Candidate Q&A: Portales mayor

Two candidates are running for mayor of Portales. They are incumbent Ron Jackson, who has been the mayor for four years, and challenger Reydecel Coss, director of Campus Life programs at Eastern New Mexico University.

Election Day is March 1. Early voting ends Feb. 26.

Reyedecel Coss

Q: In 100 words or less, why are you qualified to be the mayor of Portales?

Coss: Due to my professional experience as director of Campus Life at ENMU, education, dedication, and contributions to our diversified community of Portales by being part of the Cultural Affairs Committee, Portales Chamber, and attending meetings with the Roosevelt DWI Task Force, I am committed to serve as Portales’ mayor. I have been identified as a person of integrity and change by peers, mentors, and other Portales leaders. As mayor, I know that I can weigh in all the best and difficult decisions presented before me for Portales. I can work alongside other council or community members with an open mind.

Q: What do you think the city’s highest priorities are these days?  What can the commission do to help?

Coss: The first item would be to review as a commission the possibility to attract new industry and to help retain small and local businesses and/or encourage entrepreneurship in our community. New businesses and established businesses help increase the funding that pays into sales taxes for our city. These sales tax revenues contribute to the cost of paying the library, police, infrastructure (streets) and support the general funds that keep Portales departments running. Second, as a commission, we would need to evaluate the growth of Portales by opening the lines of communication with neighboring partners such as Eastern New Mexico University and Cannon Air Force Base. These talks can help identify growth problems. Between 2010 and 2020, our Portales community experienced a 1.17% decline in population. At the same time, our neighboring Clovis community saw a 2.07% increase in population. Population growth is a concerning matter and needs to be addressed sooner, than later.   

Q: What finance-related issues do you think Portales needs to address so that taxpayers’ money is well spent?

Coss: Everyone can agree, and the memes on social media can attest to concerns of taxpayers’ money, which is that our money is not being spent in fixing our infamous potholes around town. Although this may be the biggest issue that many of our community members are concerned about, there are still needs that can make a difference that allow our taxpayers to feel that new improvements are being implemented, such as adding better lighting over our neighborhood streets or more stop signs on busier roads in all the wards. Other essential investments would be providing more funding on continuous education and equipment for our first responders and police officers. These obtainments would allow our community to feel safe and prepared for any issues. I strongly feel that reviewing new ways to revamp all neighborhood parks to be clean, lighted, and secure is necessary. These several examples of improvements may ease taxpayers and justify money well spent.

Ron Jackson

Q: In 100 words or less, why are you qualified to be mayor?

Jackson: I was elected four years ago to be mayor and I was on city council from 2002 through March of 2014 – three terms. With that experience in city government, I feel I am the best candidate to continue to lead our city.

I have worked at James Polk Stone Community Bank for 32 years. I am also a veteran having served in The US Army. I am currently vice-chairman of the ENMWUA, which is instrumental in securing water from Ute lake to the surrounding communities.  I am willing and ready to continue being a part of that group.

Q: What do you think the city’s highest priorities are these days? What can the council do to help?

Jackson: Water and roads continue to be in the forefront of priorities – we have made strides with the ENMWUA Ute water project to secure a renewal water source for Portales. We continue to upgrade our well fields. We have to make water conservation a priority, as well. I could not be prouder of our citizens that make efforts to follow our plan. Xeriscaping of their properties and following the watering schedule all help the effort.

Roads and streets continue to be a priority for us as well. We have so much truck traffic throughout our city, it makes it hard on the residential streets to hold up. We also have had a tough time getting our street crew on track due to hiring limitations. We are getting there.

Economic growth is a priority as well. We need our citizens to shop and spend their dollars locally as much as possible, and we will see returns on those dollars. We have a great group at our Economic Development and have some new business in the works. The Fun Center will be a great asset to the community and being done by a local businessman.

We have a strong city council. Members that have a variety of experience in life and on the council. They have been supportive. This group does not just approve any and everything; they spend time of the issues and educate themselves.

Q: What financial-related issues do you think Portales needs to address so that taxpayers’ money is well spent?

Jackson: We have a dedicated finance director that has been with the city for almost 20 years. She keeps our funds going where they need to be, and our system in place assures us that the tax money received is accounted for and spent on things that keep the city running and the bills paid. I am confident in our group at City Hall that oversees the funds. We are and will continue to be transparent when it comes to the finances.