LAS CRUCES – The candidates for the Las Cruces 2021 City Council elections spoke on Sunday about their ideas for increased public engagement in local government, including smartphone apps, more convenient meeting times and increasing confidence in the elections.
The comments came at the end of a two-hour forum held on Sunday, October 17 at the Temple Beth-El Synagogue, featuring candidates from the three races that were up for election that November – Districts 3, 5 and 6. District 5 candidate Ronnie Sisneros was the only candidate who was absent.
After discussing the issues of economic development, homelessness, mental health and water conservation, the forum’s moderator, Ned Rubin, chair of the Temple Beth-El Social Action and Adult Education Committee, urged candidates to close the event by speaking about it thought about how civic engagement can be fostered participation.
Robert Paquette, who competes in the District 5 race, said he would campaign if he was elected to develop a smartphone app that could measure public opinion on the city’s proposals and problems through polls. Paquette has run marketing companies and has an IT background.
“Over time, technology has increased, which has separated us as a community, even if it sounds like it brings us together,” said Paquette. He added that the app would only be available to registered voters, increasing voter rolls and further encouraging residents to get involved with democracy.
“Think of the tool the council will have in their hands if you could see after a question, Mr. Alderman, what your constituents are all thinking,” Paquette said, gesturing to incumbent councilor Yvonne Flores, who is re-elected in District 6 wants to make it easier to make a wise decision to represent the people? “
District 6 challenger William Beerman, a certified internal auditor and former journalist, praised Paquette’s app idea. Beerman continued to criticize the containment of public commentary at the Las Cruces city council and school committee meetings. The city council’s public contribution was reduced in August from 7 minutes per person to 3 minutes for items that are not on the agenda.
“They have gone from thinking that they are our elected representatives to thinking that they are our bosses,” Beerman said.
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Flores said civics can increase participation, but civics needs to be taught to children. District 3 candidate Bev Courtney agreed.
Courtney, a Conservative Christian who is running for the seat for the third time, also said many people no longer trust the election results by citing conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and questioning the ranked election. She said there needs to be more certainty in the vote.
“People get discouraged when they think their vote doesn’t count,” Courtney said.
District 3 candidate Becki Graham, a program manager at Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University, suggested that the city council try to hold meetings at different times to allow for more participation. Meetings and working sessions mostly take place on Mondays from 1:00 p.m. in the middle of the working day.
Graham also said that she believes the ability to get a ballot in advance or to vote is imperative to ensure that as many eligible Americans as possible have access to the vote.
The record turnout in the 2020 election “made me realize how many more people would get involved and hear their voices if this accessibility continued,” said Graham.
Becky Corran, professor of public health and former chairwoman of the Senate of the NMSU faculty in District 5, said councilors should seek to bring underrepresented and marginalized votes to decisions to show them the power of their votes.
District 5 candidate David Telford and District 3 candidate Greg Shervanick did not have a chance to respond because time was running out.
Early voting in local elections will run until October 30th at the Doña Ana County Government Center in Las Cruces and elsewhere for early voting until October 30th. Postal voting documents can also be requested by October 28th. Election day is November 2nd.
The races for districts 3 and 5 are decided by ranking list choice voting.
Michael McDevitt is the city and county government reporter for Sun News. He can be reached at 575-202-3205, [email protected] or @MikeMcDTweets on Twitter.
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