‘Everything is in limbo’
Candidates for county commission District 4 discuss coronavirus impacts
Three of four candidates in the Taos County Commission District 4 primary race discussed their goals during a Thursday evening (May 8) online forum.
The candidates for District 4 of the Taos County Commission were invited to join the forum hosted by the Taos Democratic Party. Taos County Democratic chair Darien Fernandez discussed a number of topics with the candidates from economic growth to housing issues in Taos County.
Candidate William Córdova did not join the forum citing in a letter to the editor what he felt were conflicts of interest within the party.
Candidate AnJanette Brush began the event, hosted on Zoom, by discussing the need for assistance to businesses and employees in the current times, citing the economic hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“If we don’t tackle this crisis head on it’s going to be really hard to protect and preserve everything that Taos County has that makes it special,” Brush said.
Brush also spoke about the need for better wages and more financially comfortable living situations in Taos.
Political newcomer Johnny Rodelo, a longtime Taos County DWI compliance officer, talked about preserving Taos’ agricultural lands as a major focus. Rodelo said he wants to maintain the traditional farm and ranch lands in the district to help communities grow their own food again and be more sustainable.
Former County Commissioner Nicklos Jaramillo also discussed the importance of preserving Taos County’s traditional agricultural lands, but said his focus was now shifted to recovering from the COVID-19 emergency.
“Everything is in limbo,” Jaramillo said. “We are looking at a budget crisis that needs to be addressed. How are we going to do that without taxing people out of their land and their property?”
In order to bring the county out of the emergency, Jaramillo suggested looking for federal funds to assist small businesses and their employees so those business owners will still have their shops after the crisis.
Brush agreed and said the business community needs assistance and suggested starting a business community resilience fund to lend that support.
Brush also talked about having training and additional resources for the youth to look at different types of business here in Taos County in the future.
Working in the DWI compliance office in Taos County for years has given Rodelo an insight into the needs of the community and he hopes to address the lack of a substance abuse and detox facility in the county.
“So we’re suffering from having clients come out of jail and going back to the streets to do what they do,” Rodelo said.
In order to pay for the services, Rodelo suggested placing a small tax on alcohol sales in Taos County with the revenue directed toward operating a detox facility.
Candidate Willie Córdova said in a letter to the editor that he would not join the forum because he considered it a conflict of interest for Brush, vice chair of the Taos Democratic Party, to participate while also listing her role in the party on her campaign materials. “I feel that the objectivity in this case is clouded and biased.”