By Mary Alice Murphy

The final Democratic candidate forum prior to the primary on June 7 was held Tuesday evening for commissioner candidates for County Commission District 5 at the Grant County Administration Center, sponsored by Grant County, CATS TV and KOOT FM 88.1 and hosted by the Silver City Daily Press

Daily Press Editor and Publisher Nickolas Seibel served as moderator.

Three names will be on the ballot-Stephen Edwards, Simon G. Ortiz and Harry Francis Browne. Ortiz and Browne were the only ones able to attend.

Ortiz was the first to give an opening statement. "I am a local product of Cobre and I attended Western New Mexico University." He said he also spent time in Southern California.

He said he was running because of his broad experience in work and other activities. "I feel privileged because of the success I've had in business. It is a privilege to serve people. You have to earn the trust of people. I've been in commercial business and an entrepreneur." He said he can interact with people and knows how to reach consensus.

He brought up a couple of points. "The local school board may not have done as good a job as they could have. It's our responsibility to understand what the community is asking for and use our resources for the public good."

Browne said the forums were very valuable. "Grant County is changing. The Internet brought me here."

He noted some changes are as a result of federal policy, such as the loss of the logging industry to protect the Mexican spotted owl, and the use of low-burning fires to create a healthy forest.

About 24 percent of the population in Grant County is 65 years of age or older. He said a problem was that high-speed broadband served only a few customers, such as Gila Regional Medical Center and Western New Mexico University. That same high-speed broadband has not reached the majority of the residents. "The county has not led us to more use of renewable energy, as evidenced by the floundering progress of the Southwest Energy and Green Jobs Task Force."

"My job No. 1 is to get the county out of the New Mexico CAP (Central Arizona Project) Entity," Browne continued. "My background includes challenging the mines to reclaim and be more environmentally sensitive."

Silver City Daily Press Reporter Benjamin Fisher asked the first question from the paper. "We have a very diverse population in the county. Describe the demographics in your district."

Browne said his district is a bit more urban than the other districts and encompasses Chihuahua Hill, the Historic District to Tyrone and Mangas. "We are 55 percent Hispanic and 45 percent Anglo. We are a mix of working people, professionals and retirees."

He said he lives in the Historic District. "It has affected my perspective. I have seen Silver City make changes in creating a high quality of life. It has developed the artists' community, MainStreet and tourism. I don't think the county shares the same vision." He said his vision for District 5 is more like that of Silver City's.

"Regrettably, a lot of the memories I have of my district were highlighted in the Quail Ridge Fire," Ortiz said. "It exposed the dangerous dirt roads. I come back to the Quail Ridge Fire and how the tragedy affected so many people. At the time, I was an insurance agent. I visited every homeowner I had insured. AllState, the company I was working for, send in mobile adjusters. I feel good about how I was able to accommodate and serve those I had insured. In no other set of events, could I have learned as much."

Seibel noted that this election was the first to have three commissioners up for election, with the addition of the two districts. "What do you think about the redistricting and its fairness?"

"The five-person commission is the best thing since sliced bread," Ortiz said. "The five-person commission makes sense, so if one shakes hands with another commissioner they are not violating something. They can pay more attention and learn what is required, so, for example, homeowners don't have to pay as high a premium. They can clear the brush around their homes and apply what we've learned."

Seibel pressed the issue and said some thought the districts could have been divided differently.

"They did the best job they could," Ortiz said.

"Nick, you are the one who argued they did a poor job," Browne said. "I disagree. I probably would have sought to carve Silver City into three rather than four districts, because just north of Silver City being in District 4 doesn't make sense. It probably could have been done better, but I never took a stand myself. It's not ideal, but it's not horrible."

A question from the audience asked: "Would you support the community aggregations of electricity or solar power?"

"Yes, I would love to learn more about it," Browne said. "I would like to see it rather than municipal control. We need more local control. We are still suffering from not following through in about 2000. The county could properly assess clean energy. The homeowner can get solar and pay through the county through the property assessment. It would keep the money here with less going to PNM."

"Local or municipal renewable energy is the way of the future," Ortiz said. "If someone dictates that is the best way to follow, I would support it. It should be left to those who consume, not those who generate. It could be an engine to promote renewable energy. We have plenty of solar, and living on a ridge, I know we have plenty of wind. We need to learn how to harness those sources, locally controlled, instead of having to pay PNM. We are at the mercy of paying their losses. I would promote the idea of local control."

Fisher said the current County Commission has been at odds with the Silver City Town Council, on the Gila diversion and gross receipts taxes, specifically. "How should they work together?"

"I hope we do not have a repetition of the way the House and Senate work," Ortiz said. "We are all county residents. Those elected as county and city officials have to make sure their own decisions are discussed openly between the council and commission. What can we do to serve the county and the city?"

"We need to work at improving the relationships," Browne said. "They have made steps that way."

He said the county and the town took different stands on the Gila Diversion and gross receipts taxes. "I think they need to work together on bigger visions. The city has launched a branding project. Branding would be better if the county is involved. I think the county and city can work together on developing the trail systems and that will improve relationships."

An audience member noted there are three seats open on the commission and three candidates, one for each seat are doing joint promotion on a "'ticket.' Why is that good and why not?"

"I think it has been done before," Browne said. "Christy Miller was running against a ticket. Alicia, Marilyn and I have collaborated. We have different specialties with complementary thoughts. My specialty is environmental issues; Alicia as The Volunteer Director worked on food issues, and Marilyn concentrates on retirees and senior issues. I think we would not railroad things. Before making a decision, we will listen. It will create a healthier situation on the commission."

"I don't have the benefit of an endorsement other than myself," Ortiz said. "I am focused on what I know about the community and what they know about me as a business person. I am comfortable with the job I have done and with my relationship with people. I will be no different if I'm elected commissioner. I hope they've seen the service I can provide."

A question asked: "What specifically can you do for economic development?"

"Choices are too numerous," Ortiz said. "The need to think in unison is critical. There are basic and mundane things to economic development. Who are the resources? Why don't we use the university to teach us? We have to identify resources, so we can implement economic development. Why don't we just do it? Form a committee and do it. How do we bring the concept of the Mining District and how do we generate points of interest in the county, using mining and natural resources? The university and tourism would be the easiest to achieve. We know the issues. We need someone to organize them. What form can we use to show tourists how to visit the beautiful parts of the county?"

"I'm looking at the long-term perspective," Browne said.

He said human capital is most important, and from the educational point of view, worker training. "The commissioners can encourage the development of clean energy and have entrepreneurs to employ in those resources. The Green Jobs Task Force needs an injection of energy and attention from the commission."

Browne said he would focus on quality of life and encourage creative forces. "We have a lot of professionals who have been attracted to the area. They circulate money within the community. We could expand food production and health care partnerships."

Fisher asked how the County Commission could address the need for high speed broadband.

"It is essential," Browne said. "It gives the ability to decentralize work. Lots of folks can live remotely and not have to live in an urban setting. If we don't have reliable Internet service, we will lose out on those professionals. I'm not sure what the commission can do, but it needs to direct the county manager to make it accessible to everyone. A line runs right by my house, but I can't access it."

"The need is critical," Ortiz said. "Late last summer at the building I own, a truck with Infinity on it stopped nearby. The technician had lots of gadgets and when I asked him, he said they were setting up a high-speed Wi-Fi fiber corridor. But nothing ever came of it that I know of. It gives me hope that things we need are being thought about. Why don't we have it? I don't know."

Seibel asked how to move the issue forward.

"I would ask the question," Ortiz said. "He was there for a purpose. What happened to the technical process? I can be nosy and demand answers. But all of a sudden, nothing happened. The thought process reaches a dizzying speed, but nothing happens. It's like the Twilight Zone."

An audience member asked what the candidates' opinions were on the recent request for an oversight committee on the Detention Center.

"I think it should be done," Ortiz said. "I think it is a good solution to the potential issue of liability. If it is done, I believe the inmates can be treated better. I know a lot of work is done by the Detention Center administrators. Treating inmates as people has started.

"We need a core of people who are impartial and will take on the human aspect rather than just treating it as law enforcement," he continued. "Once a person reaches the jail, he doesn't have to lose his humanity. Let's get the human element involved and seek advice from people of compassion."

"I agree on the practical aspects of oversight," Browne said. "I'm not sure why the commission said no to the proposition. Was it of no, we don't want volunteers? An oversight group doesn't have to be adversarial. It could enable the expansion of Literacy Link-Leamos, for instance. That group has only one volunteer now in the center. And what happens to detainees when they are let out? I encourage volunteers to provide the basic work skills so inmates don't go back to the Detention Center."

An audience member asked what the candidates would do in their district to address the concerns of someone who feels alienated from the county.

"I think I want to know what they want," Browne said. "Why does that person feel alienated? I think county resources are used poorly. I would want to identify the issue. I don't see myself as a copper miner or in farming or ranching. I would try to persuade and encourage all activities that are beneficial to the area."

"You ask by asking the question: 'What do you think alienates you?'" Ortiz said. "As a commissioner make yourself open, for someone to come in and talk. How do I promote what it is you want Even if hearing you, I don't agree, how would you change it? My role is to ask your idea. As commissioner, you will get people stopping you in an aisle at Wal-Mart, asking you about an issue."

Seibel had a follow up question: "People complain the focus is on downtown."

"I have opposing ideas," Ortiz said.

Silver City Downtown does not give services to businesses outside the area, Ortiz said. "How do we outside of downtown promote ourselves? We need more inclusion. It has been divisive."

"I fear your question came from my mention of marketing downtown," Browne said. "The county should spend money on the county consistent with what Silver City is doing."

"If you have to choose a message, someone will get left out," Seibel said.

Fisher asked the next question. "The current County Commission is part of the (New Mexico) CAP (Central Arizona Project) Entity. They joined because they felt it offered the county a vital voice in the process. Does that justify the commission being on the board?"

"I'm not sure any of us should be involved," Ortiz said. "I am a free flower. I'm not sure I have the knowledge about the CAP Entity. I'm not sure what the commission has agreed to. The river should continue flowing. The commission involvement should be minimal. It is a big issue."

"There is not a good reason to stay on the CAP Entity," Browne said. "Plenty of facts point to use of the federal funds on effective water development issues, not on studies. We don't need to wait to find out more by spending money on studies, engineers and lawyers. We need to send the signal that it is not a viable project. I don't think we will ever see economic development from the project."

"If money is being spent through the actions of the commission, I'm hesitant," Ortiz said. "Will the county get benefits from the money being spent? I have a gut feeling, it won't. If I'm elected I will fight it."

The next question: What recent decision of the commission would you most like to change or would you have done differently?

Ortiz said he would revisit the Convention Center. "We can always find a reason to gripe. But why has it been underutilized? What happened to all the money being spent? I would revisit it."

Browne said he would want two issues changedG