Joseph Lessard says he’s got the diversity of experience to head up the government of New Mexico’s most populous county.
Cindy Chavez says her leadership record presents her as the ideal candidate.
Marcos Gonzales says he’s invested in Bernalillo County’s future success and is familiar with the challenges facing it.
One of them will be the next county manager, replacing Julie Morgas Baca, who retires at the end of the month.
Meet the finalists
The three finalists presented their cases for the job and answered questions from the Bernalillo County Commission at a forum Tuesday.
Gonzales, the county’s executive development officer, touted the work he has done in that position and others he’s held since joining the county 12 years ago.
If chosen, he said, he’ll move to make Bernalillo County a model that other local governments will want to emulate. He said he’ll take strategies that have been successful in economic development and apply them across the entire county government, and regularly check on what is and what isn’t working.
Gonzales also said he’ll build partnerships with both the public and private sectors to help position the county to take advantage of new opportunities. Doing so, he said, will require road, broadband and water improvements, among other tools.
Lessard, most recently the city manager of Ashland, Oregon, spoke about his experience in government and the private sector that he said makes him a well-rounded candidate.
He spoke of working in public works, economic development, habitat planning and other fields.
Lessard said he’s been able to build consensus among city councils despite sometimes having to accommodate two sides that appeared to be diametrically opposed.
Chavez sits on the Santa Clara County (California) Board of Supervisors and chairs the board of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. She spoke of her work in the labor movement and a think tank focused on improving the lives of working families.
She said her term ends in December and she’s looking to make a transition and put her skills to use for a new community. She said that while Santa Clara County — home of Silicon Valley — has a reputation for being wealthy, the area is actually marked by significant ethnic and economic diversity, which are also present here.
Key issues
Commissioners asked questions about balancing the county’s need for new jobs and protecting its natural resources, labor relations and serving rural and urban residents alike.
Chavez said she represents a supervisor district that includes city and forest dwellers and has been able to address the needs of each.
Gonzales said it’s important to be fair to the county’s employees while also being a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars.
Lessard said natural resources are actually an economic development tool, as their presence serves as a magnet for the quality employees companies need.
During public comment, several people urged the commission to choose Gonzales or the Alamogordo-born Chavez. Others said they felt any of the three would be a satisfactory choice.
Chavez was touted for her vision, compassion and selflessness, while supporters of Gonzales spoke of his problem-solving skills and expertise.
Lessard, meanwhile, joked that he was disappointed his “busloads of supporters” failed to appear.
Each of the finalists said the commission asked great questions and the community participation was impressive.
Commissioners have said they hope to pick a new manager by June 30. The forum took place shortly after a special meeting at which they reaffirmed their selection process to rectify prior Open Meetings Act’s violations related to choosing a search committee.
Read about that meeting here.
After a candidate is chosen, contract negotiations with the manager-designate will follow. The commission can appoint an interim county manager until those negotiations are complete.