Audio Files: 

Part 1:   Introduction and Mayoral Candidates Segment

Part 2:   Introduction and Village Councilor Segment

Part 3:   Questions from the audience and closing announcements.

The Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce - Candidate Information

Note: Additional interviews are being conducted by "Harvey T." on "The Morning Show," on
           KEDU Radio.   The Morning Show Website

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CANDIDATE’S FORUM
February 16, 2010 

FORUM QUESTIONS

 These questions were accumulated from the general public and then consolidated and organized by an anonymous volunteer group consisting of business people and residents of Ruidoso.  The questions were intended to be open-ended addressing the issues currently facing Ruidoso.

MAYOR

 1.  Over the past months, the issue of the relocation of the license for Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino to Las Cruces has been top-of-mind to all residents of Lincoln County. If the residents of Lincoln County vote against the Business Retention GRT Tax, what do you plan to do to offset the potential loss of the racetrack with relation not only to economic diversity but legal means?

2.  What past experience qualifies you to lead a tourism community like Ruidoso that is dependent upon small business?

3.  Are you a supporter for tourism and if not what other economic industries do you intent to implement to maintain economic stability?

4.      What is your opinion of the proposed update to the Comprehensive Plan? What aspects do you feel are important and what is it lacking?

5.      How would you recruit and appoint for committees and commissions, such as Planning & Zoning and the Convention Center Taskforce, to ensure proper qualifications and diversification of ideals?

 COUNCIL

1.  Over the past months, the issue of the relocation of the license for Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino to Las Cruces has been top-of-mind to all residents of Lincoln County. If the County GRT Tax fails, what do you plan to do to offset the potential loss of the racetrack with relation not only to economic diversity but legal means?

2.  The current council has enacted a waste water fee that is differentiated for commercial versus residential.  What is your stance for taxing the small business to pay for a majority of services?

3.      What initiatives do you plan to bring to the table to grow the economy, and address our current industries including tourism, the retirement community, real estate, community rec center, education, and other areas?

4.      Ruidoso has undeveloped areas such as Moon Mountain and Rio Ruidoso that is currently a pristine green space, wild life habitat and water shed.  Do you feel we should keep these areas pristine?  If so, how will you keep them from being a constant target for development? If not, what do you feel should be done with them and why?

5.      We spend a lot of money on professional help, often multiple consultants from outside our community. How would you make sure our money is spent wisely and efficiently while maintaining the state legal requirements?

6.      How do you propose to deal with the significant infrastructure and procedural problems facing the Village, such as the status of the Grindstone dam,  the future of the sewer lines laying in the Rio Ruidoso riverbed, the continuing issue of a reliable water source, and emergency procedures, to name a few?

7.      What is your view and ideas for improvement of quality of life issues facing Ruidoso, such as light & noise pollution, park development, and facilities for residents of all ages?

8.      How do you plan to address consistency, adherence and procedural issues relating to  Planning &Zoning?

9.      What does affordable housing mean to you and how do you propose we move forward to enable students, the working class, and seniors to afford to live within the village limits?