By Frost McGahey
On Monday, October 13th, Dale Lane, candidate for mayor for Silver City, spoke to a group of voters. When asked why he was running, Lane replied, "I grew up here, and I want to help solve some of the problems we have now that we didn't before."
"When talking to voters they tell me what they're most concerned about is the Homeless. Some of them are afraid of the people who are wandering or lying around, especially at night. I started researching the problem over two months ago, and it isn't just simply clearing them out. First, if they are arrested for a misdemeanor, because of New Mexico laws, they are released that day. If they've been aggressive, they're arrested and released three days later. The police have their hands tied. But that doesn't mean that we give up."
Lane graduated from Silver High and attended NMSU. After working in various states he returned in 1990. He retired as a former manager of Keenan Pipe and Supply, and now works on his own property.
When one woman asked about his top priority he said, "It's helping small businesses and supporting the city employees including the Silver City Police Department. We need to grow local businesses so that young families can find jobs and stay here."
A voter asked what could be done about the lack of housing. Lane responded, "Building here is expensive, somewhere between $165 to $200 a square foot. And no builder has put in a subdivision since 2007 because curbs, gutters, and sidewalks are required. That's too expensive for most developers."
A woman chimed in, "My friend bought a manufactured home, but she can't occupy it because it needs building inspector approval, and they come all the way from Santa Fe. It takes months to get them down here."
Someone added, "Most states have county building inspectors. I don't know why Santa Fe doesn't do that."
Another voter asked, "What would you like to improve in Silver?" Lane said,
"I'd like to see Silver spruced up and become more of a destination for tourists so our small businesses and families could thrive here. I think Silver City could be one of the best small towns in America."
