Mayoral candidates split on alcohol sales vote

Mayoral candidates in the March 4 municipal election attended a forum Monday at the Clovis-Carver Public Library organized by the Clovis chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the League of United Latin American Citizens.

Candidates were asked about the Ute Water project and other water options, beautification of the city and what they would do to improve the quality of life in Clovis, the proposed Clovis Ethanol plant, and the prioritization of infrastructure projects.

They were also asked a question from the audience about whether they supported the Sunday alcohol sales proposal.

n Tim Ashley, a Curry County commissioner and a business owner, said he supports the Ute Water Project. To conserve water, he said the city should look into buying water rights from farmers. Agriculture is the biggest user of water, he said.

He said he would like to unify the county and city governments to address issues such as beautification and infrastructure.

“Once the government is united, (beautification) would be everybody’s problem,” he said.

Though he did not take a stand on the Clovis Ethanol plant as a county commissioner, he said he applauded the efforts citizens took to fight the plant’s attempt for an air quality permit.

“I agree there should not be anything done that puts one group of people at risk over another,” he said.

n Gayla Brumfield, a Realtor, said she supported the Ute Water Project and the city’s effluent reuse pipeline project that would recycle water and use it for irrigation and dust control.

She said the city should also look to other technologies that would help with other sources of water. She said desalinization technology could make brackish water found under the state possible for human use. She said the city can encourage water conservation through alternative landscaping and xeriscaping.

On the recent issue of economic development and environmental justice concerning the Clovis Ethanol plant, she said she supported the plant, but not the location.

“I’m a proponent of economic development, but I’m not for economic development at the expense of everyone,” she said.

She said quality of life and beautification issues should be a partnership between the city and private businesses.

n Rudy Kumar said he did not support the Ute Water Project because of the time and financial requirements. He said the city should look at other sources of water while encouraging farmers to plant less water-intensive crops.

Kumar is a medical entrepreneur who recently moved to Clovis.

He said the quality of life in Clovis needs significant improvement. Beautification is something that can be addressed with zoning.

“This should not be a voluntary process,” he said.

He said bringing industries that would use the resources of the area, such as a leather factory, would help generate revenue the city could use to maintain its infrastructure. He would also bring a medical school to the city.

He said the revenue from these projects would help fund infrastructure maintenance.

“We need to look at ways of expanding the growth of our city,” he said.

n Mario Martinez said he supported the Ute Water Project.

He said the city and the county needs to join for beautification projects.

Martinez is a retired restaurant owner.

He said he did not support the location of the ethanol plant and applauded the effort community members took to oppose it.

“That handful of people stood up to a billion-dollar company and won,” he said.

He said the city’s infrastructure is at a critical point and city leaders need to work harder at lobbying in Santa Fe to get the money needed to fund infrastructure projects.

n Rube Render said he supported the Ute Water Project and using technology that would open up other water sources, such as the brackish aquifer.

“Technology is advancing at such a rapid state,” he said. “What was not feasible last month could be feasible this month.”

Render is a retired project manager for Lockheed Martin and the Curry County Republican Party chairman.

He said quality of life issues that need to be addressed are the construction of a wellness center and repairing the sewage plant.

On the ethanol plant, he said private businesses have the right to do what they want as long as they follow the law. But unless the city or the county enforce ordinances regarding land use, the issue could resurface.

“If someone meets all the criteria, then as an elected official you are almost required to vote for that,” he said.

He said the city will have to rethink its strategy of asking state legislators for funding of infrastructure projects, such as the Hull Street overpass repairs and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and the widening of Norris Street.

• Gloria Wicker said she supports the Ute Water Project. But she also said the city would need to look for another source of water if that project fails. She said the city could look into getting water from Lake Superior.

She said farmers will also need to grow less water-intensive crops, such as hemp.

“It produces more materials than corn,” she said.

Wicker is a retired railroad employee and a former city commissioner.

She said the city and the county need to work together to create ordinances to beautify the city.

She said the city will have to cut its budget elesewhere to pay for infrastructure projects such as repairing the Hull Street overpass.

• On the Sunday alcohol sales question, Brumfield, Kumar and Wicker said they supported the proposal. Ashley and Martinez did not. Render said it was up to the voters to decide on the issue.