Portales city council ward D candidate Q&A

Candidates for the Ward D city council seat were asked four questions. Answers were limited to 240 words on the first question and 120 words per question thereafter and edited for clarity and style. The election is March 6.

Jeffrey Burmeister

What are the two biggest issues facing Portales and what are your solutions to these issues?

The most significant issues facing Portales are 1) providing an adequate supply of clean and fresh water to residents and businesses for the future, and 2) a quality of life that can be provided by the growth and economic development to support good jobs, homes, education, as well as local activities, entertainment and recreation.

Water and economic development are tied together, and go hand-in-hand. The water issue hit home last summer when residents were asked to curtail lawn watering and washing cars.

Without adequate water, no economic plan can succeed to improve the quality of life we would like to see. Water impacts the local economy that supports city services we often take for granted: Streets, infrastructure, police and fire protection, schools, and so forth. We can be proactive to manage our water supply and infrastructure effectively, and actively promote the conservation of our water resources.

What does the Portales community mean to you and list a brief history on how you have been involved or have served Portales.

I moved here with my family in 2000 to help convert KENW to digital television and now Portales is our home.

I helped start the local amateur radio club, and teach a radio class Thursday evenings to help folks get their ham radio license. Helping install emergency radio equipment at critical locations around town has been important to me. Last summer our firefighters saw me at the Kizer and Tire fires where I helped distribute food and water to them. I've worked with city emergency management to save money on communication projects for local law enforcement. By working with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Portales now has a strong NOAA Weather radio station providing warnings about severe weather and tornadoes.

Why are you running for office or reelection?

My friends and neighbors have encouraged me to participate in this election and I would like to apply my skills and enthusiasm to the challenges facing our community: Water, infrastructure, roads, supporting our police, fire, emergency and city services, the need to attract new businesses and jobs by developing the local economy.

These are things we can work on together to make Portales a better place to work, live, and enjoy. These things encourage our young people to remain in Portales and help the community grow. I get a sense of pride and accomplishment by helping out our community. So far, I hope I've made small but appreciated contributions — I would like your vote to do a lot more.

If you can accomplish one thing during your term, what would it be and why?

PLANNING! There are lots of things we can do to secure a bright future for Portales.

I would like to encourage private and public partnerships for a realistic, achievable, comprehensive strategic plan to address the long-term needs of our community. And then I will work to make those things happen!

Here is just a short list of things to think about: Water, energy, economic development, education, streets and traffic, and education.

I have ideas for each of these issues, and I can assure you that I'm passionate about working on all of these! Newspaper space is a bit limited today, but I would like to share these ideas with you. You can read about my ideas on Facebook!

Keith Thomas

What are the two biggest issues facing Portales and what are your solutions to these issues.

I feel strongly that the two most important issues facing our community are 1: Water and 2: Quality of life.

1) With our march forward with the Ute Lake Pipe Line project, I feel that many of our long-term water issues will be resolved. Also, it is very important that we continue to maintain and expand our current well field.

As your councilman, I have encouraged city officials to explore all of the alternatives. We must take the initiative to find additional land for water production. We have an opportunity to lease additional state land and use this land for expanding our water well field. As your councilman, it is my responsibility to make sure we have sufficient water for our families for generations to come.

2) I discovered that many small cities across the U.S. and New Mexico have funded and built their own family entertainment centers, which might consist of movie theaters, bowling alleys, putt-putt golf, laser tag and arcades all under one roof. Each year Portales spends literally millions of dollars on entertainment, unfortunately this money goes to other communities that provide entertainment venues.I also feel that we need to continue to upgrade and improve our senior and recreational centers.

What does the Portales community mean to you and list a brief history on how you have been involved or have served Portales.

I want more for our community, more for our seniors, more for our children and more for our families. I am committed to our citizens.

Everything I do, I do to make Portales a better place to live.

I have been the Ward D councilman for a little over a year. I serve on the board of directors for the Golden Acres Retirement Community, the City Finance Committee, the local Growth and Management Committee and the Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee as Vice President of Community Affairs.

Why are you running for office or re-election?

My roots run deep in Portales and my commitment to our community runs strong. I raised 3 children in Portales and my in-laws have an agricultural background with my mother-in-law, Joan Nuckols, and my father-in-law, the late Dillard Nuckols; and my family is from Clovis. This background keeps me focused, hard-working and straightforward and makes me believe in the people of Portales. If I had to sum up why I want to continue as your councilman, I would say because I am not done yet serving the people of Portales in every way I can.

If you can accomplish one thing during your term, what would it be

and why?

We must ensure that Portales has a sustainable water supply and we're heading in the right direction with our water troubles. The Ute Lake Pipe Line Project is our only chance to ensure that Portales will have a renewable water option. The Ute Lake Reservoir was originally constructed to provide water for the eastern side of the state. Why it has taken over 40 years to complete is a mystery to me; a mystery that must be solved. We now have the money and have started on the intake structure at the lake. We must continue to monitor and expand our current Well Field. We owe it to our citizens to provide them with the most basic of services, water.