Candidate Forum held at WNMU on Thursday 082516, part 2

Editor's Note: In order to be comprehensive, this series will consist of at least three, maybe four articles. This second article addresses the opening statements of and answers by District 4 Grant County commissioner candidates. (Photos are Courtesy of Tom Vaughan)

By Mary Alice Murphy

At the Grant County Commission candidate forum Thursday, Aug. 26, two candidates each from District 3'Alicia Edwards and Henry Torres, spoke, as did two from District 4'Billy Billings and Marilyn Alcorn. District 5 has two candidates'Harry Browne and Harry Pecotte as well as a write-in De Ann Bencomo. The forum was hosted by MEChA, Western New Mexico University Library and the Grant County Democratic Party, as part of its monthly forum series.

Abe Villarreal, WNMU marketing director, served as moderator.

Billings started off by giving an opening statement for the District 4 portion of the forum. He thanked the hosts and those who attended the forum.

"I'm grateful that the title of this forum is 'Debating the Future of Grant County,' because this election is about the future of Grant County in a historic way," Billings said. "I was born in Silver City and raised on our family ranch. The highlight of my life was one summer evening, when I was on the main street of downtown Silver City with a friend of mine, and I met the girl of my dreams."

He and his wife, Rhonda, raised four children, three of whom are married and have given them eight grandchildren. "That makes eight generations of my family that have lived in Grant County." He said he and his wife have owned several small businesses, "some more of a success than others."

Billings' wife teaches at Harrison Schmitt and Billings served on the Silver School Board and "after 15 years of peace and prosperity, we've had a bit of a ruckus, in which I got involved in a non-partisan way to try to help solve the problem."

His slogan is "These are my people. This is where I come from." It was taken from a Rodney Atkins song, and "it's true. These are my people and this is where I come from. I love the people of Grant County. I will be a team player. I want a future for all of us. This should be non-partisan, but because it is, I want to say, because this is sponsored by the Democratic Party, we've had a lot of support from Democrats."

Billings said the election is historic because it "there are two very different visions for our future. This is the way I see it. There are four traditional candidates here tonight and three self-proclaimed progressives."

He talked about the things that are relevant to county government. Financials are stressed because of the downturn of oil and gas revenues and copper. "I am committed to the long-term financial health of Grant County. I have business and financial experience to be an asset on the commission."

Of all the things that are important, law enforcement service is the most basic to provide for the safety of the citizens, he said. "I support law enforcement and I support the officers. They put their lives on the line every day to protect my family and your families. We have good officers and we need to work to keep it that way. It's time to show support for law enforcement across the nation. We have to pay them competitive wages, at least as much as the city. We have already lost some good officers. We have got to find the money to pay them. This is urgent. And their radios need to work." His time was called and he said he still wanted to talk about mining and mining jobs, the hospital, water, roads, the landfill, the airport, the conference center, the detention center, Tu Casa and others that were the responsibility of county government.

"The progressive candidates have taken us off to a national liberal agenda. I would like this forum to get back to county government, how it works and those issues," Billings concluded.

Alcorn said her vision for the future of Grant County was one where "our aging senior population is not forced to move away from their homes, away from their families, the community they love, because medical specialties and social services they need are not available here. I envision a future where seniors are not placed in institutional settings prematurely because their families are no longer able to cope with the burdens of trying to make a living, raise their families, work and deal with the medical needs of their loved ones."

According to data, Grant County has lost 905 seniors since 2010, because they could not get the services they needed. "The senior population has increased from 21.3 percent to an estimated 25.3 percent of the population since the 2010 census."

The county faces a crisis if there is not a dedicated effort to develop services and to recruit and retain specialized medical professional specially trained to deal with elder care issues, she said. "The county is losing much needed revenues when these residents leave the area."

Alcorn said it is vital that the recently four-star rated Gila Regional Medical Center hospital remain a flourishing and improving hospital facility, "not only for seniors, but for residents of Grant County and the other three counties that rely on it."

"My goal, as county commissioner, is to help ensure the regional hospital is here in the future," she said. "Another issue calling for new ideas is for those who suffer from drug and alcohol addiction and serious mental health issues."

She continued by saying the Detention Center has become the de facto facility for housing these residents, who because of their addictions and mental health issues have been criminalized and marginalized. Concerned citizens have joined together to help address the issue. Keeping them out of jail "will reduce costs and lessen cases being put on the court docket or housed in the detention center. Inmates in the facility should be true criminals not those suffering from addiction or mental illness."

Alcorn also lauded the Inmate Support Group, which has formed to assist inmates in transitioning back to the community with a support system.

Because the current system is costing the county many dollars, "we should develop long-term positive and effective solutions to address the problems. I plan to be active and involved" in these community issues.

She said she supports Tu Casa, which, when completed, will provide treatment options for those with addictions.

Alcorn also said the bringing broadband to the area would "allow entrepreneurs to start new businesses from their homes." She said she would work to get better broadband to allow for clean jobs all over Grant County and for companies from all over the country.

"I love Silver City, Grant County and its people, the abundant environmental beauty, cultural and historical richness and the diversity of its residents," Alcorn concluded. "I want to be involved in promoting this crown jewel of New Mexico, in advocating environmentally sound methods of preserving and conserving our water resources, which will support residential, business, agricultural, ranching and eco-system needs for the present and into all of our futures."

The same questions that were asked District 3 candidates also were asked District 4 candidates. The first was how they would meet the challenges during a time of limited resources.

Billings said the county just completed its "tight" budget for 2017. He said with the shortfall caused by declining oil and gas revenues, as well as the decline in copper prices, "they have done a good job in meeting the needs, while making necessary cuts. All the elected officials and department heads worked together without too much complaint. They are meeting the required reserve fund. I support that part of what the manager and commissioners are doing. I would support that sort of collaborative work."

Alcorn said a lot of the spending is made to law enforcement. She said she agrees with what Billings said about law enforcement needing a fair wage and "we need to find a way to increase their salaries." She alluded to the large amount of spending on the detention center, which is "sucking up a lot of resources. I have said a commissioner should not make more than a police officer. I still don't know what a commissioner makes, but if it's more, then it's probably not appropriate."

"I think there are things at the Detention Center that should be looked at and changes made," Alcorn said. People being put into the jail should be diverted to other facilities such as Tu Casa, which will soon be built, as a way of cutting costs. She also advocated for community partnerships to make use of the "wealth of talent and people resources" in the county.

The second question asked how the candidates would attract to and keep families in the community.

Billings said several things attract familiesG