, is attending his final meeting today.

After almost six years in office, Curry opted against seeking re-election in November, and will be replaced on Jan. 1 by Democrat Karen Perez.

“Many people continue to ask me why I joined county government service,” Curry said at today’s meeting. “… I believe that it is a calling, that God has given me an opportunity to step up to make a positive difference for our county.”

He said he isn’t leaving public service, and may run for office in the future.

“I left the door open for that,” the Republican told me, though he didn’t want to name a specific office. Some have suggested he would make a good candidate for the House of Representatives. He currently lives in the district of Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces.

Curry, the commissioner for District 3, was appointed by former Gov. Gary Johnson on Feb. 15, 2001 to replace Cervantes when he was appointed to the House. Curry was later elected in November 2002.

He joined the commission at time of extreme polarization, when allegations of wrongdoing and other political infighting took precedence over good government. Curry was a member of the commission at times when there were frequent violations of the New Mexico Open Meetings Act and other issues.

But he has emerged as a man who is willing to put aside politics and work toward a more efficient and open government. He has remained a commissioner at a time when the governing body and its manager, Brian Haines, have been recognized for cleaning up county government.

“Following Robert’s Rules of Order, opening public meetings with prayer, recognizing volunteers and the policy of allowing minority commissioners to sponsor agenda items are some of the professional policies we now practice as routine,” Curry said in his speech. “These policies were not practiced prior to my tenure in public office.”

Curry, who owns several construction-related businesses, is a deeply religious man who has often made decisions based on his faith. But he hasn’t been afraid to cross party lines to do what he believed was right.

“He’s been a terrific commissioner,” said Commissioner Oscar Vasquez Butler. “He has made decisions based on what he thinks is right. It had nothing to do with Republican and Democrat. It had to do with the issues. He’s a very reasonable person.”

Commissioner Bill McCamley agreed.

“He and I have large philosophical differences in a lot of areas, but I’m very proud that we have been able to get over those and work together,” he said. “That’s the way government should be. … Paul has a great ability to get past those and work together, and I think we could all learn from that.”

Curry chaired a bipartisan group of county commissioners and Las Cruces city councilors who took control of the financially devastated Memorial Medical Center several years ago and worked out a new agreement to, in Curry’s words, bring it “back to solvency and accountability. Now our hospital offers quality services to all; no one is excluded, regardless of ability to pay.”

Curry also conceived of the $20-million government center that opened earlier this year. It was a consolidation of county offices that were spread out all over the city, and helps county government operate more efficiently and be more accessible.

Curry said he was brought a proposed budget increase his first month in office, at a time when “this county was out of control” and “had no focus on a primary mission: efficiently providing basic services to the public.”

Instead of increasing the budget, Curry said he and other commissioners cut it by almost 10 percent, reorganized staff to cut the number of departments in half, and took the money left over to build the new government center without raising taxes.

In today’s speech, Curry urged other commissioners to continue to work on a comprehensive development plan, and to not “rubber stamp a plan designed for a city. You have a rural county with diverse needs. Make sure your plan is flexible, not rigid; allow development standards to reflect our villages and communities, not just traditional city-type subdivisions. Allow for open space.”

He also urged them to spend wisely the millions of dollars set aside from the MMC deal. Those funds are earmarked for public health.

“Demand accountability,” he said. “Make each dollar count for the poor and underprivileged. Don’t support programs that are top-heavy with administrators and light on services rendered to the public.”

That has been the theme of Curry’s time on the commission.

Here is the entire text of Curry’s speech:

Paul Curry before the county commission

Dec. 12, 2006

Thank you.

Professionalism was my theme for running for office. Following Robert’s Rules of Order, opening public meetings with prayer, recognizing volunteers, and the policy of allowing minority commissioners to sponsor agenda items are some of the professional policies we now practice as routine. These policies were not practiced prior to my tenure in public office.

Many people continue to ask me why I joined county government service. I would like to publicly answer that question. I believe that it is a calling, that God has given me an opportunity to step up to make a positive difference for our county.

I was perusing through some of the milestones that have occurred. I thought about the appointments of people such as Sheriff Garrison and Judge Salcido the hiring of Brian Haines, and the many ordinances and spirited public debates we’ve been though. Our new audit committee allows the public an inside view of county finances. We now require measurable accounting standards from those who receive county funds in support of their organizations.

I would like to bring it down to two major milestones and two major challenges.

Memorial Medical Center was bankrupt as a public institution and they could no longer provide basic medical services to the people. The last straw for me was when they made the announcement that they would no longer deliver babies. Perhaps the greatest challenge during my tenure in office was serving as chairman of the joint board between the City of Las Cruces and Doña Ana County. We took control of the hospital back from the quasi-private management that ran it into the ground and brought it to solvency and accountability. Now our hospital offers quality services to all; no one is excluded, regardless of ability to pay.

Six years ago this county was out of control. County government had no focus on a primary mission: efficiently provide basic services to the public. My first month in office, I was asked for an annual, large budget increase. Instead, we boldly cu the budget back by almost 10 percent from the previous year. We reorganized the entire government structure and eventually cut the number of directors and departments in half. We took the savings of these reductions and invested it in Doña Ana County’s future by building a new government center without raising taxes.

This government center we enjoy today was built with a professional purpose – efficiently provide basic services to the public.

Now, the two challenges – a comprehensive development plan and spending Memorial Medical Health Trust funds.

First: The staff is developing a comprehensive plan for growth and development. Do not rubber stamp a plan designed for a city. You have a rural county with diverse needs. Make sure your plan is flexible, not rigid; allow development standards to reflect our villages and communities, not just traditional city-type subdivisions. Allow for open space. Flexibility allows diversity while still meeting safety standards.

Second: When we reorganized Memorial Medical Center we set aside millions of dollars in a special health fund that is earmarked only for public health. This money was hard to come by. Set up a permanent trust fund. As you begin to spend it next year don’t waste it. Demand accountability. Make each dollar count for the poor and underprivileged. Don’t support programs that are top-heavy with administrators and light on services rendered to the public.

Finally, I have enjoyed working with Brian Haines and his professional staff. Brian’s wisdom and guidance helped clarify many difficult issues for me. His straight-forward approach to problem solving has made a lasting difference in county management. I have made many friends here. This county staff is professional. You have raised the bar. You are courteous, dedicated and proud of your jobs. I now hear positive feedback all over the community about the quality of the people working at this county. It has been a pleasure working with you.

And to you commissioners, Dolores, Kent, Bill and Oscar – I have enjoyed working with each of you. We wrestled with many issues together. You have some big issues facing you next year. I continue to pray that God will give you the wisdom you need to meet them.

I will continue to be involved with public service. I am not quitting. My role will change because my passion and interest in good government remains strong.

I thank my wife, Mary, and my children and family who supported me and gave up so many hours while I was off at county responsibilities. I thank the supporters who helped me win public office and I hope that the issues I raised while serving here have honored your trust.