Meet the candidates: Mayor of San Luis, Ariz.
Editor’s note: This is part of series of interviews profiling the candidates for mayor and city council in Somerton and San Luis, Ariz. Gerardo Sanchez faces three opponents in his bid for a new term as mayor of San Luis in the city’s Aug. 28 primary election.
Name: David Lara Age: 52 Years of residency in San Luis: 32 years
Education: High school and business technical training Occupation: Businessman. Experience as an elected
official: In the second year of service on the Yuma Union High School District governing board.
Other community involvement: Board director of the Lions Club and Police Athletic League What qualities or attributes qualify you to be mayor? Honesty and transparency If you are elected, what will be your three priorities and why?
First, assure funding to modernize the San Luis I port of entry, because it will help sales in businesses on Main Street. Second, help the commercial port of entry fulfill its full potential. Third, look for ways to maintain the current level of public services without increasing property taxes, which are already high because of the students who live in Mexico and attend school (in San Luis, Ariz.), without paying tuition to the school districts.
Name: Nieves Riedel Age: 68 Education: Four years of college.
Occupation: Builder and developer
Experience as an elected official: Three years
Other community involvement: Rotary Club, member of the board of directors of First Bank Yuma, Arizona-Mexico Commission
What qualities or attributes qualify you to be mayor?
I am a skilled businesswoman who manages three family business, all that have stayed strong through several recessions. I am a person who knows the importance of delegating responsibility, helping others develop their talents and of working as a team.
If you are elected, what will be your three priorities and why?
Restructuring the police department is the most important, because we have a police department that is adrift, that is always called into question. Real leadership needs to be taken there, and training for police officers needs to be increased. (The city needs) more traffic lights, improvements at several intersections and widening of Juan Sanchez Boulevard, because we cannot continue growing as a city with those transportation problems. This has been talked about since 2010, and something needs to be done now. Also (the city needs to) develop a police and fire substation on the east side of the city, where about 1,000 families are already living; that already is a safety issue for the city.
Name: Gerardo Sanchez Age: 48 years Years of residency in San
Luis: More than 16 Education: Bachelor’s degrees in microbiology and immunology and in medical sciences Occupation: Physician’s
assistant
Experience as an elected official: 10 years
Other community involvement: Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization, planning and zoning commissioner, U.S.Mexico Border Mayors Association, Arizona-Mexico Commission, board of 4FrontEd.
What qualities or attributes qualify you to be mayor?
Leadership ability, empathy for the needs of the people, knowledge of local problems and, most importantly, having nothing more than the desire to serve our community, without having any
personal interests. I live from my profession as (a health care practitioner) and I believe that during these years as a councilman and mayor, I have made it clear that my priority is working to build a better San Luis.
If you are elected, what will be your three priorities and why?
Continue with public safety projects, such as (construction) of police and fire substations on the east side of San Luis. Continue with investment in infrastructure to promote the economic development necessary for the growth of San Luis, such as adding 14 new lanes at the San Luis I Port of Entry and opening San Luis II (commercial port of entry) to private vehicles, creation of jobs through the (planned) hotel complex, beginning widening of Juan Sanchez to four lanes. Expansion of the senior center and developing an athletic complex with an investment of $10 million.
Name: Adrian Siqueiros Age: 39 Years of residency in San Luis: 39 years Education: High school Occupation: Driver and cook Experience as an elected official: None
Other community involvement: Planning and zoning commissioner, president of the Parent-Teacher Organization at Rio Colorado Elementary School.
What qualities or attributes qualify you to be mayor?
My principles, my honesty and my desire to serve our community.
If you are elected, what will be your three priorities and why?
My three highest priorities definitely will be more public safety, increasing job opportunities, as well as finding a tangible and real solution for the traffic problems that we have.