SFR wraps up its city council candidate pop quizzes with District 4, where two former councilors are vetting to get back into the game.
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Bill Dimas served on the council from 1984 to 1987 before leaving the body
to work in the city’s police force. Carol Robertson-Lopez served the council from 1998 to 2006 before losing an election to Ron Trujillo. Both are vying for the seat Councilor Matthew Ortiz is vacating.
For an overview of the council candidates in other districts, check out the pop quizzes for District 1, District 2 and District 3. Also check SFR's videos of debates between District 1 candidates and District 3 candidates.
Now back to District 4. The rules: Each candidate has one minute to answer the each question.
Questions
1. What was your biggest accomplishment on city council?
2. What year was ranked choice voting passed by city voters? BONUS: Why hasn't it been implemented yet?
3. True or false, new city condominiums have to be compliant with city zoning laws?
4. If all three GO bond proposals are approved this March, how many construction-related jobs does the city project it will create?
5. What is the most pressing issue facing District 4?
Bill Dimas, 66, former city police officer and Santa Fe County magistrate
1. There were several. I was appointed police commissioner by the mayor and council at the time. It was a liaison between the council and the police department. We changed the promotional system in the police department. Back then it was what I like to call the Good Ole Boys system. The chief would appoint whomever he wanted to appoint into higher ranks. We changed it into an actual tested promotional system.
2. 2008. I don't have any idea why the council hasn't acted on it. I don't think it's even come up with the council.
3. False. I'm aware of that bill. The governor vetoed it last session, but she put it on the call this session.
4. 157.5.
5. Burglaries and crime. This is a real passionate issue with me. Last year 115 arrests made for burglaries. For drug trafficking, there [were] nine arrests made. The root problem for burglaries is drugs. Ninety-five percent of the burglars were drug related. I lost my daughter last year. She died from a blood disease called sepsis, just from dirty needles. My daughter was an addict for many years. We need to start taking these drug traffickers off the streets. I want to work with the district attorney's office. Just like they've implemented all these sentences to DWI, we need to do the same with drug traffickers. If we start doing mandatory minimums, we send a clear message that Santa Fe is not going to be a drug store.
Joseph William Adair j
Carol Robertson-Lopez, 62, retiree from New Mexico Department of Transportation
1. The completion of the south side library, which brought library services in the middle of failed schools and to a part of town that didn't have library services.
2. I don't think it passed. It's never been implemented. I believe there have been problems with the voting machines themselves, the programming and figuring it out. The council did not take the necessary action to implement.
3. I know we had a state law … true. The state law is passing now—as long as they meet all the code requirements. It's been a huge problem and we tried to get county clerk not to enroll [un-zoned condominiums] and she said no.
4. 120. Glad they put [the bonds] out to the voters. If the voters approve them, I'm promising to make sure every penny is spent for the purposes they are created.
5. The economy and economic downturn is the most pressing issue. I would really push for job creation in Santa Fe. By job creation, we have this problem with police officers commuting from Rio Rancho. I want the Community College to create a law enforcement program that would actively recruit people to law enforcement. Other thing is I think we have to be pushing the governor on the cap for film production.
Key
2. 2008. City Clerk says voting machines aren't capable and only the legislature could approve new ones.
3. False. The city clerk is required to sign in new condominiums regardless of whether they meet city zoning law. Sen. Peter Wirth's SB10 would fix this.
4. 157.5
