2021 Election: Valencia Soil & Water Conservation District

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

POSITION 2

Duana M. Draszkiewicz (I)

Age: 72

Current occupation (If retired, from what field): Retired realtor

Highest level of education: More than three years at the University of New Mexico

Previously held public office:  Valencia Soil and Water Conservation District board supervisor (since February 2021).

Have you ever been arrested, charged with or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony offenses in New Mexico or any other state? “No.”

What qualifications/experience do you feel you possess that will enable you to fulfil the responsibilities of the elected office you are seeking?

“The experience of serving on the Valencia Soil and Water Conservation District Board for eight months, having been a planning and zoning commissioner, and being a board member of many environmentally focused organizations provided me with the skills to fulfil my responsibilities as a board supervisor.

“My experience as a realtor made me well acquainted with much of the private land within our district boundaries. I’ve also visited the Pueblos of Laguna and Isleta.”

How do you plan to involve the community in the decision-making process of the board?

“First, I plan to inform the public that our District is not the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District! VSWCD was formed on May 1, 1947. The 47 Soil and Water Conservation Districts in New Mexico are units of our state government, mandated by law to provide conservation services.

“I plan to visit with individuals, civic organizations, and local government bodies to invite them to our monthly meetings, which are open to the public and where public comment is welcome.”

Help us understand the type of leader you will be by describing your two highest priorities for changes within the district — short term and long term.

“I want more people to know that our mission is to provide natural resource conservation for a quality environment through active leadership, cooperation, and partnership. For example, if more people know what we do, we can assist more local farmers and ranchers with improving their own management of soil and water resources. I also want to make sure that all school children in our district experience outdoor learning at our Whitfield Conservation Area.”

 

POSITION 3

Paul Joseph Moya (I)

Age: 70

Current occupation (If retired, from what field): Current farmer, retired Belen schools in 2000 after 27 years as agricultural teacher.

Highest level of education: Master of Arts in Administration

Previously held public office: Served on VSWCD board consistently for the past 21 years.

Have you ever been arrested, charged with or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony offenses in New Mexico or any other state? If so, explain. “DWI in 2004, but charges were dismissed.”

What qualifications/experience do you feel you possess that will enable you to fulfill the responsibilities of the elected office you are seeking?

“Due to my FFA and agricultural teaching background, I have experience in properly conducting official meetings that include using Robert’s Rules of Order. While serving as board president, I worked at training the board on basic parliamentary procedures. Through my 60+ years of farming, I understand the evolving needs of farmers, water irrigation and land usage. In response to the changing needs, I converted my farm management to organic for a healthier product and environment.”

How do you plan to involve the community in the decision-making process of the board?

“I will continue to support the process of timely meeting notifications and agendas with specific allotted time for public input on agenda items. I’ll encourage the community to attend public meetings and provide input. I will promote the idea of public forums on topics that are concerning to the public. I will continually make myself available to those who farm here.”

Help us understand the type of leader you will be by describing your two highest priorities for changes within the district — short term and long term.

“Short term: Work to complete the second phase of the new building. Thus, freeing up the current building to help with increasing tourism/ visiting for classrooms and meeting areas to educate the community and elementary students in conservation methods and results. Long term: Financial sustainability to carry on the VSWCD mission.”

 

POSITION 4

Albert D. Shrecengost

Age: 62

Current occupation (If retired, from what field): Retired military, currently a DoD contractor supporting the U.S. Air Force.

Highest level of education: MBA in Global Management

Previously held public office: None

Have you ever been arrested, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony offenses in New Mexico or any other state? If so, explain. “Yes, charged with DUI in 1980 in El Paso, Texas. Charges dropped.”

What qualifications/experience do you feel you possess that will enable you to fulfill the responsibilities of the elected office you are seeking?

“I was raised on a farm/ranch in Lincoln, New Mexico. We raised cattle, alfalfa hay and apples. I studied agriculture at New Mexico Military Institute and Grazing Lands Management at New Mexico State University. I spent many years helping the family and others with their crops and herds.
How do you plan to involve the community in the decision-making process of the board?

“An elected official is just that — an elected representative. It is the elected official’s responsibility to take the questions from the board back to the ones that elected them for their input. They should then return with that information and make the best decisions that they can.”

Help us understand the type of leader you will be by describing your two highest priorities for changes within the district — short term and long term.

“The VSWCD is tasked with helping all the individuals in the district. That includes the large owners and the small owners as well. Until I see what the needs of the district are I can’t decide on what the priorities are.”

 

Teresa K.E. Smith de Cherif (I)

Age:  60

Current occupation (If retired, from what field): Retired medical doctor

Highest level of education: Doctor of Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine, 2002.

Previously held public office:  I am serving my 13th year on the Valencia Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors.

Have you ever been arrested, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor, or any felony offense in New Mexico or any other state? “No.”

What qualifications or experience do you feel you possess that will enable you to fulfill the responsibilities of the elected office you are seeking?

“Trained as a medical doctor, I’m a problem-solver, not a partisan politician. Living here 14 years and previous work in the Sahara have taught me that water and soil conservation is essential.  Serving 13 years on our board, being re-elected, and selected by my peers to be vice chair demonstrate my abilities and commitment.  I hope to continue being a mission-focused consensus builder who protects our rural land, water, and way of life.”

How do you plan to involve the community in the decision-making process of the board?

“Listening to families in our district, patients at Isleta, and individuals at community meetings, I’ve heard their hopes and concerns. That’s why I spearheaded our program to help people in Meadow Lake and El Cerro Mission grow food sustainably at our East Valencia Community Gardens.

“To facilitate increased community involvement, I would schedule listening tours at community centers and Pueblos within our district and resume holding some board meetings within the communities we serve.”

Help us understand the type of leader you will be by describing your two highest priorities for changes within the District—short term and long term.

“I fought a big government agency for 10 years and won, adding 140 acres to Whitfield for conservation and recreation. Over the short term, I would invite the public to help us envision the future of this new acreage and assist in its restoration.

“Over the long term, I would like to diversify funding streams, increasing revenue from my grant writing and editing, which already have helped raise $150K to support the district’s work.”