Ronald Mascareñas
Age:
53 Occupation:
Kit Carson broadband operations manager, rancher
Education: Certifications in electronics and semiconductors
Previous political experience:
2018 District 5 commissioner candidate, Llano de San Juan de Nepomuceno Acequia Association commissioner Political affiliation: Democrat
Charged or convicted of a crime (more serious than a traffic ticket): No Social media: None
Born in Embudo and raised in the Peñasco Valley, Ronald Mascareñas is running for District 5 commissioner because he wants to help preserve the culture and traditions that make Taos County unique, while ensuring that “younger generations have options for a future in the communities where they were born and raised.”
His campaign, which won the endorsement of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, is focused on several issues that revolve around wages and the cost of living in Taos County.
“We need long-term affordable housing for families — forever homes, not rentals,” he said. “Locals can’t afford to buy a house here.”
“Part of that comes from the assessor’s office,” he said, indicating he would scrutinize property valuations if elected, as well as revenue collections.
Mascareñas believes Taos County employees need a pay increase, but acknowledged that accomplishing that is easier said than done.
He said low wages impact a host of county operations, including the solid waste transfer station in Peñasco, which “closes early because the dumpsters are too full. Even with the wage increase, we can’t still find drivers.”
Additionally, he wants the commission to be more involved with Holy Cross Medical Center, Taos’ federally-designated critical access hospital, which is housed through a lease arrangement in a county-owned building. “We need to look at the contract and see what can be done,” he said.
Mascareñas said the hospital should consider changing its licensure in order to treat more patients locally, rather than transferring them elsewhere. Critical access designation provides rural hospitals like Holy Cross with by far the most advantageous rate of patient care reimbursements available from the U.S. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.
Mascareñas said that his experience in the world of communications makes him the better candidate.
“I left for 22 years to work in the corporate world, and moved back 16 years ago” he said. “I have a broad range of knowledge, resources and contacts across the U.S.; I’m involved with the acequias, have been married for 35 years and have 13 grandkids. I want to ensure my grandkids can come to this area and experience what I did growing up.”
As broadband operations manager for Kit Carson Internet, Mascareñas said he doesn’t foresee difficulty balancing his job responsibilities with those of commissioner, if elected. “As far as prioritizing, my staff is capable of taking care of things in my absence if necessary,” he said.