Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Editor’s note: This is one in a series of interviews with candidates in the March 5 city of Clovis elections. Debbie Zamora, appointed to the District 3 city commission seat last year, will face Doug Pettigrew. The winner will be expected to complete a two-year term. Early voting began Tuesday and runs through March 2.
Douglas Pettigrew
Q: Describe yourself in two or three sentences.
A: I’m an Air Force veteran and retired after 40 years as an auditor with Allsup’s convenience stores. I’m married with five kids and nine grandkids, conservative and ready to serve the citizens of Clovis.
Q: The city spent part of 2023 on efforts to ban abortion clinics in Clovis’ city limits. Are you interested in continuing that fight? Why or why not?
A: I am not interested in fighting that fight. But at the city level, it’s a state law. And we have to comply with state law.
If you’re going to pass an ordinance, you’re going to have legal troubles. The state is going to sue us, and it’s going to cost the city money. We’re not going to get anywhere if you’re going to change the law. You have to go to Santa Fe to do that.
Q: What do you consider Clovis’ greatest asset? And what can city government do to enhance that asset?
A: The biggest asset of the city is the people and providing for their welfare. I think that is probably number one on my list. You obviously need to provide security and law and order.
Q: What do you consider Clovis’ greatest weakness? And what can city government do to strengthen that weakness?
A: The greatest weakness would be public safety. I think, you know, we have issues here that we shouldn’t have. I don’t think we’re tough enough on crime.
I think the public feels like they’re not getting any help from the police department. And I don’t know that they’re not trying to help. But when you call an officer, and he or she comes and goes; they tell you that they can’t help.
That is sending the wrong message, in my opinion, to the citizen that needs help. I think we could do a better job in that area.
We could also do a better job in working on the smaller crimes so that they don’t become bigger crimes. You’ve got to pay attention to the smaller issues that are still against the law.
Q: Any big initiatives on your agenda if you’re elected?
A: Public safety is the first one. Continuing the water policies of the city council, I think, is very important, and I think they’re on the right track.
We have another issue with not enough doctors here. That’s probably causing an issue with both (Cannon Air Force Base) and the citizens of Clovis.
Every time we have to travel to Lubbock to go to a doctor, that’s $100 that’s being spent in Texas and not being spent locally.
We have a lot of abandoned buildings here in town that I think are contributing to crime. We also have a stray dog problem. There are way too many stray dogs running around town that need to be picked up and taken care of.
Q: What do you think is the purpose of government?
A: To serve the people.
Debbie Zamora
Q: Describe yourself in two or three sentences.
A: I would describe myself as a good role model for people. I’m a giving person and I’m a caring person. I like to be fair, I listen, and I don’t always jump to conclusions.
Q: The city spent part of 2023 on efforts to ban abortion clinics in Clovis’ city limits. Are you interested in continuing that fight? Why or why not?
A: Well, as many know, my husband is a (state) representative, and we are pro-life. But I also have to look at it in the best way possible. I can’t just make that choice on my own. My choices will affect other people.
But again, I am pro-life, I’m Catholic. I won’t overstep my boundaries. I will make my thoughts known, but I’m not going to be headstrong.
Q: What do you consider Clovis’ greatest asset? And what can city government do to enhance that asset?
A: I was born and raised here, you know, and this is a community where people know each other. Our biggest asset is that we’re a close community.
Nothing is beyond our strength or beyond our reach. We can continue to make Clovis an asset to the community itself by being kind to our neighbors.
Q: What do you consider Clovis’ greatest weakness? And what can city government do to strengthen that weakness?
A: A weakness for me would be crime. Just as a whole, the behavior that surrounds Clovis.
It’s no fault of our law enforcement. I think some people just don’t realize that their choices affect other people.
We need to get it across that when you make a choice, that it just doesn’t affect you, it affects a lot of people.
Q: Any big initiatives on your agenda if you’re elected?
A: First, I’d ask more on the capital outlay, what the Legislature will give to us.
The Purdue drainage sits in my district, so I’m hoping that that gets funded. Then, I’m also looking into the recreational center for our youth. That is a big item on my agenda. Our youth do need something else to do.
I hope we can be fiscally responsible and work with the rest of the commissioners and the mayor to try and bring the community together.
Q: What do you think is the purpose of government?
A: As a whole, we have to separate ourselves for too much government overreach in telling us what we can and can’t do.
I know government is structured. There are rules to follow. At the end of the day, as the government, we’re happy to be at their beck and call is how I see it.
— Compiled by Landry Sena, The Staff of The News
