District 4 candidates interviewed

The three candidates to serve out the term of District 4 Tucumcari City Commissioner Robert Lumpkin, who died July 17, were interviewed by the four current city commissioners in public Thursday during a commission work session.

Commissioners plan to announce their decision at the Oct. 27 regular commission meeting.

The candidates include Chris Arias, manager of Tucumcari's Dollar General Store; Nicholas Bradfield, a 21-year Navy veteran who is manager of maintenance at Dan C. Trigg Memorial Hospital, and Shannon Lumpkin, a video producer who is Robert Lumpkin's daughter.

Commissioners asked questions from a prepared list to each candidate.

Each was asked about qualifications, why they want to be commissioners, what they hope to accomplish, the role of commissioners, familiarity with budgeting, knowledge of the city's demographics.

Below are questions and responses from each candidate:

Why do you want to be a commissioner?

Arias: I've always wanted to serve people.

Bradfield: I have always wanted to do something to serve people. I have since I was 17. I want to get my voice heard.

Lumpkin: I want to carry out what my father was working on, and I have the experience to do it. I was afraid at first, but now I feel hope.

What are your qualifications?

Arias: Was a student leader at Tucumcari Middle School and Tucumcari High School. Was president of a fraternity at the University of New Mexico. Served as manager of a Walgreens store, currently manager of the Dollar General Store in Tucumcari.

Bradfield: I was a major in management, I did many management jobs in the Navy. I have been a manager in three different departments at the hospital. I know how to set policy.

Lumpkin: I have had so many experiences in my life. Everything I have done relates. It's about being a leader to some extent. I took a class in ambassadorship from (former New Mexico governor Bill) Richardson; I ran the New Mexico office of the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) in college.

What are your biggest concerns about Tucumcari?

Arias: Opportunities. People in the city are looking for opportunities. We don't have many.

Bradfield: The greatest concern is growth. I see a lot of potential, but why isn't the town growing? What should we do to attract youth back? I would like to see the city attract a major distribution center for Walmart, for example.

Lumpkin: Concerns aren't what I have. I see how beautiful our community is, but so many people have hard feelings about it. I see a blank canvas and opportunities. I see communities gentrify when artists move in. I've seen opportunity on a number of levels.

What would you like to accomplish in the first 90 days of becoming a commissioner?

Arias: Get caught up on the various ordinances to be addressed.

Bradfield: Learn exactly what our role would be, where the power ends. Figure out what the problems are and why. If you don't know, figure out who to ask.

Lumpkin: Earn the trust of people engaged in city activities.

Are you familiar with budgets?

Arias: I deal with a large budget at the Dollar General.

Bradfield: I have dealt with large budgets for three departments at the hospital.

Lumpkin: When I was with PIRG, we had to go over budgets constantly. I don't like the process, but it's something we had to do.

What do you see as the role of a city commissioner?

Arias: To serve the people and let them voice their concerns.

Bradfield: To set policy, like a board of governors.

Lumpkin: To serve as a liaison with the people and the government. In Tucumcari, we have 4,000 relationships to manage.

Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield, who serves District 3, asked the candidates what they would do if a citizen came to them with a complaint about the mayor's district.

Arias: Of course I would listen. Commissioners also represent the city as a whole.

Bradfield: I would still have to hear them out.

Lumpkin: I would write down what they have to say and refer it to you.

Are you familiar with the city's demographics?

Arias: Yes. I know we have a wide variety of people. I know the people of this community.

Bradfield: The city seems to be aging. The question is how do we grow and get our youth back.

Lumpkin: I know the city. I can find answers to more specific questions about demographics.

Candidates were asked about the city's nuisance ordinance and what they would do about the collapsed building at Second and Main streets downtown.

Arias: I would seek advice and weigh our options.

Bradfield: We've got to be open and transparent about the issue. We can't do more than that. We can't sugar-coat it.

Lumpkin: I am very familiar with the nuisance ordinance. My dad didn't want to put too much pressure on people who could not afford to clean up. The city shouldn't discriminate. We could get volunteers to work with people to get properties cleaned up. I get sad every time I pass it (the building at Second and Main streets), but there's not much we can do right now. The city should hire a full-time grant writer to find a source of aid

What is your definition of ethics?

Arias: You should have a strong code of ethics and stick to it.

Bradfield: Ethics and integrity go hand in hand. It's about how you're going act in any situation. If you have a good moral compass you will have good ethics.

Lumpkin: Ethics means we agree on boundaries in a very human way. Ethics cannot be written down into law, but we know we have to do it.