4 Rio Rancho Journal Saturday, May 28, 2011

Candidate Q & A
Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Candidates for the at-large position
1. Do you agree with the board’s decision to reduce the number 2. What are some steps the district can take to deal with supply
of polling locations for this election? Were the chosen polling versus demand?
places in appropriate locations? 3. How can the organization improve efficiency of water delivery
and management of the district?
4. The district’s most important tasks are delivering water and
maintaining the ditches and levees. Should it expand its services
to provide more recreational activities and more environmental
stewardship? If so, how and why? If not, why?

Eugene Abeita MAJOR PERSONAL

ACCOMPLISHMENT: Gained
POLITICAL PARTY: Republican confidence of pueblo and non-
PLACE OF pueblo members within the
RESIDENCE: MRGCD by providing fair and
Isleta Pueblo equitable services.
AGE: 61 1. Personally, I believe
that the people have a
EDUCATION:
fundamental right to vote and
B.S. New
the polling places should be
Mexico State
conveniently located where
University
people have been voting in
OCCUPATION:
the past. The new (voting
Farmer
ABEITA centers) strategically located
FAMILY: Two
in MRGCD make it easier for
sons and one daughter
a voter to vote and saves
POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT taxpayers unnecessary election
expenses.
EXPERIENCE: Middle Rio
Grande Conservancy District 2. The district is currently
board of directors vice chairman, being managed as a demand-
served since June 2007
based system even though
MAJOR PROFESSIONAL water supply is limited. In
ACCOMPLISHMENT: Played order to meet demand, the
an important role in bringing supply should be carefully
managed. New management
certain MRGCD works into
tools, such as rotational and
the 21st century (state of the
scheduled water delivery
art metering and measuring
considering soil/moisture,
devices.)
temperature, humidity, ET
(evapotranspiration) and other
data should be utilized.
3. The MRGCD has taken
several steps to improve the
efficiency of water delivery.
The scheduled water deliveries
with strict rotational practice
conserve water and efficiently
transport to the places
where there is demand.
The communication among
ditch riders is important and
essential for the delivery of
the water. Water conservation
techniques should be utilized.
4. The three-quarter-century-
old MRGCD must consider
and receive credits for the
side benefits it provides to its
urban and rural communities.
The irrigation, drainage and
levees provide recreational
and environmental benefits. I
believe the MRGCD facilities
should be utilized for multi-
purposes while not destroying
the natural landscape.
John Avila MAJOR PROFESSIONAL
ACCOMPLISHMENT: Serving
their sale, partnering with
communities to improve
POLITICAL PARTY: the residents of Corrales conveyance and management
Independent and Las Vegas. In Las Vegas of system, supporting
PLACE OF we reduced the safety risk local food production and
RESIDENCE: incidents by 50 percent to conservation easements, etc.
Albuquerque protect people and reduce
3. Stop waste that over four
AGE: 47 losses.
years paid 10 percent of
MAJOR PERSONAL
EDUCATION: revenues to consultants and
ACCOMPLISHMENT: Raising
BBA 20 percent deficit spending.
my six younger siblings ages
International This will protect our tax dollars,
6-13 from age 14 following the
Management which should be used to
death of my father.
Anderson improve facilities, irrigation
School of AVILA 1. The biggest detriment is and champion water rights.
Management a lack of public information
Millennia-old technology must
University of New Mexico, 1988 and actual effort to have voter
be improved for better water
OCCUPATION: Presently village participation above 5 percent.
management.
administrator for Corrales; More polling places for early
4. Yes. However, expanding
city manager for Las Vegas, voting does very little to call
recreational/environmental
N.M., for three years, private out the voters. Informing them
roles would require a big
sector administration 15 years of the MRGCD election in
departure from business
primarily with Citicorp. conjunction with tax bill would
be an inexpensive step toward as usual. The board must
FAMILY: Wife Nira Avila and
voter education. interact with communities and
five children.
2. MRGCD’s priority must respond to their specific needs,
POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT remain water on the land; by gaining community support,
EXPERIENCE: Five years of protecting rights and delivery, appropriate joint projects with
municipal management. No encouraging beneficial use of other entities in the district will
political experience. water rights and discouraging benefit the taxpayer.

Bill Turner consulting hydrologist for more

than 40 years. I have been
2005-2009; Governor’s Blue
Ribbon Task Force on Water,
the former good old boy network
at the district. Significantly
illegal.
1. I tried to implement
water rights.
3. Enforcement of water cut off
POLITICAL PARTY: Republican employed as chief hydrologist Creator and Member, 1997- curtailed the power of (CEO and paperless voting while I was to people who own no water
PLACE OF by Hydrotechnics, American 2003; New Mexico Natural chief engineer) Subhas Shah on the board. I agree with rights. Ditch maintenance.
RESIDENCE: Ground Water Consultants, Resources Trustee, 1997-2003. and spurred positive changes it. It appears that the actual Engagement of a consulting
Albuquerque AGW Consultants, Radon MAJOR PROFESSIONAL the district’s WaterBank polling locations may weigh
leasing program. Established professional engineer and a
AGE: 71 Measurement and Control, ACCOMPLISHMENT: U.S. the election in favor of some
communications with genuine general manager. Strict
Genesis Resources (oil and gas Geological Survey, Superior candidates.
EDUCATION: neighborhood associations. scheduling of delivery even if in
B.S. Geology, development and production), Service Award; U.S. Geological 2. Our problems are bad
Petrogram Services (oil and gas Uncovered time card fraud the middle of the night.
Rensselaer Survey, Incentive Award; management by the state
leasing), Manzano Resources in the Belen Division of the 4. Recreational activities have
Polytechnic Pennsylvania State University, engineer. The elimination of
(land development); Turner MRGCD. Established the always and do exist within the
Institute, Centennial Fellow Award; the MRGCD Water Bank will
Environmental (environmental Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task MRGCD. However, provision of
1961, M.S. Honorary Membership in Force on Water under Gary help significantly. The MRGCD
TURNER services, WaterBank (water the Cyprus Association recreational opportunities is
B.S. Geology, Johnson. Heightened the leases water it does not have
Minor aqueous rights consulting, brokerage and of Geologists and Mining or, in some cases, have any not within the mission of the
debate over evaporative loss
geochemistry, Pennsylvania development) Engineers. Establishment of color of title. This deprives MRGCD. However, I do support
of water from state reservoirs
State University, 1965; Ph.D. FAMILY: Wife Regina Turner, legal principal that water rights and the mismanagement of the others of water they are entitled additional recreational activities
Geology, Minor Hydrology, three sons. cannot be acquired through water resources by the state to. Failure of the administration and that part of our taxes that
University of New Mexico, 1971. POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT adverse possession. engineer. Proved in Court that to terminate delivery to people goes to open space should
OCCUPATION: From 1971 EXPERIENCE: Middle Rio MAJOR PERSONAL there is no permit for the Rio who have sold their water rights be used for that purpose with
to present, I have been a Grande Conservancy District, ACCOMPLISHMENT: Eliminated Grande Project and that it is but without valid replacement support from the MRGCD.

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