Candidate Q&As: Curry County Commissioner, District 4

Seth Martin and Dillon Lewis, both Republicans, are seeking a two-year term as Curry County commissioner for District 4.

Martin is the incumbent, appointed in December to fill a vacancy from October.

Candidates were given the same questions, and asked to answer them on the spot.

Absentee voting began last week and will take place Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until June 1 and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 2 at the Curry County Administrative Complex.

Early voting begins Saturday and will be available Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the North Plains Mall — Police Substation.

The primary is June 5.

The annual salary for the commission seat is $24, 596.

Seth Martin is a sorghum and wheat farmer in Grier and runs a family business in Clovis.

Summarize your understanding of the job description for county commissioner.

A commissioner is weighted with the responsibility to equally represent, as fairly as he can, the county. The residents, the businesses — he has to keep all of that in consideration with the decision he makes that guides the future of the county, basically. It varies from very minuscule decisions to really important ones. There’s lot of different things that the county commissioner has to keep in mind.

What professional experience, or otherwise, have you had that you feel qualifies you for this position?

I am a fourth-generation farmer in Curry County. We’ve been here since 1906. We farm both sides — both dryland and irrigated, which gives us kind of a better look on this water issue, which is very relevant right now. We’ve also had a small business, family owned business in Clovis since the mid ’80s. I’ve been a part of that since the ’90s.

I do have background in business, I have background in agriculture, I’m not an overeducated man as far as all that goes, but a lot of life experience. Balancing budgets, trying to make a profit for me. And also scheduling is a big part of farming, timing and all that stuff.

Have you ever been arrested and/or charged with a crime? If so, when, what were the details and what was the disposition?

I have been arrested once, it was close to 15 or 20 years ago, but all charges were dropped. It was all kind of a misunderstanding that took place; matter of fact they apologized after they arrested me. It was an over-zealous officer, but luckily it didn’t amount to anything.

I honestly don’t know what they had charged me with. I was arrested, and later all charges dismissed, and I was in and out within an hour or so. It would have to have been some type of misdemeanor type deal to go before Municipal Judge Jan Garrett.

If I could remember what they charged me with, I would tell you. I don’t want to seem like I’m evading the question, but I do want to be honest. But as far as any kind of criminal record, I have none whatsoever.

What is the biggest challenge you anticipate for the term, should you be elected?

There’s three major ones right now. We have the water assurance plan, which is also being tied into an agreement with the city — the intergovernmental agreement between the city and the county, that’s a big issue right now.

Another big one that is fixing to start is the renovation of the detention center. Also the ongoing renovations and renewal of the courthouse — trying to utilize the courthouse space efficiently for present and future needs.

That’s the three major ones on the plate right now. And they keep slipping things in on me.

How do you feel about the current direction of county progress? What needs to happen to keep momentum going/turn things around?

County progress is slow, but it is headed in the right direction. Luckily the county has a good manager, and makes it easier for the commission having him as the manager.

The main thing is I think the county’s addressing what needs to be done, though a lot of people may not like that. A lot of that has to do with the detention center; that has to be addressed.

The upkeep of the courthouse and the renewal of it are also not a public-friendly project, but due to the county’s liability it is an issue that needs to be addressed. To make it go faster it would be nicer to have more money. I think that’s the main determining factor on what we’re able to do right now, is the funding.

We need to focus on the projects on hand and on acquiring the necessary funding in a way that is accommodating to those in the county without having to raise taxes. Stay focused on the projects, get them finished, and then continue in that direction to keep the county functional and viable for us.

Why do you want this job?

I think I’ve been consistent. Why do I want this job? I think it’s still my concern for the direction of the county to make sure that it stays ag friendly while advancing for the better of all the county.

People ask me why I do this, they say nobody in their right mind takes these positions. I actually enjoy this, I don’t know why. I think it’s because of my desire to see the right thing done. I think there’s just a point when you have to step up to better your community.

Dillon Lewis is a rancher and also has a cattle pre-conditioning operation out of Grier.

Summarize your understanding of the job description for county commissioner.

To the best of my knowledge, it’s a seat that is held by an elected member of the county to be a representative of the people of said district. So, a shorter version I guess would be (for their constituents to) have a voice in the county from someone in their district.

What professional experience, or otherwise, have you had that you feel qualifies you for this position?

I do custom cattle work for other people, and most of the people that I do work for are either in the district that I’m running for or the district north of me. …

So I have experience dealing with a lot of different people in our community from various backgrounds, and having a good rapport with them, and can speak to a lot of different people about a lot of different topics. I think that’s probably the best way I can answer that. Just having a diverse range of people that I talk to and have conversations with.

I think (being a representative) is about having that good rapport with people, being able to have open dialogue.

Have you ever been arrested and/or charged with a crime? If so, when, what were the details and what was the disposition?

I was arrested for a DWI. I was not found guilty in the criminal trial. I think that was 2013. I went to the bar, came home, was driving home and got arrested. I was found not guilty in the criminal trial. Don’t hold it against me?

What is the biggest challenge you anticipate for the term, should you be elected?

Well, I’m not so sure that the whole job wouldn’t be a challenge in itself, based on each individual issue and how other commissioners and other people interpret them, and how my opinion is interpreted by other people. I think that’s the biggest challenge of the whole deal, is coming together and working on topics that come up, that maybe everybody doesn’t see eye to eye on but we still have to come together and do the best we can for Curry County.

The only issue that we might be facing that would be a challenge with the issue itself is water conservation. That’s probably the first that comes to my mind.

How do you feel about the current direction of county progress? What needs to happen to keep momentum going/turn things around?

As far as economics go, Curry County has got to be one of the strongest in the state, based on our agriculture industries and the overall opportunities that are in this county. I think that this county has always had good momentum as far as economics are concerned, and being a place that people want to come because of the opportunities that we have here.

I think the county will maintain and keep on pace the way that it is with the status quo. But it can always be improved — there are always things out there that can be done better. We can, all of us, we can always do things better. We can always get the job done a little better if we put in the effort.

Why do you want this job?

Well, I want to be an actual representative, a voice for the people of this district. I want this district to be represented. If a call is made I want to be able to address it, and for people to feel like when they spend the time to call or ask for something to be done, (that) they get the answer they’re looking for.

— Compiled by Staff Writer David Grieder