Candidates make last pitch at community forum. Here are 4 issues discussed
Candidates running for mayor and city council in Carlsbad had one last chance to appeal to voters before the Nov. 7 local elections during a candidate forum Monday night sponsored by KCCC radio, Southeast New Mexico College and Assign Advertising at the Pecos River Village Conference Center.
Mayoral candidates Edward Rodriguez, Martin Mills, Rick Lopez and Norbert Rempe attended the forum.
Also in attendance were Ward 3 City Council candidates Aaron Jones, Mary Garwood and Christina Mann.
Ward 2 City Council candidate and incumbent JJ Chavez was also in attendance along with Ward 4 City Council candidate Anthony Foreman.
Foreman is unopposed and Chavez is being challenged by Andrew Carver, who did not respond to requests to attend the forum, according to organizers.
Johnny Chandler of KCCC was the moderator and pre-selected questions were submitted by the public.
Here are four topics discussed by the candidates.
City of Carlsbad support for arts and culture programs in downtown area
Rempe said arts and culture activities are important for a community , and that arts programs should be privately funded.
Lopez, who retired as chief of the Carlsbad Fire Department in 2022, said the City of Carlsbad offers plenty of arts and culture activities for everyone, including outdoor functions for the youth of the community. “We have to figure out what else we want,” he said.
Current Ward 1 City Councilor and Mayor Pro-Tem Edward Rodriguez said the City of Carlsbad offers plenty of activities supporting all kinds of arts and culture projects ranging from car shows to community concerts.
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Homelessness and mental health in Carlsbad
Rodriguez and Lopez pointed to the mental health and substance abuse services offered by Lifehouse of Carlsbad.
“Lifehouse picks up people from rock bottom and they can progress forward. Mental health is very key to this,” Rodriguez said.
Lopez said Lifehouse is one of many answers for mental health and substance abuse as the city could use a long-term facility.
Chavez said Lifehouse and the Community of Hope Center both offer help with mental health and drug addiction services.
Garwood affirmed her support for Community of Hope as a way for homeless residents to gain job skills.
Crime and public safety in Carlsbad
Mayor and council candidates offered various answers on how to deal with crime and public safety in the community.
Jones the City of Carlsbad must make sure police and fire staffing levels are funded in order for public safety to be effective.
Garwood suggested the City of Carlsbad unfreeze some public safety positions.
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Jones, Garwood, Mann and Robert Burton Jr. are seeking to replace outgoing Ward 3 councilor Judith Waters, who decided not to seek another term.
Chandler said Burton decided not to attend the forum.
Streets and infrastructure in Carlsbad
Garwood said streets in the Carlsbad city limits were fine and city crews did a good job maintaining them.
“The county and the state are stressed more and that comes back to Carlsbad,” she said.
Jones said the city should look at more bypasses connecting U.S. highway 62/180 and U.S. highway 285. The West Bypass connecting the two major highways south of Carlsbad opened July 18 and was a partnership between the City of Carlsbad, Eddy County and New Mexico Department of Transportation.
All three entities are partnering on the Southeast Loop Bypass.
Chavez suggested the new mayor and the new city council pass ordinances not allowing semitrailers to travel through the heart of the community unless delivering to local businesses.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Top 4 issues discussed at community forum sponsored by KCCC SENMC
