Grant County Commission District 1 and 2 Democratic Party candidates face off in forum. From left, are Donald "Jesse" Franklin-Owens, Luis Terrazas, Chris Ponce, Cythia Renee Provencio and Javier Salas.

Photo and article by Hallie Richwine

The Grant County Democratic Party held a candidate forum for County Commission Districts 1 and 2 on April 11, 2018 at the Bayard Community Center. Before the panel state Senator Howie Morales addressed the crowd.

“It’s good to be home,” he said, and he reminded attendees to get out and vote. Morales also said that no matter what the results of the election bring, the Democratic party needs to come together on June 6, 2018 as one team.

Sergio Salinas, MEChA president, introduced Grant County Democratic Party  Vice Chair Shelby Hallmark, the emcee for the evening. Hallmark said the forum was the first in the mining district in seven years and that the party was happy to be reaching the area.

Candidates for District 1 included Donald “Jessie” Franklin-Owens, Luis Terrazas, and Chris Ponce. For District 2 Cindy Renee Provencio and Javier Salas attended the forum.

Hallmark posed the first question, “Explain why you are running, and why Democrats should choose you.”

Franklin-Owens was first to answer. He moved to the area in 1978 and has been involved with the community on many levels, from attending and completing his degree at WNMU to teaching at the Montessori school and running his own junior high school. Franklin-Owens now delivers water to community members. He said what he has learned about himself in this political process is that he cares very deeply about the community, likes research, and that part of his campaign is about listening to his constituents.

Terrazas followed and said he’s been in the area for fifty years. After serving his country, he graduated from WNMU and worked for the mines for 29 years. Terrazas has 19 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His family roots are part of the reason he cares so much about Grant County.

Ponce was next and said he enjoys public service. Having been part of law enforcement, he wants to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem. Ponce said he wants to work with elected officials to accomplish what needs to be done in Grant County. Ponce is concerned with protecting and expanding services for seniors and said the county was made by the elders.

District 2 candidate Provencio addressed the group. She remembers researching apartheid in high school and learning from her grandfather about racial segregation and tension in Grant County. The interest he sparked in her led her to an oral history project for her Master’s degree when she learned racial discrimination still existed. She continues to be an advocate for the marginalized because she loves her community. Provencio does not want to see the mining district fall behind and wants to push to see green initiatives that complement the work done at the mines.

Salas followed and also is a lifelong resident of Grant County. He has been involved in the community and believes he has a good life here. “This is where I grew up, this is where I will pass away,” Salas said. He went on to say he wants transparency, so people will know why he decides what he does.

The next question came from Hallmark, “The county commission has committed Grant County to a joint powers agreement with the New Mexico Central Arizona Project entity that is pursuing plans to divert the Gila River water under the Arizona Water Settlements Act. As a commissioner, would you continue to support the JPA or seek to withdraw it and attempt to use the aid on a non-diversion project such as the Grant County Water Distribution project that would, among other things, secure water for Hurley?”

Terrazas answered first, “I don’t believe in diversion, whatever agreement they have I’m against it.”

Ponce then said his concern is the funds may be tied up for a long time. He believes we will still be talking about the diversion in 2020 and would rather secure funding for other projects in Grant County.

“This is an issue I’m working on in my day job,” said Provencio, who is the Gila Latina Community Organizer at the Upper Gila Watershed Alliance. “I’m combatting efforts to diversion and support withdrawing. I’d like to see funds used here or even in Deming. There are better uses than diverting the last free-flowing river in the West.” Provencio believes the river is important culturally and economically and values the life, including endangered species, thriving in the ecosystem. “There is a lack of transparency with the CAP entity, with slow progress. I’d like to see the money used on a project that would benefit more of the county.”

Salas claimed to be neutral. “This is a fantastic opportunity to impact children’s lives,” he said. “We live in the desert, we need water. Our aquifers will not last forever.” Salas wants to make decisions that are viable for the county. No matter what, he wants to remain transparent and hear community input.

Franklin-Owens spoke last. “I don’t know the actual consequences of withdrawal from the entity, but I do not support diversion, and do support securing water future.” He said he would rather tie the communities together with water projects and wants to explore non-diversion projects for increasing the aquifer. “We don’t have to build a dam to secure our water future,” he said.

Hallmark’s next question addressed the County Commission’s oversight of Gila Regional Medical Center and how the candidates would address privatization options.

“The hospital is near and dear to my heart,” Ponce said, “My intention is to provide services to seniors, and shutting down the hospital affects more than Grant County.” Ponce believes GRMC needs to increase revenues, so it can provide the best care as well as pay staff a competitive wage.

Provencio said she does not support privatization. “If there is not enough profit, they will leave and the town crumbles. The hospital is an important part of the community.” Provencio said she rejects the argument that private management equals better care.

Salas’ recommends a full audit be conducted. He wants GRMC to stay in county hands but recognizes that the minute the hospital goes into the red it will not be viable to anyone.

Franklin-Owens said he is trying to be open minded. “It’s been a bad process. They weren’t upfront with the community. The consultant firm has a vested interest in the closure of the hospital.” Franklin-Owens said he’d like to see a community election before a decision. “Private hospitals are about profit, and things that do not generate profit are closed.”

Terrazas said if we get a private company here they will be thinking of the money and not about health. He, too, is against the sale of the hospital.

Hallmark asked what the candidates would do to diversify the economy.

“When it comes to diversifying the economy, we can be as innovative as we want to be,” Provencio said. “Wind and solar are complementary to the mining industry.” Provencio is also a proponent for waste management recycling programs that turn waste material into building materials.

Salas also believes creating viable industry is important. “The mine will meet its life expectancy, and we’re off the main corridor. We need to bring industry in,” he said, “What can we do as far as manufacturing? Do we have what would attract someone here?”

“One thing we do have is Fort Bayard, and if we support Santa Clara the state may give them that land,” Franklin-Owens said. He believes Santa Clara has a great plan. “I’ve seen economic development come and go. We need a developed work ethic. We can partner with schools and industry to have jobs. We need to develop skills so when someone comes in there are people to work. Let’s protect our jewel, the whole Gila. Let’s keep out encroachments, including F-16s.

“I see visitors passing, but they just pass through. We need something to hold them,” Terrazas said.

Ponce agreed that vocational programs are needed so students are learning welding and pipefitting. He believes then communities will partner with the community to work on projects. “Let’s have our own people working on them (the projects), not just talk about them.”

Hallmark then asked candidates how they would restore a healthy and inclusive climate when American politics has been flooded with “dark money.”

Salas said transparency is needed. “You need to know me. You need to know how to get hold of me.”

“At the end of the day what we want is the same, the things that separate us are small.” Franklin-Owens said. He encouraged everyone to listen to both sides of tough dialogues.

Terrazas said he is listening, and he will always do so. He said he works for environmentalists, ranchers, business owners, and the downtown area.

Ponce agreed that transparency is important and added that building rapport with people in Grant County and surrounding places is important. “Things that don’t seem important to me might mean the world to someone else. There is always common ground somewhere.”

Provencio said part of being inclusive is not tolerating bigotry. Listening is of the utmost importance and that we will need to learn about each other’s cultures. She challenges the community to understand history, "so we can move forward."

The last question from Hallmark was if the candidates will promise to support each other after the primary results dictate who has won. All candidates unanimously agreed that they would.

In the first of two community questions, Guadalupe Cano asked how the candidates plan to bridge the gap between the commission and municipalities.

Ponce said communication is key and that the commissioners need to sit down with the elected officials to see how to support their roles.

Provencio also believes in team work and feels collaboration can happen if all parties get together in the same room.

Salas also said he would like to see everyone work together, “We are neighbors, friends. Not adversaries.”

Franklin-Owens envisions a type of retreat to get everyone together without the fishbowl effect of meetings. He also believes the teamwork does not end with the commission and the municipalities and that the departments have important input, too.

Terrazas said he has been trying to get information from the fire departments for quite some time, and that discussion should happen about the Fort Bayard water rights going to Santa Clara.

John Song asked what the county commission’s role will be in rebuilding the sheriff’s department.

Provencio worries that funding will be cut for the sheriff. “I understand they are stretched thin. It’s absurd to cut more.”

Ponce said coming from a law enforcement background, he believes the sheriff’s department is an investment and would like to see comparable wages.

Terrazas also wants to see a strong, competitive sheriff’s department and suggested freeing up funds tied up in downtown real estate to offset the cost.

Salas fears throwing money around for the sake of doing so. “We need to form cooperatives.”

Franklin-Owens also wants to support the department and suggested online training as a way to cut cost. He also wants to see more women recruited and trained.

In closing, all candidates pledged passion for the community and a stronger party as a whole.

The next public forum hosted by the Grant County Democratic Party, MEChA, WNMU’s Miller Library, and the Young Democrats happens Thursday, April 19, at 6 p.m. at Miller Library. The topic will be local candidates for Sheriff and Division 1 Magistrate.