Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
A District 2 representative for Tucumcari City Commission seeking a second term faces a significantly younger opponent in the Nov. 7 election.
Incumbent City Commissioner Paul Villanueva, 53, who is disabled but once worked for the New Mexico Department of Transportation, is being challenged by Jonathan Brito, 32, an administrative assistant for a certified public accounting firm in Tucumcari.
Early voting begins Oct. 10 at the Quay County Courthouse.
District 2 encompasses much of the northeast side of the city, with Route 66 generally as the southern border, Heman Avenue to the north and Monroe Street generally to the west.
The Quay County Sun contacted Villanueva and Brito by phone and gave them same questions. Their answers have been edited for clarity.
What prompted you to run?
Brito: “The thing that prompted me to run is that there is a lot of the abandoned buildings and the roads. There is nothing here for the children. I want to see if I can work on getting something over here for them.” He also mentioned “a lot of the dog problems that we have here.”
Villanueva: “I just want to help my district and the city … the whole city, the community … and try to get our roads done, try to bring more revenue into Tucumcari.”
What are the biggest challenges facing the city?
Brito: “The biggest challenges are, like I said, the abandoned buildings, the roads, the potholes … all the loose animals running around.”
Villanueva: “The main one is our roads need to be totally redone, have better roads for our community. I wish we could get more grocery stores, clothing stores, like we used to have back in my day, you know?”
What are your goals, if elected?
Brito: “My goals are to help with the pothole problem and try to bring different businesses here. Start helping with the events, getting different events here. Pretty much promoting Tucumcari. Route 66 here is a busy highway. And so we need something for people to stop here, spend a couple of nights or the weekend, hopefully a week here. And just to bring in something for them to stay.”
Villanueva: “I like to see our roads done. I like to see our city properly run. Um. And I’d like to see new buildings and stuff coming to Tucumcari and repair the old ones.”
What should residents vote for you?
Brito: “Everyone asks about my age. Age shouldn’t be a problem. I’m 32. I’m single. I have no children. I’m not married. So I have enough time to devote myself to Tucumcari. And I will not let anybody on the commission bully me. Another thing is I’ll never be a yes-man.”
Villanueva: “I’m kind of honest, and I would be glad to fight for our, my district, too. I think I’ve done good so far for them. And God willing, they vote for me again and I could do more better this time than the first four years.”
