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Thursday, May 25, 2006

5 Hopefuls Square Off For Sheriff's Badge

By Beth Hahn
Mountain View Telegraph
    Come November, Torrance County will have a new sheriff for the first time in eight years.
    Because of term limits, current Sheriff Pete Golden cannot run for re-election. A field of five candidates for the post— three Democrats and two Republicans— will be narrowed to two in the June 6 primary election.
    The primary race includes a current Torrance County deputy, two former deputies and a retired U.S. Army counterintelligence officer.
    If candidate Susan Encinias is elected, she would be one of the first, if not the first, female county sheriff in New Mexico, according to the New Mexico Municipal League.
    Each of the candidates was asked the following questions:
    1. Why are you running for Torrance County sheriff?
    2. What is the biggest issue facing Torrance County and how would you address it?
    Their numbered answers below correspond to the question numbers.
    Elwood Gwaltney, a Democratic candidate, did not respond to requests for an interview.
    Republicans
    Susan Encinias
    AGE: 50
    FAMILY: Married, one adult daughter.
    EDUCATION: Estancia High School.
    LAW ENFORCEMENT/WORK EXPERIENCE: 13 years with the Torrance County Sheriff's Department, currently chief deputy. Specialized training in child abuse and child molestation investigation as well as narcotics and methamphetamine investigation. Prior to entering law enforcement, Encinias was a crisis counselor.
    PREVIOUS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None.
    1. "I've worked there for 13 years and I feel that I can continue building the sheriff's department and making it a better place for people. I've always lived here in the Estancia Valley and I feel like it's time to give something back."
    2. "The biggest issue right now is officers out on the street. It's a hard one because I know the county is broke."
    Encinias said she wants to work closely with county commissioners to build the department up to at least 15 deputies.
    Residents should vote for Encinias because of her commitment to TCSD and her proven track record with the department, she said.
    "I think people should vote for me because I have the most experience as an officer in Torrance County."
    Rick Lopez
    AGE: 44
    FAMILY: Married, four adult children, six grandchildren.
    EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in criminology, University of Albuquerque, associate degrees in police science and legal studies.
    LAW ENFORCEMENT/WORK EXPERIENCE: U.S. Army intelligence, Defense Investigation Service Counter Intelligence Agent as a civilian with the Army, former small business owner and manager. Currently a corrections officer for Corrections Corporation of America in Estancia for about four months.
    PREVIOUS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Appointed mayor of Willard in June 2005. City commissioner in Glendale, Ariz., for four years, appointed to the Glendale Budget Committee ($140 million) for three years, served on Arizona's Proposition 203 Board that revamped that state's bilingual education programs, served on the Commission for Neighborhood Improvements in Glendale ($2.5 million budget), experience as grant writer for Willard and in Glendale.
    1. "We have had such success in getting the budget in line and appropriations in Willard and we were able to turn that village around to a positive force.
    "We have such a great group of deputies and we need strong leadership to provide the tools necessary for building the respect back with the community."
    2. "The largest issue that we have are the budgetary constraints. One of the leading causes of the constraints is corrections. I think the (incarcerated people) need to bear the onus of that (cost) for their incarceration.
    "We have a lot of unique challenges and one of those is deputy wages to keep and maintain well-trained deputies. We need to provide sound leadership to keep those deputies."
    Lopez said he wants new deputies to sign a two-year commitment with the department before Torrance pays for their training at the state Law Enforcement Academy.
    "As the sheriff, I'll bring in high moral and ethical standards. I'll also bring in new, innovative ideas for the budget."
    Democrats
    Clarence "Gibb" Gibson
    AGE: 37
    FAMILY: Married, four sons.
    EDUCATION: Moriarty High School, New Mexico Highlands University, UNM and University of Central Oklahoma.
    LAW ENFORCEMENT/WORK EXPERIENCE: Eight years in the U.S. Air Force, nine years in law enforcement in Oklahoma, four years with the Torrance County Sheriff's Department. Currently a sergeant with the Estancia Police Department for about one year.
    PREVIOUS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: None.
    1. "I want to give the law enforcement back to the community. I want the department to be more visible and accessible to the community."
    2. "We have a separation of law enforcement (between the county and the communities) and a lack of unity. We want to work together with all of the departments in the county for a better community for all residents.
    "I also want to educate the residents on the drug problems and work together to eradicate it."
    Gibson said residents should vote for him because he wants to make the department more community-friendly and more accessible to residents.
    "I want residents to be proud of their sheriff's department and know who their deputies are."
    Lawrence Villanueva
    AGE: 40
    FAMILY: Married, four children.
    EDUCATION: Moriarty High School.
    LAW ENFORCEMENT/WORK EXPERIENCE: Two years with Las Vegas (N.M.) Police Department and 12 years in the Torrance County Sheriff's Department including time as chief deputy. Currently a senior deputy with the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department since 2000.
    PREVIOUS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE: Ran as Democratic Party candidate for Torrance County sheriff in 2002. Lost to Republican Pete Golden in the general election.
    1. "I was born and raised here and I want to make a difference for my kids and the kids coming up."
    2. "The biggest issues, I believe, are meth labs and a shortage of law enforcement officers in the sheriff's department. I would take advantage of resources from other agencies like the State Police and Drug Task Forces to address the meth problem.
    "For officers, I would ask the county and the state for more funding so we can get more deputies."
    Villanueva said residents should vote for him because he wants to bring cooperation between area law enforcement agencies to make the area safer for residents.
    "We need to work together with the other law enforcement agencies in the area, like the State Police, to address some of our problems with meth labs."