By Frost McGahey

When one of his residents called to say that there was a lot of trash around the little chapel on the hill (La Capilla), Town Councilor for District #1 Rudy Bencomo decided to take matters into his own hands, literally.

“I grew up 100 yards from that chapel. It’s disrespectful to have litter around that area so I took a black trash bag and filled it. People should use the trash receptacles that are there.”

At a local women’s group meeting he spoke about his road to becoming a town councilor and how much he enjoyed helping people.

He was appointed to be councilor for District #1 by Mayor Ken Ladner when Lucian Farmer resigned and moved out-of-state. Bencomo had been asked before to run for town councilor, but family problems kept him from doing so.

A Silver City retired Fire Chief Rudy Bencomo has always been concerned about others. Now he substitutes teaching 7th graders. “That’s the level I can handle. Eighth graders are too much for me. I don’t know how moms do it these days.”

Residents in District #1 complained to Bencomo about the spike in crime in the southeast part of town. “I asked the police chief if they could increase patrols which they did. It has helped people feel safer.”

The general election is Tuesday, November 7th, but early voting has already started. Bencomo was appointed in May and is now up for re-election.