Cruces mayoral candidates talk about city’s growth

Where does Las Cruces stand today in terms of growth and development, and where does it need to go in the next four years? This year’s mayoral candidates share their thoughts.

This article was published before Michael Fleming was disqualified from the race. With his departure, Connor, Huerta and Miyagishima remain as mayoral candidates.

Four years ago, the primary issue in the Las Cruces election was the city’s rapid growth. Running on a platform of encouraging slower, smarter growth propelled Ken Miyagishima to victory over incumbent Bill Mattiace.

Today, Miyagishima says the most important change during his first term as mayor has been in attitude – the city is more thoughtful about growth and development.

“Establishing ourselves as a city that is proactive in planning its future, with good growth and development policies in place, has been a major achievement of our four years in office,” Miyagishima says.

Challenger Dolores Connor, the District 2 councilor, takes the opposite view, saying the city needs to cut red tape and work with area employers.

“Business owners that employ our residents have been ignored, and it’s time to bring City Hall into the community,” Connor says.

Another challenger, Michael Fleming, says the city needs to remove rules and regulations. The fourth candidate in the race, Michael Ray Huerta, says the mayor needs to acknowledge that he or she doesn’t have the power to unilaterally fix things, and then work collaboratively to address economic development.

Those are statements the mayoral candidates made in response to questions from NMPolitics.net about growth and development in Las Cruces. NMPolitics.net is posing a number of questions to the candidates on various topics in the coming weeks and will publish a series of articles before Election Day – Nov. 8 – that will include their full responses.

The candidates were given no word minimum or limit for their responses. The only criterion was that they not attack their opponents. I asked candidates for responses that dealt specifically with policy decisions that have worked and have not worked and what they want to do as mayor. I told the candidates the questions were designed “to give people a sense of the kind of mayor you would be, not the kind of mayor you want others to believe your opponents would be.”

Here are the questions I asked about growth and development:

• What has the city done in the last four years related to growth and development that you agree with, and what have you disagreed with?
• Do you support the city’s implementation of impact fees? Why or why not?
• Has the city adequately kept up with the need for police and fire coverage? If not, how could it do better?
• Do you believe that attracting retirees to Las Cruces is a major economic strategy that should continue, or is there something else the city should focus on as retirees from other areas are having a more difficult time selling houses and moving?
• What does the city need to do in the next four years about growth and development, and what would you do as mayor to make it happen?

One final note before I get to the candidates’ responses: You’ll see that Huerta didn’t answer the questions about impact fees, police and fire coverage, and attracting retirees. And I removed a portion of his response because it attacked Miyagishima and Connor.

On to the candidates’ responses, published word for word:

Ken Miyagishima

“While we have made a number of important policy changes, the key change has been in attitude. The council and staff, and the developers themselves, recognize much more clearly the importance of thoughtful growth and development policies, and the importance of making sure Las Crucens enjoy a good quality of neighborhood and civic life.

“In terms of specific initiatives, we are enforcing policy that requires completion of subdivision infrastructure before lots can be sold, have put an increased emphasis on the maintenance needs of our existing neighborhoods, and have instituted reasonable impact fees to pay for the infrastructure required by new development. We are involved in a number of planning initiatives, including Vision 2040 and Transportation 2040, Community Planning Blueprints for individual districts and neighborhoods, and our award winning project to Re-Envision the El Paseo Corridor.

“I wrote an Op-Ed that appeared in both the Las Cruces Sun-News and the Las Cruces Bulletin (and on NMPolitics.net) explaining in detail why reasonable impact fees are good for Las Cruces residents. Basically impact fees are the fairest and most effective way to pay for new development.

“They’re more fair because the fees are paid by those who require and directly benefit from the infrastructure required for new development, rather than having current residents pay for it through higher property or sales taxes.

“It’s more effective to use impact fees because the city can bond and build infrastructure in a planned, predictable way, rather than the current piecemeal system of requiring developers to pay for half of any arterial road that borders a new subdivision. Developers pay about the same amount either way, but this will help us avoid difficulties like we’ve experienced with Roadrunner Boulevard and the Arroyo crossings on Sonoma Ranch Blvd., which has taken years to get fully built out.

“The city has been very proactive in increasing public safety for Las Cruces residents. Construction is underway on a new West Mesa fire station, and we have selected a site for the new East Mesa Public Safety Complex, which will house police, fire and 911 facilities. Paying for these facilities is, for a growing city, a challenge, which is why the council instituted the Public Safety impact fee, and why state support for new public safety facilities continues to be a top priority for Las Cruces in the state legislature.

“Of importance too are the improvements we’ve made within our public safety system itself, with a new police chief who is committed to community policing, the new Nixle emergency alert and information service, and a police audit system established for increased professionalism and community accountability.

“Las Cruces is a city with a good climate, beautiful scenery and friendly people. It’s within an hour of a major airport, at the intersection of two major highways and it has a great state university. Obviously this will continue to be an attractive area for retirees from around the country and world.

“Retirees have been good for the economy and cultural life of our area, and we’re happy to have them be a part of our city. The government, agricultural and university sectors of our economy have also been important factors in our weathering the current financial storm better than most other cities in the region and country.

“At the same time, we recognize the importance of having a solid base of middle-income jobs for our residents. Our economic development strategy is two fold: while we continue to welcome new manufacturing like L&M Radiator and Alaska Structures, and new renewable energy investments like Sapphire Energy and Sun Edison, we want to focus an equal amount of attention on already existing Las Cruces businesses, helping develop those enterprises whose owners have already shown a strong commitment to our city and its people.

“Overall we’re optimistic that Las Cruces will continue to experience strong economic development: we have excellent economic growth indicators when compared with other cities in the country, and over 600 new Las Cruces businesses have registered since July, 2010, providing over 2,000 new jobs for area residents.

“When I was elected there was a great deal of concern about the development industry, and whether the city would be able to make sure that growth would occur in a thoughtful, community-supportive way. Establishing ourselves as a city that is proactive in planning its future, with good growth and development policies in place, has been a major achievement of our four years in office.

“Clearly we will continue to work with citizens, the business community and the development industry to build a Las Cruces that is vibrant, prosperous, and with a high quality of life. As mayor, I expect to continue to provide leadership for a dynamic, engaged city council and a dedicated city staff to make this vision a reality.

“Growth and development are ultimately of a piece with good governance in general, in that they involve openness, honesty, transparency, and a sincere commitment to involve the people of Las Cruces in planning our future. Hopefully the days of an inner circle of decision makers is gone, and we will continue to have widespread public engagement in everything we do. That was my commitment when I came into office, and that remains my commitment today.”

Dolores Connor

“With the downturn in the economy and the message sent four years ago, newcomers have slowed by an average of 300 fewer homes sold annually, based on the average number BEFORE the ‘boom.’ The new impact fees will slow this industry even more. My #1 reason for not supporting the impact fees is the effect their implementation will have on the construction and supplier industry. Jobs have been lost and businesses have been closed during this recent economic downfall and a real leader would not look to further hurt an industry that provides a significant portion of the City’s general fund through their payments of Gross Receipts Tax. This implementation will certainly increase building outside the city limits, providing zero GRT to the City, meaning that the increase in the county will have an effect within the city limits. Also, a policy was passed in January 2007 (prior to the current Mayor’s term) requiring ‘substantial completion’ of subdivisions. It was through this policy, the city leadership ensured that subdivision infrastructure would be completed before it was accepted by the City of Las Cruces.

“Public safety is a great campaign issue but it has been the focus of my 8 years as a City Councilor. Only during the past 12 months (an election year issue) has this been on the rest of the council radar. I have advocated not just in council, but on the streets of Las Cruces that public safety is the #1 mission. I have always supported the addition of a public safety-training center and a new 911 response center, noting the need to meet our current Insurance Service Office (ISO) review report that shows we are four fire stations behind to meet the standards, but only now are they listening.

“Moving into the future we must look at how the City does business to help business. We need to do a better job of working with prospective employers so that we can help in the process of encouraging job growth and keeping our residents employed. It is critical that we implement a one-stop process for cutting red tape and review policies that hinder the process. A review I would begin immediately is the Regional Economic Advocacy Leadership Commission that would bring stakeholders together to review and plan with staff how policy can be restructured. Business owners that employ our residents have been ignored, and it’s time to bring City Hall into the community.”

Michael Ray Huerta

“As Americans have struggled through this great recession, we’ve seen our local economy hit especially hard. For the vast majority of Las Crucens, life has not been good over the past four years. One out of every five adults live in poverty, while over 35% of our children live under the poverty line. Real unemployment numbers suggest that nearly 15% of Las Crucens are unemployed, underemployed, or have quit looking for work altogether. Our middle class is shrinking, and for those who are blessed to remain a part of it, incomes have decreased every single year. And we can’t just blame this on the national economy – in nearly every indicator, we fair far worse than the national average.

“In short, right now in Las Cruces, we have the few who are making it, and the rest of us who are struggling to get by. That is why our number one priority over the next four years should be to strengthen our local economy. Here are three ways in which the Mayor could help do that.

• “Reinvest in the education of our workforce – As mayor, I want to lead an effort at sending back to school 500 Las Crucens who were unable to finish college. In 2010, there was a 24% increase in the number of Hispanics who re-enrolled in colleges across America, most of whom did so in their local community college. We can capitalize on this movement here in Las Cruces. Everyday, I come across young adults and professionals who are only a few credits away from receiving a degree. As mayor, I want to work with NMSU and DACC to begin a low-cost or no-cost program so that adults just a few credits shy of graduation can complete their degrees in the next four years.
• “Expand the learning day for our young people – Most people are surprised to learn that children in our public schools only spend around 20% of their waking hours in a classroom. And in a bureaucracy where our great teachers are forced into teaching to a test, we are almost systematically eliminating the arts, music, civics and the other essential subjects that provide a comprehensive education for our kids. Rather than cast blame, we must all come together to 1) expand the learning day for our children, and 2) expand the day in fun, innovative ways. Everyday, I speak with hundreds of college students, adults, retired teachers and senior citizens who would take advantage of the opportunity to teach their passion with a group of students in after school time. I strongly believe the city can be at the center of this innovative approach to an old problem. As mayor, I will work to build a coalition of hundreds of Las Crucens who will volunteer with a group of students, expanding those students’ learning days in ways that they would otherwise never receive. Together, we can do our part at keeping our students engaged in learning.
• “Show Las Crucens that the Mayor cares – Everyday, people are surprised to learn that after the 15% pay increase my opponents gave themselves, the mayor makes nearly $75,000 in salary, with nearly $110,000 in total benefits. Las Crucens already feel separated and out-of-touch with their city government. They need a reason to believe that local leaders are more than just typical politicians. That is why I have pledged that on day one as Mayor, I will cut my salary in half until city council sets up an independent commission made up of citizens who can themselves determine the salary that city politicians should be receiving. Both of my opponents have said no to this pledge, and I don’t understand for the life of me why not. Elected officials shouldn’t be exempt from the sacrifices that rest of us are already making, and Las Crucens should see that from their mayor.

“These are three short ideas that the Mayor can lead on. But it is crucial that before we promise sweeping changes and promises for the city, we first address the actual position of mayor. Many Las Crucens are surprised to learn that according to our City Charter, the mayor is a ‘ceremonial’ position that ‘shall not have any administrative duties.’ The mayor is the head of our legislative branch of government, and as such, maintains a single vote on council, with the many powers of an executive administration resting with the city manager. What is the job of mayor, then?

“What separates the Mayor from the rest of council is their unique ability to be the chief advocate, lobbyist and spokesperson for the city. That’s why the many debates, forums, and opportunities for the mayoral candidates to be in the same room on the same stage are so crucial. You must ask yourself, with jobs on the line and the future of the city at stake, which of the candidates do you want fighting, advocating and lobbying on your behalf? Because that truly is the job of mayor, and that is the job I can do better than anyone else running in this election.

“With that said, the mayor must be not only a good statesman for the city, but a great legislator, able and willing to build coalitions while remaining politically confident and intellectually curious. (Editor’s note: The rest of this paragraph has been removed because it attacked Miyagishima and Connor.)

“As we address economic development in Las Cruces, we must be honest and forthright about what the mayor can and cannot do. Can they lead a council as the head of the legislative branch? Yes. Can they veto any decision that is made? No. Can they work with the city manager and executive branch to improve the city? Yes. Can they make administrative decisions on their own? No.

“As a politician, it’s easy to say you have all the answers and that more importantly, if elected, you will have the power to fix all the problems on your own. Frankly, I’ve had enough of that kind of talk in Las Cruces. It’s time we all get together, understand what our jobs are, and move forward to improve the lives of our citizens.”

Michael Fleming

“I believe we have overloaded the private sector with rules and regulations; therefore, I will with careful diligence will remove all, without compromising safety and cost effectiveness. I believe we have plenty of police and fire fighting personnel. Yes we should sell Las Cruces as a retirement city due to the 78 million Baby Boomers retiring rather soon.

“The impact fees should be levied ONLY to the buyer of said real estate. DO NOT make EVERYBODY in Las Cruces pay the impact fee. We need to make Las Cruces a business friendly community so that our high school and college graduates will be able to secure suitable employment opportunities in order to start and raise families and create a community one will be proud to call home.”