{"id":2409,"date":"2007-10-22T08:04:00","date_gmt":"2007-10-22T14:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/2007\/10\/district-1-hopefuls-agree-on-education-not-on-growth\/"},"modified":"2007-10-22T08:04:00","modified_gmt":"2007-10-22T14:04:00","slug":"district-1-hopefuls-agree-on-education-not-on-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2007\/10\/district-1-hopefuls-agree-on-education-not-on-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"District 1 hopefuls agree on education, not on growth"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

This article is part of a series running this week profiling the candidates in the Nov. 6 Las Cruces<\/st1:city><\/st1:place> municipal election.<\/p>\n

By Vicki Nisbett<\/span> <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The four candidates competing to represent District 1<\/a> on the Las Cruces City Council<\/a> agree that the city is going to grow, but they disagree about how it should happen.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The incumbent, 64-year-old Jos\u00e9 V. Frietze<\/a>, a champion of the city\u2019s growth, said he wants the West<\/st1:placename> Mesa<\/st1:placename> Industrial Park<\/st1:placetype><\/st1:place> enhanced for a new-generation workforce.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI want growth that will enrich our community, our culture, our environment, our wilderness and provide employment opportunities for our youth,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Political newcomer Conrado M. Guerrera<\/a>, 71, said many people in the district are more concerned about street lighting, road renovation, abandoned cars, vacant homes and trash strewn in homeowners\u2019 yards. He said his concern is renovating existing infrastructure.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m running. The people feel that they are being neglected,\u201d Guerra said. \u201cI believe in growth to a certain extent, as long as we don\u2019t over do it. Sometimes we overdo building houses.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

As a resident of District 1 for 14 years, Rondeau \u201cRon\u201d Gurley<\/a>, 73, said growth is inevitable in Las Cruces<\/st1:city><\/st1:place>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to grow,\u201d Gurley said. \u201cIt\u2019s just a matter of everyone getting involved.\u201d <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Gurley said Las Cruces<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> should be somewhat arrogant when attracting new businesses. The city has characteristics many cities lack \u2013 a great university, a beautiful environment and good climate, he said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Having been raised in San Miguel, former Do\u00f1a Ana County Commissioner Miguel G. Silva<\/a>, 47, said he knows the history and culture of Las Cruces<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>. <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI think that the city, especially the council level, has yet to define the difference between growth and development,\u201d Silva said. \u201cIt\u2019s essential that this definition come forth.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m for expansion,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s part of the evolutionary cycle that cities progress.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The controversial East Mesa<\/st1:place> annexation<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The candidates have differing opinions about the council\u2019s May approval of the controversial annexation on the East Mesa called The Vistas at Presidio<\/a>, a 6,000-acre development that could add 30,000 homes to Las Cruces<\/st1:city><\/st1:place>. Guerra and Gurley said they have spoken to many citizens about the annexation.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cMost of them think they were \u2018quick pitched,\u2019\u201d Gurley said, adding that he would propose more qualitative town-hall meetings to allow greater public participation.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Guerra said the East Mesa<\/st1:place> is growing too quickly. He said some existing roads need to be improved, and he wants to see another arterial route that crosses Interstate 25.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Silva said he is concerned because the city council has not adequately defined where Las Cruces<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> is going to grow.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to look at growth before we jump,\u201d he said. \u201cDefine growth and how we are going to expand.\u201d <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Frietze said that has been done, and he was surprised when he heard some people were against the annexation, which he voted to approve.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a process that was already in place,\u201d Frietze said. \u201cWe thought we had defined (the development) to the east and the north.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Frietze said the city council had just approved the Sierra Norte Annexation, which was about 2,600 acres, prior to approval of The Vistas at Presidio. Those who opposed the second project wanted the city council to change the development process in the middle of the approval process for the specific project, which did not make sense and did not seem fair, Frietze said. <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

He said he voted to approve the annexation because it would ensure that infrastructure would be in place before people moved in. In addition, the developer, Philip Philippou, donated land for schools and planned for parks and trail systems.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Education<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The four candidates agree that education is important to help reduce poverty in Las Cruces<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>. <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Silva, who is working toward a master\u2019s in English from New Mexico<\/st1:placename> State<\/st1:placetype> University<\/st1:placetype><\/st1:place>, said education has been instilled in him since he was a child. He said programs for youth are important.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Guerra said he envisions the high school drop-out rate decreasing. He said he would work with schools to stop juvenile delinquency, if elected.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Once a physical education teacher, football coach and juvenile delinquent officer, Gurley also expressed concern about education.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI am concerned that our schools are way too large,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need to have a careful analysis of the curriculum we\u2019re using.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Frietze, a former school board member, said he is working to improve education as co-founder of the Las Monta\u00f1as Charter High School, which aims to educate high-risk students and prepare them to join the workforce.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Frietze and Gurley both spoke about the importance of developing a ready work force. Frietze said he views the industrial park as a venue for young workers to develop and enhance their skills. <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Gurley said he views retired professionals as an \u201cuntapped resource.\u201d He plans to propose that the city and the county set up a job bank for such workers, who he said have much to offer Las Cruces<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>. <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cThese people have talent beyond recognition,\u201d Gurley said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Other issues<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Each candidate touted other issues in promoting his candidacy.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Frietze, who was raised in Four Points near Mesilla, said he offers experience. He was first elected to the City Council in 1995 and re-elected in 1999 and 2003. He pointed out that he has been working on the development of the aquatic center and with state legislators on downtown revitalization.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

As a one-time chairman of the city\u2019s Ethics Board, Gurley is a proponent of public trust. He said he often advises public officials about good stewardship and what it means to hold something that is cherished by the public.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cI bring a breadth of experience as a public-service officer and individual that has the big picture,\u201d Gurley said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Gurley is a member of the state Medicaid Advisory Committee and the Do\u00f1a Health Alliance, which includes the DWI Council. <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Guerra said he wants to help the residents of his district. He said the city council\u2019s focus is on revitalizing downtown, and he wants to see that completed, but it must be done right.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

As a councilor, Silva said he will work to ensure that Las Cruces<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> becomes a \u201cshowcase\u201d city. Las Cruces needs to maintain downtown as the main economic center, he said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Silva also said a growing city like Las Cruces<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> needs term limits for its mayor and councilors.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

About the candidates<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Guerra, who was born in El Paso<\/st1:city>, raised in La Mesa<\/st1:city> and moved to Las Cruces<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> in 1963, is a retired life-insurance agent. He has an associates\u2019 degree in Advanced Insurance Education from Northwestern<\/st1:placename> Missouri<\/st1:placename> University<\/st1:placetype><\/st1:place>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

In 1958, Guerra joined the U.S. Army and served in Korea<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>. He also served eight years in the Army Reserve. Guerra is married to Alicia and has three children, Michelle, Darion and Ralph.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Gurley was born in Tahoka<\/st1:city>, Texas<\/st1:state><\/st1:place>. He was drafted and joined the Army after his second year in college, and served as an instructor in helicopter mechanics for an Army aviation school during the Korean War. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

He works part-time as a development officer for New Mexico<\/st1:placename> State<\/st1:placetype> University<\/st1:placetype><\/st1:place> and also runs his own consulting business. In addition, he helps train law enforcement officers and first responders to deal with crisis situations involving the mentally ill. Gurley is married to Nicole, and they have four children: West, Gretta, Luke and Monique.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Silva was appointed to the county commission by Gov. Gary Johnson in 2000, but has since left the commission. He is a former city recycling coordinator and is now co-owner of Silva Sanitation Company and an adjunct professor at Do\u00f1a<\/st1:placename> Ana<\/st1:placename> Community College<\/st1:placename><\/st1:place>. <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Silva said his parents instilled in him the values he carries today.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

After graduating from high school in Las Cruces<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>, Frietze enlisted in the Air Force. He obtained his bachelor\u2019s in business administration and his master\u2019s in social work, both from NMSU. He co-founded Families and Youth, Inc., and now serves as its chief executive officer. He also helped start the Las Monta\u00f1as charter school and the A. Fielder Memorial Safe Haven program. <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Frietze is married to Vivian Martinez and has two daughters, Marisa and Victoria.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 6. Early and absentee voting are underway at the city clerk\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

\n

Nisbett<\/a> is a reporting intern for Heath Haussamen on New Mexico Politics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This article is part of a series running this week profiling the candidates in the Nov. 6 Las Cruces municipal election. By Vicki Nisbett The four candidates competing to represent District 1 on the Las Cruces City Council agree that the city is going to grow, but they disagree about how it should happen. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2409"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2409\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}