VOTE411 Voter Guide

Born in Albuquerque I attended APS and earned two bachelors degrees from UNM in biology and chemistry. I earned a masters in biology from UNM. I worked through school running a landscaping business that I still operate today. I’m also a journeyman plumber. I have served as a county commissioner for 4 years, and bring an outsiders perspective to the commission. As a plumber I solve problems and I try to use that skillset to analyze and build solutions.

Public safety will remain a priority. I’d like to grow the ranks of the Sheriff’s department which is fully staffed thanks to investments I championed. I’d also like the county to partner with the city to grow ACS into county areas. I want to push our goals to house more people with wraparound services and provide more transitional options. I also want to build great facilities; from parks and community centers to roads we need to provide for a great quality of life in our community.

People are busy and have demanding lives. There are so many levels of government that it's hard to stay informed. I have prioritized communication in as many forms as possible to meet people where they are at. My office is one of the only ones to send out a newsletter, we frequently respond to individual emails, we field media inquiries, we attend public meetings, and we are very active on social media. This all the above strategy is important to get information out and solicit public feedback.

We have seen climate change drive reductions in surface water and snow pack. In the East Mountains wells are going dry pitting neighbors against newcomers. On the water utility board I have worked to prioritize conservation and sustainability. At the county we adopted a plan to ensure we consider water use and availability when permitting new development. Growth is an afterthought without water, we must invest in conservation and ensure that new users pay their fair share and offset their use.

I didn’t choose to serve the public for the wage and I have always treated this as a full time job. Most people employed in Bernalillo County work 40 hours per week or more. The new salary level set by an independent county board is near the median wage in the region. Commissioners should be expected to be more present and working more on behalf of the public. I’ve rarely missed meetings and have pushed for more engagement through work sessions, tours, and community meetings.

I have been in the Financial Industry for over a decade, I have been a public educator for five years, I run a local fraternity, and I have been involved in the Elks Lodge as an officer for the past six months. I know how to make financial decisions and run an organization. My wife and I just had our first child last year and our plan is to raise him in the community which makes me deeply invested in the future of our county, specifically District 5.

I want economic growth through local businesses. I would like to keep out projects that would cost the community water and our local character. I want to keep our Public Lands safe from being destroyed or sold off. I want to listen to and meet with my neighbors to see what projects they are interested in to better the community.

I would reach out to the community through social media, my website and podcast, and handing out fliers to our local businesses. I would be willing to meet with anyone who wanted to discuss anything related to the East Mountains and the County.

I would work hard to keep out any new developments that would cost us our precious water. Working with the community to help them start and grow local businesses is the way forward. Keeping out non local corporations or costly projects would be my focus.

With more salary comes more responsibility. Meeting with and listening to the community becomes even more important when we are rewarded more for our efforts. We have to prove that we are earning what the community is paying us.