Candidate Q&As: Texico city council

The following are Q&As with candidates for contested Texico city council races.

Oren Jay Autrey, Max Carter and Josh Scioli are running for two at-large positions on the council. Autrey and Carter currently hold the seats. Candidates were given the same questions, and asked to answer them on the spot.

Oran Jay Autrey

Why do you want to run?

I’ve been on city council for 30 plus years and I just feel like serving the community.

What do you feel qualifies you for the position?

Being on it so long.

What’s an issue you want to tackle specifically during your term?

I would like to get our wastewater treatment plant finished and do some infrastructure.

What is one simple thing the village or council could do to improve the lives of its residents?

Upgrade our water lines and upgrade our sewer lines.

Is there anything the village or council currently handles that you think would be better in the hands of private citizens?

No.

Max Carter

Why do you want to run?

Well we have started some projects and we pretty much know a lot of the details and need to continue trying to take care of them and I just have an interest in the city too, trying to get it to stay on a good playing field. I’ve enjoyed working with everybody and the things we’ve already accomplished.

What do you feel qualifies you for the position?

Well I don’t know if there’s any specific qualification other than wanting to help the city and feel like you have the time and energy to do it. And I have some of the state training for the position, that helps.

What’s an issue you want to tackle specifically during your term?

No big issue other than trying to keep all of the little things in hand that come up, keep all of those from becoming large issues. Little things jump up and you can head them off before they become big issues. There’s nothing pretty large right not, just current issues.

What is one simple thing the village or council could do to improve the lives of its residents?

Get our sewer plant working and all of our water systems up and going.

Is there anything the village or council currently handles that you think would be better in the hands of private citizens?

No I don’t see anything that would be. We’re not that large of an area, and we’re handling what we need to do.

Josh Scioli

Why do you want to run?

Well honestly I ran in the past and it’s always been a passion of mine to be involved with my community and the city of Texico and with me being a long-time volunteer and now captain with the fire department, I’m already in the position of doing stuff for my community and running and hopefully being elected I can do more for the community.

What do you feel qualifies you for the position?

I really don’t know how to answer that question. Honestly I’m not really sure. I’ve been to a few council meetings before in the past. I know there’s a lot more that I don’t know and would actually like to learn more. My father was a former council member so I’ve learned a little bit from him in understanding what’s going on.

What’s an issue you want to tackle specifically during your term?

I would like to see that the city is actually able to do their own trash pickup instead of having to outsource to another entity and to continue on with what projects are already being done for the city to help that way. It’s not just one thing, it’s a group and a team effort with the city council to do things so it’s not just one person who says, “Hey, let’s do this.” I want to be a part of that team.

What is one simple thing the village or council could do to improve the lives of its residents?

Maybe being able to pay your bill online, your water bill. The way things are going with the world today, everything is automated, so maybe something like that.

Is there anything the village or council currently handles that you think would be better in the hands of private citizens?

I would have to say no, I can’t think of anything that they handle right now that could be handled by private citizens. Nothing comes to mind that I know of. They’re pretty straightforward when it comes to public meetings and everything and let (citizens) know if there’s an issue, they come and ask for assistance or questions as to why (the village or council is) doing things.

— Compiled by Staff Writer Jamie Cushman