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The March 6 municipal election in Corrales will feature contested races for the District 2 and District 5 seats on the six-member council. Incumbent Pat Clauser is unopposed in her bid for re-election to the District 6 seat.
In District 2, incumbent Gerard Gagliano is running against Hoyt Hart a retired adjunct associate profession at the University of Oklahoma.
The District 5 race is a three-way contest between former councilor James Fahey and political newcomers David Lorenzo C’de Baca and David Giron. The winner will fill the seat vacated by Sayre Gerhart.
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Corrales Council Candidate Q&A
STANDARD QUESTIONS
1. Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens?
2. Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding?
3. Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony in New Mexico or any other state?
ISSUE QUESTIONS
1. List your top three priorities if elected.
2. What measures would you support to improve village revenues for things like public safety, administration and municipal services?
3. Would you support or oppose expanding sewer service to the seven higher density housing areas near the existing line, which is expected to open this summer?
4. What measures would you support to balance public safety needs with the need to keep a tight budget?
5. What, if anything, should be done to preserve the natural habitat of the bosque, while allowing public access for recreational purposes?
DISTRICT 2
Gerard Gagliano
(incumbent)
Age: 57
Education: Bachelor’s work, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of New Mexico, 1972-76, Master’s work Computer Compiler design 1977-78.
Occupation: President of Prodentity, computer software security company; President of Software Innovations, software development company, 32 years.
Family: wife, Judy
Political/government experience: Corrales Planning and Zoning Commission, 2002-2004, Districting Committee 2002, Corrales Council 2008-present, gagliano4corrales.org.
Major professional accomplishment: Recently patented iconic new way to apply Trust to Identities and Situations for computer security, marketed through a new company I have started, Prodentity.
Major personal accomplishment: Being happily married to the love of my life for over eighteen years.
Standard questions:
1. No.
2. No.
3. No.
Issue questions:
1. Ensuring Corrales has the revenue to fund and protect our most essential services. Protecting the density rules that Correlañeos have historically mandated and enjoyed. Transparency, openness and applying sound business process in all village business.
2. Sponsored the Corrales Senior Living facility — a place for our seniors to continue to reside in Corrales. Opening over 70 acres (Far Northwest Sector) to commercial development. Craft more advantageous franchise agreements with utility providers.
3. I supported acceptance of any and all money from state and other agencies. I support the goal to service these additional areas once our residents understand the costs that will be incurred by them.
4. We balanced a $300,000 shortfall last year, without laying anyone off — we held firm. Last week we were told that we should not expect a turnaround financially until 2014. Until recovery, we must be fiscally prudent.
5. We must communicate well with MRGCD (the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District) and (the Army Corps of Engineers) in any work executed. Its nature and preservation is a core value. If downed foliage becomes fuel, we must make sure that it does not endanger residents.
Hoyt E. Hart
Age: 79
Education: Honors BA, Physical Geography (Weather and Climate), University of Iowa, 1962, MS, Meteorology, Rutgers University, 1964,Course work for MRCP, University of Oklahoma, 1972-1973.
Occupation: Retired since 1995, Assistant Professor of Physics, South Dakota School of Mines 1964-1967, Senior Meteorologist and Operations Manager, Weather Science, Inc., Norman, Okla. 1967-1973, Adjunct Associate Professor, Graduate Faculty, Regional and City Planning, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla. 1972-1987.
Family: Wife: Janice, (divorced) two sons, four daughters; Wife: Judith, one daughter.
Political/government experience: Local, state and federal political campaign activities, past 50 years.
Major professional accomplishment: Past President, Weather Modification Association (International).
Major personal accomplishments: Eagle Scout; University Merit Scholar, University of Iowa; Gamma Theta Upsilon, University of Iowa, Sigma Xi, Rutgers University.
Standard questions:
1. No.
2. No.
3. No.
Issue questions:
1. Completion of sewer project; improve revenue sources; restore police and fire staffing.
2. Promote a “Los Ranchos” type permit system for licensing non-resident vendors, realtors and trades people in order to capture currently lost gross revenues that originate in Corrales.
3. Support, and as soon as possible.
4. See 2 above.
5. The village is cooperating with the MRGCD and has a very competent Bosque Commission to look after the Bosque Preserve. They are doing a good job with very limited resources.
DISTRICT 5
David Lorenzo C de Baca
Age: 57
Education: BS, Business Administration (Cum Laude), University of Albuquerque, 1975. MBA, Business Administration/Industrial Engineering, NM State University (Cum Laude), 1978. MSS, Information Tech, University of Denver (Summa Cum Laude), 1984. US Army Command and General Staff College (Honor Graduate), 1987.
Occupation: Corrales farmer, 2007-present. Custom Home Builder, 2004-2007, Information Technology, 1978-2004, Information Technology Consultant, El Paso Energy Corp, 1987-2004, Corporate Auditor, Burlington Northern Inc., 1985-1987, IT Project Manager, TEXACO, Inc. 1981-1985, IT Systems Analyst, Shell Oil Company, 1978-1981.
Family: divorced, three daughters, various foster children.
Political/government experience: Colonel, US Army, Retired, 1973-2005, Deputy Director, J6, US Joint Forces Command, 2000-2005, Deputy Chief of Staff, 75th Division, 1999-2000, Executive Officer, 2nd Brigade, 75th Division, 1998-1999, Chief — Plans and Operations, 2261st US Army Hospital, 1995-1998, Area Administrator — National Disaster Medical System, 1990-1995.
Major professional accomplishment: 1998, 1999, 2000 recipient Microsoft Technology & Business Award, 2001 recipient Federation of Government Info Processing Councils Award.
Major personal accomplishment: three-time recipient of Microsoft technology and business award, multinational IT consultant, worldwide conference speaker, on cover of many trade magazines.
Standard questions:
1. No.
2. No.
3. No.
Issue questions:
1. Reverse the unrestrained growth in village spending, which now consumes 38-44 percent of our property taxes. Make recreational services and facilities, like our library, free for all residents. Protect our Bosque, support growers, and promote our equestrian lifestyle.
2. Professionally review “hot house” agriculture co-op options to permit year-round vegetable and fruit growth and sale by our growers to super-market chains.
3. Oppose. Addressing the issue of shallow wells through federal funding would provide vastly better public health benefits, and the no-cost option of MRGCD dredging of our drainage systems would lower the water table, thus improving the function of everyone’s septic systems.
4. Professionally review all village services to determine whether outsourcing or centralizing/merging select service with Sandoval County departments such as P&Z with the county’s unincorporated area P&Z department would provide more cost effective delivery of service.
5. Restore the Bosque to its 1960s splendor of tall grass and healthy cottonwoods by removing underbrush and non-native vegetation which is needlessly consuming moisture needed by the cottonwoods to survive.
James F “Jim” Fahey Jr.
Age: 65
Education: BS, Biology, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas, 1967 MD, UTMB, Galveston, Texas, 1970.
Straight Surgery Internship, UTMB, Galveston, Texas, 1970-1971, General Surgery Residency, UTMB, Galveston, Texas 1971-1972, Lieutenant Commander, US Navy, USS Truxton, CGN-35, 1973-1975.
Orthopedic Surgery, UNM, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1973, 1975-1977, Hand Surgery Fellowship, UNM, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1978, Private Practice of Orthopedic and Hand Surgery, 1978-1997, Assistant Professor of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, UNM, 1997-2003.
Family: wife, Linda, a daughter and a son
Political/government experience: Locally, I have been the Market Manager of the Corrales Growers’ Market and have served on the Board of the Growers’ Market; presently serving on Corrales Capital Improvement Advisory Committee. Corrales Village Council member 2006-2010; Director of Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority board (term 2011-2017.)
Major professional accomplishment: Being involved in the education of young orthopedic surgeons and making a difference.
Major personal accomplishment: Being married to my wonderful wife for 42 years and having two fantastic children.
Standard questions:
1. No.
2. No.
3. No.
Issue question:
1. Finish the sewer line. Move forward with the trails and pathways plans. Work for more cooperative relationships with other municipalities and governmental entities, such as the Bosque Habitat Management plan with MRGCD.
2. Finish the sewer line; work on previous plans to produce defined “Village Center”; work with P&Z to facilitate applications for new business as ordinances allow with focus on home-occupation businesses, real estate transactions, and remodels; buy in Corrales.
3. In the future it will be necessary to address those “at risk” areas that have been identified and develop a plan to expand the service. The present system needs to be working first. The village has not yet completed the project.
4. If the decline in revenues from property taxes and GRT continues, other sources of revenue will need to be considered if the village is to provide the public safety, health, and welfare of the village. That is the mandate of the local government.
5. The village needs to move forward with agreements with the appropriate entities to develop and get approval of the plan, the Bosque Habitat Management Plan, that will preserve and protect the Bosque.
David Giron
Age: 49
Education: Secondary training in Photography.
Occupation: 25 years small business experience in technology and finance. In the mid-1980s, I operated a local business in the solar energy field. The company, called Solar Age in Taos Plaza, provided passive solar systems for the heating of air and water. Later, I did some marketing work for small businesses and a software development venture led to the start of my current company, County Records, Inc., in 2006. This firm acts as a trustee in the field of finance, facilitating dispute resolutions.
Family: Divorced, two sons
Political/government experience: None.
Major professional accomplishments: In my capacity as a mediator, developing the unique skills and conciliatory strengths to assist others in solving problems.
Major personal accomplishment: Achieving my skill levels in guitar and landscape photography, and imparting my creative passions to my sons.
Standard questions:
1. No.
2. No.
3. No.
Issue questions:
1. Continue to improve openness and cooperation in Village Government. Focus government on maintenance of essential services within the budgetary means of the Village. Develop a comprehensive plan for business and economic development within the Village.
2. Develop a comprehensive plan for business and economic development within the Village.
3. I would oppose this until such time as a complete project plan, including sources of funding is presented, and accepted by those to be impacted.
4. We need to maintain essential services within the budgetary means of the Village. I would support the production of empirical information to guide and support our policy decisions with regard to staffing and procurement in all areas.
5. I would consider policy questions with a focus on protecting the Village character, including the Bosque, for future generations. I believe we should allow time for the plans that have been developed by experts to take hold and assess their effectiveness before considering next steps.
District 6
Pat Clauser
(incumbent)
Age: 72
Education: BS, Chemistry, Simmons College, 1961, MS, Communications Disorders, UNM 1982, PhD, Educational Psychology, UNM 2001, CCC American Speech & Hearing Association.
Occupation: Senior Research Scientist, UNM, 2001-2002, researcher on several grants studying young children’s language with Carol Westby, UNM, 1996-2000, Speech pathologist at Corrales Elementary, 1982-1995.
Family: husband, deceased, a son and daughter.
Political/government experience: Councilor, village of Corrales, 2008 to present.
Major professional accomplishment: dissertation on the effects of education policy, school characteristics and student background on 4th grade students’ reading proficiency.
Major personal accomplishment: raising our two children.
Standard Questions:
1. No.
2. No.
3. No.
Issue Questions:
1. Complete two projects already begun: Access A and the wastewater system. Attend to village concerns with Intel and the Corrales Bosque Preserve. Manage village finances in order to provide all essential services.
2. We need to do more work to bring additional businesses into the village commercial areas. Our utility franchise agreements must be renegotiated. I do not favor raising property taxes.
3. The initial resolution on this matter has already been passed. I do not believe funding is currently available. No inventory of the infrastructure in the neighborhoods has been completed.
4. A plan for economic development is a necessity for managing recruiting businesses in the village. Filling vacancies in the village should be a top priority. Our gasoline station is now open again after a long closure.
5. The Bosque Preserve is a village treasure enjoyed by all. Our Bosque Commission has prepared a habitat plan which is excellent. It may require fine tuning. People attempting to live in the Preserve must be removed.
Two candidates, Luis Quintana and Marilyn Hill, are vying for the municipal judge position in Corrales. The winner will replace Mary Dougherty, who is not seeking re-election.
The town of Bernalillo will hold municipal elections on March 6. Councilors Ronnie Sisneros and Marian Jaramillo are running unopposed to hold on to their seats.
Sharon Torres is seeking election to another term as municipal judge in Bernalillo.
