NAIOP luncheon encourages organic discussion with elected officials

State Rep.-elect Nicole Chavez learned she’d never like speed dating but overall had a good time.

She told the Journal this following a luncheon hosted by commercial real estate association NAIOP last week. It was an opportunity for attendees to meet with elected officials and talk about whatever was on their minds.

In a speed dating-like style, elected officials rotated around tables in 15-minute segments to chat with community members. Nearly three dozen elected officials, both local and state, participated in the event.

NAIOP New Mexico President Karl Smith said it was the second time the real estate organization hosted a similar event. It allows for a more organic discussion as opposed to something like a panel that can be very prescribed, he said.

Sen.-elect Nicole Tobiassen agreed and told the Journal after the luncheon it was nice to talk to people in a relaxed atmosphere. She’s the Republican-elect for Senate District 21, which covers Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights.

“It's always good when we get to meet business leaders. It's a great group of business leaders that we don't always get access to,” Tobiassen said.

Also a Republican legislative-elect for Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights, but in the House rather than Senate, Chavez said she heard many of the same concerns from people as she did when she was campaigning. People are worried about public safety and crime, she said, and the event prompted more discussion and thoughts on how to fix it.

“I’m hoping that we can work bipartisanly,” Chavez said.

Both amicable and more contentious conversations floated around the ballroom of Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown during the luncheon.

In one conversation the Journal listened in on, Brad Allen, principal of the Allen Sigmon Real Estate Group, and Paul Silverman, CEO of Geltmore, talked taxes with Sandoval County Assessor Linda Gallegos.

Specifically, they talked about instituting caps on commercial tax increases. Silverman proposed the same 3% tax increase cap that residential buildings have with a yearslong phase-in process. Gallegos said she would support having the commercial cap, though she doesn’t agree with the percentage Silverman proposed.

“You'll get a lot of pushback from us if you try to do it in any way that is going to actually harm us,” Silverman said.

In another conversation, Silverman and Allen pondered ideas with Bernalillo County Commissioner Walt Benson for local economic development, including trade port corridors. The county has invested and garnered significant funding for a trade port corridor along Interstate 40.

Benson said that’ll be huge for local economic development.

Smith told the Journal everything won’t get solved in a day but the kind of dialogue that happened at the luncheon helps everyone get different perspectives and ideas.

“All of the people that came from the government side, from the elected official side, it speaks well about their willingness to participate with NAIOP New Mexico,” he said. “It speaks well about NAIOP New Mexico's willingness to engage with them.”