Nicholas T. Baca
Age: 32
Current occupation (If retired, from what field): Farmer, chief strategy officer of a local business, and entrepreneur
Highest level of education: High school graduate
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.”
- What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?
“As a farmer, homesteader and entrepreneur, I am called by my deep faith in God to serve our community. My business experience and first-hand knowledge of the issues local farmers are facing will bring the perspective of young farmers to the board. I’m eager to educate people about the district’s amazing resources.”
- What are the most important challenges facing the district, and how do you propose to address them?
“Many small farms struggle to keep farming in their families. If they knew about the district, they could benefit from programs to improve their management of soil and water resources, which could increase their revenue. With the district’s small staff, outreach capacity is limited. I hope to increase district capacity.”
- 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?
“Heavy rainfall breached the Highland Canal three times, causing devastating floods in Belen, in part because that ditch was not designed for flood management. I believe that if the district joins the flood authority, it will bring important technical know-how to mitigate the risk of loss from future floods.”
Abel Camarena (I)
Age: 73
Current occupation (If retired, from what field): Retired from USDA Forest Service, Albuquerque.
Highest level of education: Bachelor of Science, Wildlife Management major with minor in Natural Resources Management.
Previously held elected office: Have served for 15 years on the Valencia Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or felony offenses in New Mexico or any other state? If so, explain. “No.”
- What is your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?
“I completed a 34 year federal career managing natural resources on National Forests in California, Oregon and New Mexico. I effectively managed organizations involving multiple-million dollar budgets and thousands of employees, including, organizing the Department of Natural Resources on the Pueblo of Isleta.”
- What are the most important challenges facing the district, and how do you propose to address them?
“Developing capacity to protect and conserve agricultural lands, soil health, water quality and quantity, wildlife habitat, bosque areas, and providing conservation education for schools and communities. I would continue seeking community supported mil levy funding as well as grants from state, federal and non-profits.”
- 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?
“The district would be a partner in this effort, facilitating and hosting workshops to focus community, tribal and agency stakeholders in creating the flood authority. Effectively mitigating storm water runoff from adjoining Middle Rio Grande river uplands is critical to preventing damaging community infrastructure and property losses.”
Duana Draszkiewicz (I)
Age: 74
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 elected office: Valencia Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors (since February 2021), treasurer
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.”
- What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?
“My nearly three years on our district’s board, experience on the county’s planning and zoning commission, business background, and education are my qualifications. I serve on the district’s leadership team, volunteer at Whitfield weekly, and as district treasurer, I have helped keep our finances sound and in the black.”
- What are the most important challenges facing the district, and how do you propose to address them?
“As water becomes scarcer, private property, public lands, including the bosque and our Whitfield conservation lands of some 300 acres are at increased risk for future wildfire. I plan to increase our outreach and education about how water conservation and healthy soils can help us plan for water scarcity.”
- 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?
“Our district’s mission invites participation in the flood authority. Healthy soils teeming with living organisms are water reservoirs. When heavy rain falls on healthy soils, there is less run-off because water seeps into the soil, becomes available for plants and organisms and then eventually finds its way to recharging groundwater.”
James R. Fischer
Age: 66
Current occupation (If retired, from what field): Retired electrical engineer, retired building inspector
Highest level of education: Degree in electrical engineering, degree in construction/building inspection.
Previously held elected office: No elected offices
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.”
- What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?
“Landowner with livestock, grew up on a ranch with over 50 head of horses, along with other livestock.”
- What are the most important challenges facing the district, and how do you propose to address them?
“I know how important water and resources are to the farmers, ranchers and the average citizen. I hope to be able to work with these constituents to help them get the resources they need to care for their land, animals, and basic needs in order to reach their goals. My mission is to help everyone large and small complete any and all tasks set before them requiring help from the soil and water agency.”
- 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?
“Ensure that municipalities and districts work together to reinforce the levees and ditches to ensure that flood insurance is minimized for average citizens.”
David L. Neff
Age: 54
Current occupation (If retired, from what field): Army; Battalion administration and Brigade Postal Operations
Highest level of education: Associate
Previously held elected office: No
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, arrested; no conviction.”
- What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?
“Formal training in accounting, freelance naturalist, decades of study in natural habitats: Catalina, Mojave, Orange County, Calif.; before suburbia. Our own personal hobby farm here in the bosque. My patience to read and analyze long boring reports, then thumbnail it for the audience.”
- What are the most important challenges facing the district, and how do you propose to address them?
“Spending; let’s run it like a business. What are the current agreements, obligations, responsibilities, projections; revenue and expenditures. Fire as a tool of habitat preservation and hazard mitigation, create a plan of management so we don’t have another Big Hole fire.”
- 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?
“Review the study of the 1969 flood, released in 1980. Follow the recommendations and maintain the levy system built in the 1980s. Neglect does not equate to preservation. Significant precipitation events are going to happen. It is cheaper to be ready on the frontend, than to panic after the fact.”
Pamela M. Cordova
Age: 66
Current occupation (if retired, from what field): Retired educator
Highest level of education: MA organizational management
Previously held elected office: None
Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor, or any felony offenses in New Mexico or any other state? If so, explain. “No.”
- What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?
“My master’s degree in organizational management, experience as an educator, and early life on a farm led the district to unanimously appoint me to serve on the board this year. I also was inspired by my mother, Kandy Cordova, to focus on restoring Whitfield after the Big Hole Fire.”
- What are the most important challenges facing the district, and how do you propose to address them?
“Climate challenges and restoring Whitfield. Projections for New Mexico include increased temperature, aridity and wildfire, with drought and flood events. The district has a role in facilitating understanding and assessing strategies to confront these challenges. I’ll help the district implement climate-informed resource management as we work to restore Whitfield, resiliently.”
- 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?
“District participation in a flood authority could foster broader collaboration with our many partners, while providing technical expertise on water and soil conservation that can mitigate flood risk. Because our district includes the Pueblos of Laguna and Isleta, we can help bring their voices to the table, as well.”
Gail D. Goodman, Ed.D. (I)
Age: 80
Current occupation (If retired, from what field): Retired educator
Highest level of education: Doctor of education
Previously held elected office: Supervisor, Seat 5, VSWCD
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.”
- What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?
“Having served four years as a supervisor, preparing for and attending every meeting except two, numerous district events, conferences, workshops, I’ve learned a tremendous amount. This has expanded my knowledge and provided many ideas to broaden the vision, reach and value of the district for people, wildlife, and conservation.”
- What are the most important challenges facing the district, and how do you propose to address them?
“The VSWCD owns 297 acres of magnificent bosque land donated to enhance the presence of wildlife and native vegetation. 1. Encourage all ages to experience the transformative impact of nature. 2. Make practical application of research by experts, staff and volunteers. 3. Spend wisely on education, projects, and properties.”
- 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?
“The MRGCD, the NRCS, Valencia County working with flood control specialists can address all flooding issues. Another permanent bureaucracy, another mil-levy is absolutely unnecessary. The Belen flood prevention project has already begun. Its scope can be expanded to cover the entire flood-prone area.”
Important dates
Tuesday, Oct. 10
- Voter registration closes for all mail and online registrations.
New Mexico does offer same-day registration, so eligible voter can register to vote or update their voter registration and then vote on the same day at the county clerk’s office, at all early voting locations and any voter convenience center on Election Day. SDR cannot be used for absentee voting; it is only available for voters voting in person, on the same day they register or update their registration.
To use SDR bring one of the three following:
- New Mexico driver’s license or New Mexico identification card issued through the motor vehicle division of the taxation and revenue department
- Any document that contains an address in the county together with a photo ID card
- A current valid student photo ID card from a post-secondary educational institution in New Mexico, accompanied by a current student fee statement that contains the student’s address in the county.
- Absentee by mail/early in-person voting begins.
To request an absentee ballot application, go to portal.sos.state.nm.us, or call the Valencia County Clerk’s Bureau of Elections at 505-866-2080. Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, Oct. 24, either by mail or in person at the clerk’s office, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Absentee ballots must be completed and returned by 7 p.m., Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7.
Ballots can be returned by mail, in person at the clerk’s office, at any of the early voting locations, at one of the Voter Convenience Centers on Election Day or in one of the following three secure ballot dropboxes in the county until 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Ballot dropbox locations
- Belen Community Center
305 Eagle Lane, Belen
- Bosque Farms Public Library
1455 W. Bosque Loop, Bosque Farms
- Valencia County Administration Offices
444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas
Early in-person voting
Early in-person voting will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, from Tuesday, Oct. 10, through Tuesday, Oct. 24, at the Valencia County Administration Building, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas.
Saturday, Oct. 21
- Alternate early voting begins
Early voting at alternate voting sites begins on Saturday, Oct. 21, and runs through Saturday, Nov. 4. The three sites are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
- Belen Community Center
305 Eagle Lane, Belen
- Bosque Farms Public Library
1455 W. Bosque Loop, Bosque Farms
- Valencia County Administration Offices
444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas
Voter Convenience Centers
7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7
- Ann Parish Elementary School
112 Meadow Lake Road, Meadow Lake
- Belen Community Center
305 Eagle Lane, Belen
- Belen Public Library
333 Becker Ave., Belen
- Bosque Farms Public Library
1455 W. Bosque Loop, Bosque Farms
- Daniel Fernandez Intermediate School
32 Sun Valley Road, Los Lunas
- Del Rio Senior Center
351 Rio Communities Blvd., Rio Communities
- Don Jose Dolores Cordova Cultural Center
426 Jarales Road, Jarales
- El Cerro Mission Community Center
309 El Cerro Mission Road, El Cerro Mission
- Logsdon Hall
19676 N.M. 314, Los Chavez
- Los Lunas Schools Administration
119 Luna Ave., Los Lunas
- Peralta Town Hall
90A Molina Road, Peralta
- Pueblo of Isleta Veterans Center
4001 N.M. 314, Isleta
- Tomé Dominguez de Mendoza Community Center
2933 N.M. 47, Tomé
- UNM-Valencia Workforce Training Center
1020 Huning Ranch East Loop SW, Los Lunas
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.
493
May 2, 2024
