Editor’s Note: Antonio “Ike” DeVargas recently threw his hat in the ring for Rio Arriba County Commissioner, District 3, the seat currently held by Moises Morales. DeVargas has been in the news lately in his quest to unseat District 1 Rio Arriba County Commissioner Alex Naranjo with a recall petition for “malfeasance and misfeasance and dereliction of duty.” On March 19 Judge Marie Wood held a hearing in Santa Fe First District Court on whether the recall petition can move forward and will render a decision, hopefully in April.
Here’s what DeVargas posted on Facebook:
If elected the following is my platform goals:
1. To serve one 4 year term and then pass the torch to a younger person, preferably a woman in the mid 40s to mid 50s group in order to provide a gender balance on the board.
2. To explore the feasibility of expanding the board to 5 members in order to give better representation to the citizens of Rio Arriba County. Most New Mexico Counties have 5 members.
3. To make sure all County business is conducted in the open, to provide the transparency that citizens need and deserve to be properly informed.
4. That all major positions ( E.G.) County Manager, are advertised so that the County can hire the most qualified person to do the job for the COUNTY.
5. To review and update the arbitrary, capricious, and antiquated Rio Arriba Solid Waste Ordinance that has resulted in the terrible situation that is the North Central Solid Waste Authority.
6. To review and possibly repeal other Ordinances that have been enacted without the resources to be enforced.These kind of ordinances lead to citizens disrespect for the law and eventually to the disrespect for the law makers as well.
7. I pledge to host town hall community meetings in different locations in the 3rd District in order to hear voters concerns ,criticisms, and recommendations to improve County services.
8. To encourage younger citizens to participate in the political arena of our County and State. They are the future!!
La Jicarita 