{"id":2415,"date":"2007-10-23T07:44:00","date_gmt":"2007-10-23T13:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/2007\/10\/district-2-candidates-disagree-on-annexation-process\/"},"modified":"2007-10-23T07:44:00","modified_gmt":"2007-10-23T13:44:00","slug":"district-2-candidates-disagree-on-annexation-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2007\/10\/district-2-candidates-disagree-on-annexation-process\/","title":{"rendered":"District 2 candidates disagree on annexation process"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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

By Vicki Nisbett<\/p>\n

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

An issue on the minds of many Las Crucens as the Nov. 6 municipal election approaches is the massive East Mesa<\/st1:place> annexation that was approved by the city council in May.<\/p>\n

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

\n

The candidates for the District 2<\/a> seat on the Las Cruces City Council<\/a>, Dolores Connor<\/a>, 53 and the incumbent, and Vince Boudreau<\/a>, 78, have different views on the approval process that preceded the annexation.<\/p>\n

\n

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

Connor, who also holds the title of mayor pro tem, voted for the annexation and, in an interview, defended the process.<\/p>\n

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

\n

\u201cThe annexation (process) provides the city a planning tool for standard street widths, street lighting, sewer and storm drains, which are not required in county subdivisions,\u201d Connor said. \u201cWith the recent annexations, the larger properties allow for a true-planned community. Each time a section is brought forward, there are reviews and public meetings before the final approval, allowing for many more eyes to view the project.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

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

Boudreau, a consultant for high-tech companies, said the city has annexed more than 16,000 acres since 2003. When he knocks on residents\u2019 doors, Boudreau said The Vistas at Presidio<\/a>, the 6,000-acre development on the East Mesa<\/st1:place>, is always mentioned.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI believe that this large subdivision should have taken more study,\u201d Boudreau said. \u201cThis subdivision was on the high-speed track when it came to the city council. Though the developer had provided his so called (master) plan, it should have had much more scrutiny from the affected constituents.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Both candidates say they want to see Las Cruces<\/st1:city><\/st1:place> grow, but they have different ideas on how it should happen.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cGrowth is a way to know that Las Cruces<\/st1:city><\/st1:place> is healthy and planning its growth through good decisions that create a healthy economy,\u201d Connor said.<\/p>\n

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

Connor mentioned Las Cruces<\/st1:city>\u2019 low unemployment rate \u2013 about 4 percent \u2013 and said it\u2019s \u201canother sign\u201d of how the city council has worked to attract growth and improve Las Cruces<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>.<\/p>\n

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

Boudreau said Las Cruces<\/st1:city><\/st1:place> should not have to go through trials when dealing with development, but should instead research methods implemented by other cities. He said he is \u201cfor the adoption of best practices from around the country for new development.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cWe need to get the city council and the developers on one sheet of music,\u201d Boudreau said. \u201cThe council is supposed to be the voice of the citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Improving quality of life<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Boudreau said infrastructure in existing neighborhoods must be maintained, and he favors increasing funding for that. He has said repeatedly during the campaign that a focus on quality of life will attract high-paying industry.<\/p>\n

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

Connor, a native Las Crucen who has lived here her entire life, said some ask her why she wants the city to change.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cBecause I\u2019m a native is why I want Las Cruces<\/st1:city><\/st1:place> to change,\u201d she said. \u201cI want more services, more things to do. \u2026 We marketed Las Cruces<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> five years ago, and now we\u2019re on the radar screen.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Boudreau and Connor each cited other issues that are focuses of their campaigns. Connor said public safety is No. 1.<\/p>\n

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

\u201c(We need to) have a city that is safe to be in when you leave your home, walk out of a business or at an event, (so) that you know you\u2019re not fearful,\u201d Connor said.<\/p>\n

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

Improving city services and how the city provides them is an issue for Connor, who listed after-school programs and enhancing ball parks. When Connor joined the council, she said, there were three bus stops, and now Las Cruces<\/st1:city><\/st1:place> has 300.<\/p>\n

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

Boudreau is a former member of the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education. That experience makes him a good candidate for the seat, he said, adding that he learned about the importance of public input while on the school board.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cOne of the things we always did on the school board was to ensure that the public\u2019s input was always welcomed,\u201d Boudreau said. \u201cNot only did we welcome them, but we paid heed to the citizen\u2019s input and did not just provide lip service.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

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

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

Boudreau was born in El Paso<\/st1:city> and grew up in Carlsbad<\/st1:city><\/st1:place>. He is the son of Theodore and Virginia Boudreau.<\/p>\n

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

After high school, he enlisted in the Navy, where a test revealed his aptitude for electronics. He has a bachelor\u2019s degree in electrical engineering from New Mexico<\/st1:placename> State<\/st1:placetype> University<\/st1:placetype><\/st1:place>.<\/p>\n

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

Boudreau worked for Bell Telephone Laboratories as a radar and senior engineer. He also worked, beginning in 1960, at White<\/st1:placename> Sands<\/st1:placename> Missile<\/st1:placename> Range<\/st1:placetype><\/st1:place> as chief engineer and special assistant to the commanding general and later as chief of the High Energy Laser Division. During that time, he said he presented 12 briefings to members of Congress.<\/p>\n

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

In 1982, Boudreau began working as the assistant vice president at Citizen\u2019s Bank in Las Cruces<\/st1:city>, and also worked for Nichols Research Corporation in Huntsville<\/st1:city>, Ala.<\/st1:state><\/st1:place><\/p>\n

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

The daughter of Arturo and Genevieve Lucero, Connor worked for the Las Cruces Sun-News delivering newspapers from the 5th grade until she graduated from high school. Connor also worked on her grandfather\u2019s farm and worked as a teacher\u2019s aide.<\/p>\n

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

Beginning her professional career at Mutual<\/st1:placename> Building<\/st1:placetype> and Loan Bank in Las Cruces<\/st1:city><\/st1:place>, now called First Federal Bank, Connor worked in every department until she was appointed vice president of operations.<\/p>\n

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

She and a friend also owned, for 11 years, the C.J. Taylor retail store that used to be located in the Arroyo<\/st1:placename> Plaza<\/st1:placetype> in Las Cruces<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cAll my life, starting from being a paper girl and cutting onions in the fields, has been about interacting with other people,\u201d Connor said. \u201dIt means a lot to interact with the community that I love.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Boudreau is married to Diana. They have five children: Stephen, Mark, Renee, Matthew and Julie. Connor is married to William. Their children are Kristin, Samantha and Jacob.<\/p>\n

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

Polls will be open from 7 a.m.<\/st1:time> to 7 p.m.<\/st1:time> on Nov. 6. Early and absentee voting are underway.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\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 An issue on the minds of many Las Crucens as the Nov. 6 municipal election approaches is the massive East Mesa annexation that was approved by the city council in May. […]<\/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-2415","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2415","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=2415"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2415\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2415"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2415"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2415"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}