Helen Baca has announced her candidacy for re-election to the Valencia County Commis-sion, District 3.
Prior to her election to the commission in 1998, Baca had 27 years of experience in Valencia County government with a background in budget planning, bookkeeping and payroll. In addition to serving as the county commissioner for District 3 for the past four years, Baca worked for 21 years in the Valencia County manager’s office, two years in the county clerk’s office, two years in the county treasurer’s office, and two years in the assessor’s office.
“The role of county commissioner encompasses the responsibility of dealing with many important issues in the county, and that requires that a commissioner have a thorough knowledge of those issues and the priorities and needs within the county,” Baca said.
One of her priorities, she said in a press release, is “collaborating with my fellow commissioners on a plan of action that has specific goals and time deadlines for dealing with the major issues facing Valencia County.
“This plan would address all of the current issues facing the present commission, plus work for better roads by working for more co-op agreements with the state, better facilities for senior citizens and adequate funding for law enforcement,” Baca said in the release.
As to economic development, Baca said she would like to work to bring clean industry into the area to boost economic growth while continuing to ensure that the current planning and zoning regulations are enforced. Baca also said that preservation of land and our natural resources are major priorities for her.
“As a mother of two and a grandmother of four, I am aware of the need for youth recreation programs in our county,” Baca said in the release.
That is why, she said, she has worked with local legislators to provide funding for improvements to the existing community centers.
“As parents and grandparents, we often hear the lament of our youth of having no place to go to engage in positive and constructive activities. We all know that this idleness after school or jobs often leads to vandalism and other defacing and destructive acts to both private and public property. By working for additional funding for more productive activities, we not only assist our youth but also upgrade our community as a whole,” she said.
As a former county employee, Baca said, she would like to work towards adequately compensating dedicated county employees who are hard working and who, for the most part, are underpaid. This would be an effort to keep a knowledgeable and trained work force in the county.
Baca, who is retired, said she is able to devote all of her efforts towards serving the citizens of Valencia County and her district.
Baca is a graduate of Belen High School. She is the daughter of Ernesto Padilla of Jarales. She and her husband, Albino, reside in Jarales.
She is the mother of Liz Chavez and Sharon Sanchez and the grandmother of Miguel Chavez, Ricoh Sanchez, Deanne Chavez and Loellah Rodriguez.
The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.
1103
April 18, 2024
