MONTE VISTA— The four candidates hoping to win a seat on the Monte Vista City Council participated in a meet the candidates night on Monday, Oct. 16. The forum was hosted by the Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce and moderated by Damian Arellano.
There are two open seats up for election and one seat for mayor.
The night began with each candidate giving a short introduction of themselves.
Incumbent Matt Martinez is seeking re-election. Gary Johnson and Victor Sigala are challengers hoping to win both of the open seats. Dale Becker is running for mayor unopposed and is presumed mayor elect.
After the introductions the candidates were asked a series of questions written by community members.

Candidates were first asked what their vision for Monte Vista is.
Martinez
“I want to see the vacant storefronts fill up...I want to see businesses and the community of Monte Vista thrive. I want everyone to contribute and help out. I grew up on Madison Street and remember what it used to be like here. I want to bring in new revenue into the Valley and bring back that which has been lost,” said Martinez.

Becker
“I agree with Matt. We need good businesses to be in the community and contribute to our tax base. We need to work with pride and integrity. We need to encourage businesses to come here. When I first moved here there were no empty buildings on Main Street. We have to work with our blood, sweat and tears to build our community back up,” said Becker.

Sigala
“I’m looking 50 to 70 years in the future. I’m thinking of my children’s children and want to make sure I leave them an inheritance. We need to unite as a community, support each other and shop local,” said Sigala.

Johnson
“I was met with resistance when I proposed the ice rink. We accomplished it. I want to see real growth with active businesses. I counted 19 empty storefronts. There are ways to expand and retain businesses,” said Johnson.

Candidates were next asked what their biggest accomplishment is.
Martinez
“I think the biggest accomplishment while I’ve been on the city council is the re-opening of the Vali 3 Theater. The theater was donated to the city and through in-kind contributions and local volunteers were able to get it up and running and get the necessary upgrades. The theater is the cornerstone of our community. Without it, we lose businesses. It is important that it keeps running, and we stepped up to the challenge,” said Martinez.

Becker
“My biggest accomplishment is raising my kids and serving on the San Luis Valley Fair Board. I see raising kids as an accomplishment and I actually believe through my work on the fair board I helped raise about 150-180 kids. I have also worked with Rio Grande County on the pavilion at the Ski Hi Stampede grounds,” said Becker.

Sigala
“My biggest accomplishment was turning my life around. I was previously involved with gangs and drugs. I’ve seen my friends and family die or go to jail. I gave my life to Christ. If I hadn’t turned my life around I’d probably be in prison. I have a passion for the community. I come from the gutter, and I still see people in the gutter,” said Sigala.

Johnson
“I think my biggest accomplishments are getting the ice rink for the community even meeting resistance. I have personally also worked for some top loan and mortgage companies in the country. I have also been a big part of the Neighborhood Watch which helped to lower crime in the city of Monte Vista. I agree with Dale that raising kids is an accomplishment. I also have personal family experience with people being lost to drugs, and I don’t want to see that happen more in our community,” said Johnson.

Candidates were asked if they would uphold the state constitution and city charter or voter based on their moral beliefs
Martinez
“When I stepped on the yellow footprints in San Diego during my time in the Marine Corps I gave an oath to uphold the constitution of the United States. When I got sworn into council I gave the same oath to the city, the state of Colorado and the United States. There are things I may not agree with but I have to always keep that oath in mind. I also try to think that everything is bigger than me or the five people on council. We have to think how the community will benefit or be affected with certain decisions. I have to remember how my votes will affect people on Washington Street, Jefferson Street and Jackson Street and throughout the entire community. Even though I may disagree I have to make sure I am taking the proper steps,” said Martinez.

Sigala
“I see this like when you’re taking a test. You may want to do it one way but your teacher may tell you to do it another. Even though I may feel in my heart it should be done another way, I don’t want to fail the test,” said Sigala.

Johnson
“I will follow the law. However, I will campaign to change the laws if I believe they are unjust. I will do what I can within my legal limitation. Laws are not permanent,” said Johnson.

Becker
“This is a tough question. I will do what the constitution says. However, that doesn’t mean I will personally compromise my morals. I have a lot of morals. I’m not a yes-man. I will ask that whatever the issue is be proven to me about why it needs to be a certain way,” said Becker.

Candidates were asked their position on the marijuana ballot questions.
Martinez
“We have had this issue for a year. We decided to give the citizens a vote on this. It’s in the hands of the local citizens, the smallest form of government there is. As I’ve said there are situations where I may not agree morally but we have to think about what is best for the community. I think having the community vote is the best option. Unfortunately, we had a person come forward and ask to have a retail marijuana facililty. The council and the planning and zoning commission have worked on ensuring there are proper laws and zones in place to handle it. In Alamosa the council avoided and voted against having an election for three years. As a result, a local citizen finally petitioned it onto the ballot and now the city of Alamosa has very little control over the outcome,” he said.

Becker
“As a gentleman once told me we can ignore the issue but that doesn’t make it go away. I appreciate all the work the current council and planning and zoning commission put into this. I personally will vote no, but it’s now in the hands of the citizens,” said Becker.

Sigala
“It’s in the hands of the citizens. I have witnessed firsthand what marijuana can lead to. As a society we’re now in a situation where there’s so much harder drug use, such as heroin that marijuana doesn’t look that bad. I’m against it and yes, vote to tax it,” said Sigala.

Johnson
“No. We don’t need more drugs in the community. All the work of Neighborhood Watch and all the businesses we have recruited will go down the drain if the city votes in mass to allow a marijuana sales facility. People don’t only move their businesses here but also their families. We want to be known as a family-friendly town not as a drug-friendly town. I will give guidance in that you should vote yes on the question for taxation and no on the question to allow retail sales. It should never have been two questions on the ballot in the first place,” said Johnson.

Martinez rebuttal
Martinez addressed Johnson regarding the city voting to divide the taxation question and retail sales question. “We have researched this deeply. We have sought outside counsel, our own city attorney, information from CIRSA and the law under the taxpayers bill of rights (TABOR). It is clear that under the law, the questions must be separate so that voters understand their taxes may be affected. That is why there are two questions on the ballot,” stated Martinez.

Candidates were asked if they took campaign contributions.
Martinez
“I do not and will not accept campaign contributions. I believe there are many other worthwhile causes in the community that need support. I would much rather citizens donate to causes that are important to them and will help Monte Vista succeed,” he said.

Johnson“No, I have not personally taken campaign contributions,” said Johnson.

Sigala
“I have not personally received any financial contributions,” Sigala responded.

Becker
“I have not personally. I want to make sure I’m being honest, so our committee has. If I could not support myself in this endeavor then I should not be up here,” said Becker. [Becker is referring to the Monte Movement of which Johnson and Sigala are also members.]

Some questions were then asked to specific candidates.
Becker was asked about how he would bridge any divides caused by mud slinging letters to the editor that have appeared in recent editions of the Monte Vista Journal.
“The mudslinging and what has been said should never have happened in the first place. I can work with anybody and I appreciate the work the current council has put in, and I will not take away from that. I will work with anybody including members of the current council or the other gentlemen seated here,” said Becker.
Becker, Johnson and Sigala were asked if they would vote as a bloc beholden to special interests or be independent if elected to the council.

Becker
“I am not a puppet and I am not a yes-man. I am my own individual, as I believe everyone else is. I had support from some people but that does not mean I will be beholden to them. I will ask to prove to me why something should be the way they think it should,” said Becker.

Sigala
“I will do what’s right. I have attended some meetings with the Monte Movement. If I think something is wrong I will say so. It doesn’t matter who is telling me something; if I think something is wrong, even if it’s from my mom and dad, I will not go against what is right,” Sigala said.

Johnson
“I will also vote for what is right. I agree we are each individuals and will do what’s best for the community,” said Johnson.

Closing statements
Each candidate was given the opportunity to give a closing statement to the audience.

Johnson
“You have heard from some people tonight that do not have political experience. We don’t know the reasons behind some things or the excuses. If we are elected we have time to learn between now and January. We want to make visible progress that you can and will see,” Johnson closed.

Sigala
“I have a passion for this community. I want to make sure there’s a future for my kids in Monte Vista. I want to work hard to move Monte forward,” Sigala said.

Martinez
“I am not a wealthy man and I probably never will be. The endeavors I have embarked on were because of a desire I have to serve. They are not to gain wealth or power. My first job out of college I earned $10,000 a year. It was my desire to help veterans that led me be in that position. I am here to represent the entire community of Monte Vista and all of its citizens and not only two or three individuals. I want to give all citizens of Monte Vista a voice,” Martinez stated.