Saturday, March 25, 2006

Candidates voice their thoughts

Audry Olmsted and Evelyn Cronce El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

Candidates for the primary election say they are anxious to show the community that they have what it takes to fill the county positions. And one district judge says he is hopeful to keep his position, which he filled in 2005.

District Judge Matt Reynolds said his primary reason for running for the position he now holds is because "I want to keep my job."

"What I wanted to do was to protect our children in our rural communities. I feel we are under siege and they're getting the short end of the stick," the Democrat added.

Reynolds, 51, is from Oklahoma. Before taking on the position of district judge last year, Reynolds worked as an attorney in Sierra County.

The last elected position Reynolds ran for and won was for student council treasurer back in high school.

Another Democrat is hoping to fill the district judge seat Reynolds now holds, John R. Gerbracht.

"I've practiced law in this district for quite a number of years," Gerbracht said. He added that having that experience has given him a more "developed sense of when people are telling the truth or not."

The attorney said he could also be fair and impartial.

Gerbracht, 61, said he has served on the domestic violence commission in Socorro County since March 2004 and the same board in Sierra County since October 1998. The attorney, who has been practicing law in the Socorro area since 1975, has not previously held an elected position.

No Republicans have filed for the position of district judge.

Eleven candidates are hoping to fill the position of Socorro County Sheriff.

Seven candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination for Socorro County Sheriff in the June 6 primary election.

Nep Edward Lopez drew the first ballot position for sheriff. Lopez could not be reached for comment.

In the second ballot position is current Sheriff's Deputy Noah D. Jaramillo.

"I just feel there's a need for good, positive leadership at the Sheriff's Department and I feel that I can do it," Jaramillo said.

Jaramillo, 39, has served nine years as a deputy and has been in law enforcement 14 years.

He has not held an elected office before.

Kenneth T. Gonzales said it was family and friends who motivated him to run for sheriff.

"I want to provide a sense of (safety and security) for all my family and friends," he said.

Gonzales, 36, is the owner of Backyard BBQ. He said his 12 years of experience as a captain with the Socorro city police and his three years of service in the United States Marine Corps lend to his ability to be sheriff.

Ramon Sonny Baca drew the fourth ballot position for sheriff. Baca is the owner of Baca's Towing & Repair. He could not be reached for comment.

Esther M. Jaramillo drew the fifth ballot position for sheriff. Jaramillo did not immediately return a call requesting comment.

Undersheriff George L. Van Winkle, 54, drew the sixth ballot position for sheriff.

"I feel I'd like to continue doing the job that Sheriff (Felix) Saavedra and I started eight years ago," he said. "I'd like to continue doing and improving on the things we have done."

Eight years is how long Van Winkle has been working in the Sheriff's Department as undersheriff.

Van Winkle and his family have been in the Socorro area for the past 20 years. Before taking on the job of undersheriff, Van Winkle was a marshal in Magdalena.

Previously, Van Winkle served as a school board member in Magdalena but said he never ran for the position but instead filled a vacancy that came open in the middle of a term.

Ray Spurgin drew the seventh ballot position. In the past, he has run for the position as a county commissioner. Spurgin could not be reached for comment.

Four candidates are seeking the Republican nomination for Socorro County Sheriff.

Karl Beasley is running for Socorro County Sheriff in the No. 1 ballot position on the Republican ticket. He has lived in the area since April 1989 and now resides in Magdalena. He said that he doesn't give out his age or social security number.

Beasley worked in law enforcement for 30 years in Texas before he retired. Since then he has worked for the Department of Defense, the Veterans Administration, the Magdalena Marshal's Office and the New Mexico Tech Police force. He was previously elected to the position of Magdalena Municipal Court Judge.

Beasley said that is he running because "Socorro County needs good law enforcement."

Arthur L. Gonzales, who drew the No. 2 spot on the ballot, is running on the Republican ticket for Socorro County Sheriff. Gonzales could not be reached for comment.

Phillip R. Montoya has the No. 3 spot on the ballot, running for Socorro County Sheriff on the Republican ticket. Montoya, 40, is a lifelong resident of Socorro.

A graduate of Socorro High School, Montoya studied criminal justice at Western New Mexico University. He has been a member of the Socorro County Sheriff's Department for more than 21 years; first as a deputy, then as a sergeant, and for the last four years as a lieutenant. This is his first time running for an elected position.

Montoya said he is running because "I've enjoyed serving the people of Socorro County for the past 21 years. I have the experience and understanding of how the department needs to be run in order to best serve the people of Socorro County."

In position four on the June primary ballot is Randy Torres who is also running for Socorro County Sheriff on the Republican ticket. Torres, 43, has been a Socorro resident since 1985.

Torres is currently the security officer at Socorro High School and has been in that position for 7 years. Prior to that, he was the animal control officer. After leaving that position, he worked as an officer on the Socorro City Police Department. This is his first time running for any elected position.

Torres said he is running because "I think I can help out the county with more patrols and in working with youth. The whole county needs this, not just the City of Socorro."

Valentine Anaya Jr. is seeking a second term as county assessor. Anaya, 41, has no opposition for the Democratic nomination.

Anaya said he is running for a couple of reasons: "The main reason is I enjoy this work," adding that they have made several advancements and improvements since he came in as assessor.

Anaya said they continue to work on rural addressing to advance the 911 system and the county has to be 95 percent accurate.

Anaya added that he also wants to continue to improve the infrastructure of the Assessor's Office and upgrades for software. He said they continue to look for grants for funding to make these things possible.

"I want to continue to be an advocate for the community," he said. "I'd like to think I'm making a little bit of an impact for the community."

Anaya said he has not held any other elected positions.

Evelyn A. Esquivel is the sole candidate seeking the Republican nomination for Socorro County Assessor. She could not be reached for comment.

Bala Settu is running for the Democratic nomination for the Socorro County Commission representing District 1. Settu is currently working toward a doctorate degree in computer science at New Mexico Tech. He has previously run for a seat as a city councilor and as a trustee for the Socorro Electric Co-op. Settu could not be reached for comment.

Rosalind F. "Rosie" Tripp is the incumbent running for second term on the Socorro County Commission representing District 1. She is running unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Tripp, 59, has been a Socorro resident since 1952. She has served two terms on the City Council in Socorro and has just finished her first term on the Socorro County Commission.

Tripp said she is running because "I would like to continue the things that I started, to provide continuity. I want to make sure that the county remains fiscally responsible."

Phillip Anaya Jr., a Democrat, drew the first ballot for Socorro County Commissioner representing District 3. Anaya could not be reached for comment.

Laura Lee Higgs drew the second ballot for Socorro County Commissioner representing District 3.

Higgs, who says she is in her 50s, said she is looking for a challenge as commissioner.

Higgs currently works at the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center in the First Responder's Training Program, which is designed to train personnel for suicide bombers and terrorist attacks.

Before that, she worked as a judicial supervisor for Magistrate Court.

Higgs said her work now and previously in the courts have prepared her for what will be required of her as a commissioner. Higgs said she has experience working with the public and has been responsible for handling money and state reports.

With her children growing up, Higgs said she wants to focus on doing something that interests her.

"It's' something for me," she said. "This is going to give me back some of that contact with the (public)."

Higgs has previously run for a seat as a city councilor.

Harold Chester Dotson Jr. in running unopposed for the Republican nomination for the Socorro County Commission representing District 3. He could not be reached for comment.

Two incumbents will get a free ride to re-election. Probate Judge Ruben Savedra and Magistrate Jim Naranjo Jr. both have no opposition in either party.

No one has filed against State Rep. Don Tripp in either party. Tripp is a Republican.

aolmsted@dchieftain.com

ecronce@dchieftain.com

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