Council hopeful has real estate, planning experience

A Las Crucen with a background in the military, commercial property management and community planning wants to replace Ken Miyagishima, who was elected mayor of Las Cruces earlier this month, as the District 6 city councilor.

Berchard Ray Shipley said he’s running because he wants to help his community.

“That’s always been my belief, that you give back to the community where you live,” Shipley said in a phone interview.

The special election is being held Jan. 15.

Shipley is the only candidate who didn’t send out an announcement before he filed to run on Tuesday. The other candidates in the race are former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Curran; Lawrence Joy, the owner of a direct mail advertising firm and the voice of NMSU’s marching band; Sharon Thomas, former head of the Quality Growth Alliance; and Karen Trujillo, a real-estate broker and president of the Hispano Chamber of Commerce de Las Cruces.

Shipley, who is originally from Anderson, Ind., retired from the Army in 1989 after 23 years. He then began working as a commercial property manager on the East and West coasts, managing office buildings, shopping centers and business parks. During a stint in California, Shipley spent six years on the planning commission for the city of Brentwood, including three years as the commission’s chair.

His son’s family lives in El Paso, and two years ago he and his wife decided to retire and move to Las Cruces to be near them.

Shipley said his experience in Brentwood qualifies him to deal with one of the main issues in Las Cruces – growth.

“I firmly believe in managed growth,” he said. “Having experience with the planning commission, I know how to make that work.”

One of the main concerns with growth is ensuring the city has adequate infrastructure to keep up, Shipley said. He also cited public safety as a major issue.