The Independent (USA)

Edgewood candidates on the issues as election nears

- By Leota Harriman

Towns around the Estancia Valley and East Mountains are holding elections Nov. 2, and early voting is already underway.

In Edgewood, voters elected to change the format of the town government from the mayor-council to commission-manager; as a result all five positions on the ballot are open. Each position is for a two- or four-year term; those will be decided by chance after the election.

Most of the current and embattled governing body have elected not to run again, with the exception of Audrey Jaramillo, who is running for District 3, unopposed.

The District 1 seat is being sought by Ralph Hill and Kenneth Brennan; District 2 by Jerry Powers, also unopposed; District 4 by Filandro “Phil” Anaya and John Bassett; and District 5 by Sterling Donner, also unopposed.

Edgewood's residents will also elect a municipal judge. Incumbent William White is unopposed in that race.

The League of Women Voters sent questionna­ires to candidates, publishing their answers in a voter's guide; all candidates except Jaramillo answered.

Asked what their vision for managing growth in Edgewood for the next 10 years is, Brennan answered, “Growing commercial­ly will attract people to move to Edgewood,” adding, “But we will need to improve our infrastruc­ture and amenities to meet the needs of a larger population. Proper planning of locations for business and types of business will be crucial.”

Hill answered, “Improve roads, overhaul waste water system, expand health care, and give serious attention to safety, financial responsibi­lity, and transparen­cy. Keep the public informed.”

Asked what additional methods the town can implement to guarantee an adequate water supply, Hill answered, “Keep water from being exported, and look at possibilit­y of future desaliniza­tion of Basin salt water,” adding that Edgewood should adopt a “Green Infrastruc­ture” plan using Tuscon as a model to capture rainwater.

Brennan answered, “Work with local water utilities to ensure they have adequate wells and delivery systems in place for existing and future developmen­t,” adding water conservati­on measures should be encouraged for homes and businesses.

Asked what environmen­tal goals the candidates would champion if elected, Brennan said he would like to see town hall “outfitted with solar” as it can afford it. “The wastewater treatment plant needs to be brought into compliance and better maintained,” he added, also favoring a residentia­l composting program.

Hill answered, “Encourage low impact industries. Support technical vocational college extension courses. Develop eco-friendly prescripti­on trails and meandering pathways.”

Asked what Edgewood could do to combat homelessne­ss and poverty, Hill answered, “Support the Edgewood churches that are already a huge food bank resource for the poor, and encourage community gardens as proposed by the Cowboy Church. Bring in more local jobs and promote movie locations.”

Brennan pointed to three food pantries in the Edgewood area, and said they will need support from the town. “Increasing the number of businesses will help to increase available local jobs and in turn improve the financial viability of our residents.” He also said “limited high density residentia­l areas will allow for low cost housing that lower income families will be able to afford.”

The other contested race for Edgewood commission­er is District 4, which pits Bassett, formerly mayor and part of ongoing litigation involving the town, against Anaya, who served on the Moriarty-edgewood School Board and has previously run for town council in Edgewood.

“We have such an opportunit­y to place state-of-the-art infrastruc­ture like high-speed internet, sewer systems that work, and even a new bridge over Williams Ranch Rd. or Basset Blvd. to bring in new businesses,” was Anaya's answer when asked about his vision for managing growth. The money would come from taxes on new businesses and by attracting tourism.

“I support intelligen­t growth; growth that keeps our small-town ambience and scenic natural environmen­t while increasing our economic strength,” Bassett answered in response to the question. “We should work to diversify our tax base by pursuing tech and light industrial developmen­t.”

Asked what the town could do to guarantee water supply, Bassett replied, “Unfortunat­ely the Town of Edgewood does not own its water utilities. Instead we rely on a co-op and foreign owned water company, EPCOR to provide water to most of the residents in Edgewood. If the Town owned the water utility currently operated by EPCOR, the Town could access government funding not available to EPCOR and we could improve both the quality of water as well as the system it is delivered in and bring home some of the tax dollars we pay out but never see returned here.”

Anaya's answer to the question was this: “Stop the HOSTAL takeover, created by former administra­tion, of the water company, EBCOR, which has cost the Town HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, and start a new relationsh­ip with the stakeholde­rs involved. I will work with EBCOR so they invest in the infrastruc­ture to supply adequate and quality water to our people. The Town of Edgewood, Santa Fe County, and the State will also work collaborat­ively to build new water tanks, fixing the fire flow for the safety of our community.”

Asked about environmen­tal goals each candidate would champion, Anaya said his goal “is to provide access to good quality water to all in our community. I will also implement light-industrial businesses that do not create pollution, as well as change policies to allow renewable resources such as passive solar and wind turbines.”

Responding to the same question, Bassett said he would encourage LED street lighting and conversion of some of the town's fleet to electric. “I would also build on previous investment­s in solar and wind energy that helped to reduce our Town's electric bills. Cleaned wastewater effluent in certain instances might be used to help conserve our potable water.”

Asked what the town can do about poverty and homelessne­ss, both pointed to jobs. “I will bring in new businesses, creating jobs to help keep food on the table for the food insecure,” Anaya said, while Bassett answered, “The best antipovert­y measure I know of is a good paying job.”

Powers also replied to the questionna­ire from the League of Women Voters.

Asked about his vision for Edgewood's growth, Powers answered, “I am planning to hold a town hall for the people to express their views on this subject and to follow the guidance of all those citizens who participat­ed in the Edgewood Comprehens­ive Plan which is a detailed roadmap for how our town wants to grow and still preserve Edgewood's rural character.” He said he would work with the local Chamber of Commerce.

Asked what the town can do to ensure future water supply, Powers answered, “Our local water system has developed a 40 year plan to insure an adequate water supply. Supply is not as much of an issue as the natural mineral hardness of the water in our aquifer.” He added that the town could look into a public-private partnershi­p to address the issue.

Environmen­tal issues he would champion, Powers said, involve the town sewer system. “The immediate need is to fix the operationa­l and design problems of our sewer plant to protect our groundwate­r and local environmen­t.”

Asked what Edgewood can do about homelessne­ss and poverty, Powers also pointed to jobs. “Supporting businessfr­iendly policies that keep employment high and the cost of living low will keep our community employed, housed, and fed.”

The full answers and questions as posed by the Santa Fe County League of Women Voters are posted on the League's website, lwvsfc.org, where a link to the Voter Guide can be found. Hard copies are available at The Independen­t's office, and at locations around town.

The Independen­t is partnering with the Greater East Mountain Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Fe County League of Women Voters to present a candidate forum Oct. 20.

The event will be held in the old Edgewood Elementary school building's gym, with a meet and greet at 6 p.m., followed by the forum, which will be moderated by the League.

The forum will be livestream­ed on The Independen­t's website, and will be a hybrid event. In compliance with the state's current mask mandate, attendees and candidates will be asked to follow Covid guidelines, including wearing masks for indoor gatherings.

To submit questions ahead of the event, email news.ind.editor@gmail.com or director@gem-nm.com.

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