The Albuquerque Journal sent each candidate a questionnaire on the issues of greatest concern to voters. The following are unedited and unabridged responses from Albuquerque Mayoral candidates Tim Keller (the incumbent), Manny Gonzales, and Eddy Aragon to The Journal’s questions.
What specific industries should the city target with economic development incentives?
Tim Keller: Incentives should be targeted toward local small businesses and new industries that provide good wages. In the last three years, we have landed new companies that will create more jobs than we did the last decade by supporting industries such as aerospace, IT services, renewable energy, biohealth, cannabis and film.
What are your economic development strategies for boosting small, local businesses?
Tim Keller: We started the city’s first small business support office, created our own local jobs training program, and re-established the minority and woman owned business center with the Hispano Chamber of Commerce. Now is the time to redouble those efforts through partnerships among nonprofits, micro-lenders, CNM and UNM.
Read more at KeepKeller.com
What specific industries should the city target with economic development incentives?
Manny Gonzales: First and foremost, I will address crime in Albuquerque to attract and support various industries. I will support existing industries such as tourism, scientific laboratories, defense technologies, tourism, arts/entertainment along with amusement and outdoor activities.
What are your economic development strategies for boosting small, local businesses?
Manny Gonzales: The city will undergo a review of all licensing and permitting processes in support of small businesses. Aside from smart utilization of Federal COVID Relief Funds (grants), I will work towards reducing red tape and delays in city services to include permitting.
Read more at MannyForABQ.com
What specific industries should the city target with economic development incentives?
Eddy Aragon: 1. Homebuilders: Acquire land, build neighborhoods, streamline approvals.
2. Industrial commercial real estate developers: We have 0% vacancy. We need industrial space.
3. Doctors: We should provide property tax incentives for relocation of physicians.
4. Entrepreneurs: Students!
5. Closed restaurants: Build them a “cloud kitchen.”
What are your economic development strategies for boosting small, local businesses?
Eddy Aragon: 1. Remove the ART!
2. Remove blight, vagrancy, crime and make this a city where people want to do business.
3. Compete against casinos for attractions, food, visitors and entertainment.
4. Fight shutdowns from state. No essential vs. nonessential.
5. Personally visit small businesses every day in the “city manager cruiser.”
Read more at FightFor505.com
Categories: 2021 ABQ Mayoral Race
The Conservative New Mexican 