Election Guide: Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District

Position No. 1: At-Large Director 

Stephanie Russo Baca 

Age: 36 

Current occupation (If retired, from what field): Water attorney 

Highest level of education: J.D., UNM School of Law 

Previously held elected office: Currently chairwoman of MRGCD Board of Directors, Position 5, Valencia County 

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.: “No.” 

1. What qualifications/experience do you feel you possess that will enable you to fulfill the elected office responsibilities you seek?

“My background is in agriculture, and I am an irrigator raising livestock on permanent pasture. I have expertise working with local, state, federal and tribal governments. I’m also an attorney specializing in water law and understand the laws impacting the Conservancy. I am currently the chairwoman of the MRGCD board.” 

2. Earlier this year, the MRGCD Board of Directors implemented a 1 mill tax increase. What specific infrastructure projects should be the priorities?

“El Vado Dam rehabilitation. Socorro Main Canal channel lining and lining major canals, including Belen Highline. Feeder 3 pump station, Belen Highline realignment project, Peralta Drain pedestrian bridge, Isleta Drain/ N.M. 147 culvert, low flow conveyance channel, Isleta Dam gate automation, 60 new water measurements structures, turnout upgrades district-wide.” 

3. Local municipalities and the county are working to create a flood authority in Valencia County. What should the district’s role be, if any, to form and participate in such an entity?

“MRGCD offered a support role in Valencia County, as MRGCD can’t statutorily create a county-wide flood authority. MRGCD coordinates with other flood control entities like AMAFCA. MRGCD received NRCS funding for the Belen Watershed Flood Prevention Project and signed an MOU with the city of Belen on flood control measures.”

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Jerome Cordova 

Age: 57 

Current occupation (If retired, from what field): Business owner ADC, Ltd. 

Highest level of education: College degree 

Previously held elected 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. “None.” 

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

“I am a fifth-generation farmer, born in Jarales, N.M. I know the land, the farmers, the ditches, the feeders to the ditches. I’m not only a farmer, I am a business owner and have over 33 years of management experience managing contracts and employees throughout the country.” 

2. Earlier this year, the MRGCD Board of Directors implemented a 1 mill tax increase. What specific infrastructure projects should be the priorities?

“Maintenance of the Highline Canal, dredge all the ditches to allow more water to flow freely through all of them. I feel there has been a huge lack of maintenance on all the MRGCD ditches.” 

3. Local municipalities and the county are working to create a flood authority in Valencia County. What should the district’s role be, if any, to form and participate in such an entity? 

“I feel with support from both the counties and the municipalities, the MRGCD has the infrastructure of current ditches with some improvements, such as concrete lining the main ditches to prevent any erosion allowing the flood waters to flow freely away from the municipalities and residents and into the river.”

Position No. 5: Valencia County Director 

Carol Benavidez 

Age: 53 years old  

Current occupation (If retired, from what field): Retired from MRGCD as a Belen division office manager after over 25 years.   

Highest level of education: Completed four years of juvenile justice degree course.  

Previously held elected 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. No 

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

“I have worked for MRGCD over 25 years. I have in-depth knowledge of MRGCD works. I feel that it is time for me to give back the benefits of my knowledge and experience that I received during my employment at MRGCD. I will protect  and fight for people’s water, water rights and property rights.”  

2. Earlier this year, the MRGCD Board of Directors implemented a 1 mill tax increase. What specific infrastructure projects should be the priorities? 

“The funds received from tax increase should be used for water conservation and irrigation efficiency improvement projects. It should be used for recreational use as well as environmental benefits. Rehabilitating El Vado dam, Corrales siphon and other critical flood control structures are necessary for efficient operation of the MRGCD.”  

3. Local municipalities and the county are working to create a flood authority in Valencia County. What should the district’s role be, if any, to form and participate in such an entity?

“To create a flood control entity in Valencia County is long overdue. The frequent flooding in Valencia County has caused undue hardship to the residents along Belen Highline Canal.   

“MRGCD can play an important role since it owns rights of way and certain infrastructure. The uncontrolled runoff from east and west mesa has created a need for the entity with an appropriate tax base.”

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Kirsten Couevas  

Age: Not given 

Current occupation (If retired, from what field): Regenerative farmer/consultant   

Highest level of education: College  

Previously held elected office: “Never held an elected office…”  

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. “No”  

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

“First and foremost, I am farmer that lives in Valencia County personally as well as consultant for people looking to bring their soil back to be healthy and alive. I have partnered with local SWCD. I have farmed in Socorro, Valencia and Bernalillo counties. Water conservation and federal policy is my main priorities.” 

2. Earlier this year, the MRGCD Board of Directors implemented a 1 mill tax increase. What specific infrastructure projects should be the priorities? 

“Valencia County is the largest of MRGCD area’s. It is also very outdated with lots of issues with the acequias. There are several drains and checks that have temporary fixes that won’t last long with the amount of water that’s being pushed through them. It’s not just one quick fix but rather looking at the worst problems and starting there.” 

3. Local municipalities and the county are working to create a flood authority in Valencia County. What should the district’s role be, if any, to form and participate in such an entity? 

“All of us, from the farmers, tribal, state and the federal entities obviously have investments in this valley. MRGCD should definitely be involved with flood authority to help with knowledge of acequias, canals and the river.”

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Brian Jiron 

Age: 41 

Current occupation (If retired, from what field): Farmer 

Highest level of education: Some college and a five-year apprenticeship program with the Local 412 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union 

Previously held elected 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, I received a DWI in Albuquerque 16-plus years ago.” 

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

“I am a full-time farmer that understands, firsthand, the needs and struggles of farmers in the Middle Rio Grande area. I also worked for and supervised the Pueblo of Isleta Range and Irrigation department for eight years. During my time as the supervisor on the irrigation side, I made it my mission to ensure irrigation ditches were being maintained to increase efficiency.”  

2. Earlier this year, the MRGCD Board of Directors implemented a 1 mill tax increase. What specific infrastructure projects should be the priorities?

“Areas of greatest water loss should be prioritized. We need to be sure we are utilizing our water supply with the upmost efficiency.” 

3. Local municipalities and the county are working to create a flood authority in Valencia County. What should the district’s role be, if any, to form and participate in such an entity?

“I believe that the district and a flood authority should work collaboratively in order to utilize and maintain current infrastructure to mitigate the effects of flood waters, as well as develop plans to best implement flood control and prevention plans.”

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For information on how to vote in this years MRGCD board of directors election, follow this link.