How important is the Taos County commissioner’s job?

In my opinion it’s the most critical position in local government. The members in each district represent us. They live in our communities, and keep our beautiful valleys, our waters and our way of life safe, secure and manageable. Their decisions affect us all, such as: road improvements, land uses, assisting in the creation of a sustainable housing market, health care – just a few examples.

There are four candidates running for the commissioner’s seat in District 4. I know one person running very well and have great respect for him and his family members, Nick Jaramillo.

After reading his candidate profile in the Taos News insert “Primary 2020” it stated the following:

1. Age: declined to state.

2. Nick was unseated by Tom Blankenhorn in 2013.

3. Jaramillo was named in a possible nepotism situation while on the commission in 2012.

We’re living in a time of misinformation and overloaded information. I wondered who the Nick Jaramillo they were writing about. Here’s the Nick Jaramillo I know. He is generous, reliable, responsible and willing to give his age, 70. He was not unseated by Tom Blankenhorn in the 2013 election. Nick had reached the end of his second term limit and could not run again. In the ending paragraph of the article, he was named in a possible nepotism situation but it was all allegations, no facts were given, and no charges were filed as a result of this incident. Why was this in his candidate profile?

When Nick was our commissioner he was always willing to listen to community concerns about what was going on from pot holes on the Hondo-Seco road and road signs for safety, how our tax dollars were being spent, hospital funding and having a trusted place for health care. Today he will stand for our veterans and will finish the Taos Veterans Cemetery.

He will also bring new ideas for affordable housing and renewable energy. Nick works hard and gets the job done for the community he represents. I know this for a fact, because over the years and recently I can hear the sirens go off from my house in Arroyo Hondo. Nick is a Hondo-Seco fire and rescue volunteer as well as a licensed EMS first responder, who is always on call, all hours of the day and night. First responders are now being acknowledged due to the coronavirus, for the brave heroes they truly are. They put others before themselves.

I could go on and on about Nick’s experience and what he will advocate for if elected but what I want at this time of political crisis across our country is someone with proven experience that has served the Taos community with knowledge and integrity. Let’s focus and look at the good that candidates do. The facts matter and so do our votes.

Jerry Young is a retired creative executive who is a resident of Taos County.