PrintApr. 19--FARMINGTON -- Candidates for the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission hold distinct views on how they would approach issues facing San Juan County, if elected.
Theresa Becenti-Aguilar, George Galanis, Hank Hughes, Andrew Leo Lopez, Gary J. Montoya and Carol Sloan are seeking the District 4 seat on the regulatory commission. The district's territory includes San Juan County.
The five-member commission regulates utility, telecommunications and insurance industries to ensure fair rates and adequate service to the public.
The commission also is responsible for pipeline safety and registration of corporations in New Mexico.
Five of the candidates are Democrats facing each other in the June 1 primary. Montoya is running unopposed in the Republican primary.
Sloan, the incumbent Democrat seeking re-election, did not return e-mails and telephone messages requesting comment.
She won't be able to seek re-election because earlier this month she was convicted of two felonies, aggravated burglary and aggravated battery, The Associated Press reported.
No one convicted of a felony can be elected to public office, according to state law. Sloan's attorney said he plans to appeal the convictions.
Theresa Becenti-Aguilar
Age: 49
Home: Albuquerque
Education: Attended but did not graduate from New Mexico State University. Becenti-Aguilar earned accounting and paralegal certificates from Santa Fe Business College and University of New Mexico-Los Alamos,
respectively.
Career experience: Executive assistant, New Mexico Attorney General's Office; Constituent services and tribal relations representative in Santa Fe for then-U.S. Rep. Tom Udall; Native American liaison for the Public Regulation Commission.
Political experience: This is Becenti-Aguilar's first time running for elected office.
Website: None
Born and raised in Coyote Canyon on the Navajo Nation, Becenti-Aguilar would scrutinize utility rates if elected to the commission.
"I will take the constituents' concerns first as a priority," she said. "One of the concerns is the new electric rates, utility rates: The way the votes are being cast in Santa Fe, a lot of times, it's not for the best of the people of District 4."
Her experience working with New Mexico tribes as a Udall aide would benefit the commission, she said. She would base her decisions on what voters want.
Becenti-Aguilar would meet with Farmington leaders and would work closely with commission staffers to make her decisions, she said.
She would try to resolve telecommunications problems and water disputes she said occurred in San Juan County.
George J. Galanis
Age: 65
Home: Gallup
Education: High school graduate
Career experience: Owner of American Indian arts and crafts business Galanis Trading Company, restaurant The Ranch Kitchen and wholesale dry goods company G/G Distributing based in Gallup.
Political experience: Served four terms as Gallup's mayor; state House representative for McKinley County; county treasurer; magistrate judge
Website: www.georgegalanis.com
Galanis said he would form a regulatory environment that creates jobs in northwestern New Mexico and supports business.
"We need jobs," he said. "I think that I can bring some balance and some opportunities to the people of the district."
Consumers also need some protection provided by the commission, he said. He would draw on experience he said he gained negotiating with large utility companies.
San Juan County is suffering from a lack of job opportunities, Galanis said.
"I know that the oil fields and the energy is a big issue in Farmington," he said. "I'd like to be a part of solving that problem."
He would listen to locals to see what kinds of solutions he could bring forward.
Hank Hughes
Age: 53
Home: Santa Fe
Education: Master of Engineering in environmental systems, Cornell University
Career experience: Environmental researcher, Cornell University; executive director, homeless shelter St. Elizabeth's Shelter; executive director New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness
Political experience: Lobbyist for homeless programs
Website: www.hankforprc.com
Hughes said he would encourage the development of renewable energy if elected to the commission.
Renewable energy would help lessen climate change and enable New Mexico to sell power generated by it to other states, he said.
Hughes would take steps to develop solar and wind energy in San Juan County.
"I know that air pollution is a problem in San Juan County, which also is affected by the coal plants there," he said. "Switching to renewable sources would help that problem."
He wants to ensure fair prices for consumers of propane, which is subject to frequent and unfair cost fluctuations, he said.
He would push ethics reform to make the commission function as a watchdog for consumers.
"I would want to institute some ethical standards at the agency for the commissioners, as well as for the staff," he said.
Andrew Leo Lopez
Age: 62
Home: South Valley
Education: University of New Mexico graduate; Master of Business Administration, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Career experience: Certified Public Accountant
Political experience: Two-time commission candidate; lobbyist
Website: www.commissionerlopez.com
Lopez would push for the construction of Desert Rock Power Plant on the Navajo Nation if elected, he said.
"I think the payrolls are necessary and the power production is necessary, and I think the income to the Navajo Nation is necessary," he said.
Carbon dioxide emitted by the coal-fired plant could be adequately limited, he said.
The costly oil and gas pit rule needs "serious rethinking," he said. The commission could address the rule by regulating trucks that haul material from well sites.
Lopez believes his educational background qualifies him for the District 4 commission seat because the commission deals with complex issues.
"It's a job that matches my experience and education and profession like no other in politics," he said.
Gary J. Montoya
Age: 47
Home: Shiprock
Education: Attended but did not graduate from Western New Mexico University and San Juan College.
Career experience: Oil field inspector, BHP Billiton staffer, Home Depot employee, maintenance worker for Central Consolidated School District.
Political experience: This is Montoya's first bid for elected office.
Website: None
Montoya would aid businesses to help them create jobs if elected, he said.
Poverty and high unemployment on the Navajo Nation concern him.
"I grew up in it, I see it every day," Montoya said. "It's something that I want to try to make an effective difference in."
Besides the high unemployment rate, the most pressing issue facing San Juan County, Montoya believes the commission should address regulations that burden power plants in the county.
The county could needs "more efficient and effective energy," which could include solar and wind power, he said.
His experience working in the energy industry and with people of different cultures qualifies him for the commission seat, he said.
Montoya once served as a volunteer firefighter in Shiprock. That would help him fulfill the commission's task regulating the State Fire Marshal's Division.
Steve Lynn: slynn@daily-times.com
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