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| CC candidate Garrett stresses long-term planning, public participation Source: Grassroots Press by: Steve Klinger May 29, 2010 Billy Garrett, a candidate for Doña Ana County Commission, District 1, feels his experience sets him apart from the other Democrats running for the position in the June 1 primary. As a National Park Service architect and manager for 26 years, Garrett dealt heavily with infrastructure challenges and multi-million-dollar budgets and would like to apply what he learned to effective delivery of county services in a place he calls home. “I love this place,” he says when asked why he’s running for the seat Oscar Vasquez Butler will vacate at the end of the year due to term limitations. “I want to spend quality time giving back. I genuinely like working with people and solving problems.” Garrett says he’s not running against anyone in a negative sense but rather has clear goals he’d like to attain, including ensuring government accountability, building public involvement and developing comprehensive planning for long-term growth. He declines to discuss his perceptions of Democratic primary opponents Gilbert Chavez and Cynthia Padilla other than to say, “I don’t know that everyone is committed to working with everyone else” to best serve the public. He says his vision of delivery of service to county residents includes “taking care of those who are most in need,” which involves building on the Colonia Initiative (HUD) and taking an integrated approach to health services, community-building and addressing substandard housing, domestic water and wastewater systems. The sprawling district Vasquez Butler currently represents runs from Garfield to Berino, largely to the west of I-10 and I-25 and includes two-thirds of all county colonias, according to Garrett. It’s also the largest district, encompassing much of the county’s farmland and dairies. Garrett is familiar with the area, having grown up in Las Cruces and graduated from Las Cruces High School. He attended New Mexico State and Arizona State universities before beginning a career with the National Park Service as an architect and manager. His responsibilities ranged from preserving historic structures at Grand Canyon National Park and in Washington, D.C. to managing operations at Gateway National Recreation Area in New York City. Garrett and his wife Cynthia returned to the area a couple of years ago and live in Mesilla Hills. He sees among the challenges of county government a need for comprehensive planning that will help local communities, both urban and rural, faced with limited resources and rapid growth. A key to that process is Vision 2040, according to Garrett: “This is a very important initiative that represents the first effort by the city and county to collaborate in a planning exercise of this type.” Garrett adds that the process needs to go forward, though it could benefit from more attention to water limitations and clear statements on environmental protections. He is also supportive of the Organ Mountain Wilderness bill currently before Congress. Garrett says he would have voted for a county commission resolution in favor of the bill and described it as “carefully crafted, with consideration of all the issues.” He added, “What’s lost in the debate [with those who favor a less restrictive designation] is that we’re dealing with a very fragile environment. There are special places that do need to be set aside.” Immigration reform and border security are also vital issues in which county government has a stake, Garrett acknowledged in an interview. “We’re right on the border with Mexico,” he said. “We can’t turn a blind eye. We need to recognize that the border is an area with economic, social, cultural and environmental issues from one side to the other.” Responding to a question on whether he would support a resolution objecting to Arizona’s new law cracking down on illegal immigrants, Garrett said such a resolution would be appropriate, but in the larger context, “the sooner we get to comprehensive immigration reform, the better.” Of the new law itself, Garrett said, “We are dealing with very complicated issues. I do not think this is a place to suspend human rights. The Arizona law has gone way too far. Racial profiling creates a climate of fear and puts police in an incredibly awkward position.” Asked about his position on development of a “food shed” district to help ensure food security in Doña Ana County, Garrett said he supports the concept and believes the county directly or indirectly could help in the areas of farmland preservation and attention to water rights and conservation. He said the county might consider supporting appropriate compensation to farmers to avoid land sell-offs and needs to recognize that farming is not just an industry but part of a tradition that provides farming families with “the only inheritance they have.” Garrett said that developing renewable energies industries in the county is a “no-brainer,” with the added benefit of such relatively clean industries reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources. “One of the roles of government,” he said, “is to look at the future, not just in the short term, but to take longer-term views. I think carbon-loading of the atmosphere is a problem; we need to be looking at alternative scenarios.” Regarding the development of Spaceport America, located in Sierra County but funded in part by a gross receipts tax increase in Doña Ana County, Garrett said, “I’m concerned with assertions that the spaceport will result in economic development. Image is one thing, but I want to see what the business plan is that will result in economic growth.” In conclusion, Garrett stressed his belief in integrative government, involving collaboration with other government entities and agencies, and the need for county commissioners not only to represent their districts but also to think about the county and southern New Mexico as a whole. “Planning needs geographic integration,” encompassing land use, utilities, open space and other considerations, “in a particular location, based on current conditions,” he said. Professionals help frame the issues and inform the public, Garrett said, but good government requires that the public then participate in the decision-making process affecting their neighborhoods, communities and planning units. “I want to provide the opportunity for communities to shape their identities and the direction of their development,” Garrett said. “Working together, we can make good things happen in Doña Ana County.” [ see the original article at the Grassroots Press ] |
22 sept 2010 League of Women Voters 2010 Questionnaire 8 sept 2010 2020 Foresight 14 JULY 2010 Garret stresses long term planning, public participation 11 MARCH 2010 Billy Garrett: Candidate for County Commission, Dist 1 17 FEB 2010 Billy Garrett a Candidate for Doña Ana County Commission, District 1 |