City candidates share backgrounds, motivations

Jan. 13—Clovis' mayor's position and four city commission seats will be contested when voters go to the polls on March 5.

Thirteen city residents signed up Tuesday for six positions on the ballot.

All positions are for four years except the seat Debbie Zamora currently holds in District 3. Zamora was appointed to fill the seat vacated by David Bryant and that position is for two years.

Early voting begins Feb. 6.

We asked each candidate for their background and "Why do you want this job?" Their responses follow:

Mayor

Mike Morris

Q: Tell us about yourself.

A: I am a Christian, conservative business owner and family man. My wife Sara and I have two children, 19 and 16. I own and operate an insurance agency and Sara is a school teacher. When we arrived in Clovis 18 years ago, we fell in love with the Clovis and Cannon Air Force Base community. Since then, we've always tried to serve well as productive citizens. Looking back, now, it seems that coaching, volunteering in booster clubs, serving in civic clubs, etc., led me to the office of mayor in 2020. I have just kept saying "yes" to this community.

Q: Why do you want this job?

A: Love of the Clovis and Cannon AFB community motivates me to continue serving as mayor! We have accomplished much in the last four years, taking big steps toward the vision that I know people in Clovis share with me: A growing, vibrant Clovis that affords everyone the opportunity to succeed! Infrastructure investment, economic development and job creation, and quality of life are all improved. With the experience and success of my first term, I am in the best position to lead as we keep moving Clovis forward.

Misty Marie Bertrand

Q: Tell us about yourself.

A: My name will be Misty Marie Bertrand on your ballot for mayor of Clovis. I grew up in Clovis and raised my two kids here. I work for a local nonprofit.

Q: Why do you want this job?

A: I want this job because I will bring a new energy to Clovis. I'm looking forward to listening to the city employees and the community and addressing their concerns. I want my kids to want to come back to Clovis after college.

District 1

George Jones

Q: Tell us about yourself.

A: I'm retired military. My wife, Dawn, our daughter and I arrived in town in 2004.

We both retired in 2013.

I work on a job at Cannon Air Force Base.

Q: Why do you want this job?

A: I feel a need to continue to serve and I feel I still have more to do, more to accomplish as a city commissioner — continue economic development, continue to work on the mental health facility, medical availability and getting our first responders what they need.

District 2

Victoria Robledo

Q: Tell us about yourself.

A: I am 25-year-old resident of Clovis.

I come from a military family. My husband, Richard, was in the Marines and we decided to plant our roots here when he finished his contract.

I have two boys, my youngest was born here.

I serve as the volunteer coordinator for a non-profit, Eastern New Mexico Rising.

Q: Why do you want this job?

A: I believe that youth should be involved in politics.

A lot of the decisions being made directly affect our future and we should have a say in that.

I want to create positive change for our community and challenge the status quo.

I don't have the solutions to everything, but I want to rely on community input.

Gail Tarson

Q: Tell us about yourself.

A: I am a conservative local small business owner, committed to the betterment of our community.

I've been an actively engaged citizen since choosing Clovis as my home.

I volunteer on multiple city boards, civic and non-profit organizations.

My actions demonstrate my commitment.

I am a happily married woman with a wonderful husband and two grown and successful sons.

Q: Why do you want this job?

A: I love our community and the people who live here.

The Clovis brand "heartfelt connections and endless horizons" perfectly captures Clovis.

I have a positive nature and look for ways to better anything with which I become involved.

A seat on the city commission is the next right step.

District 3

(Two-year term)

Doug Pettigrew

Q: Tell us about yourself.

A: I am from the state of Maine and was stationed at Cannon Air Force Base from 1970 to 1973.

After my discharge I decided to stay in Clovis.

I worked 40 years as a director of internal auditing for Allsup's Convenience Stores, retiring in 2017.

I am married and we have five kids.

Q: Why do you want this job?

A: We need to improve the Cannon personnel's quality of life.

We need more doctors, which would benefit Cannon as well as Clovis residents.

In addition, we have a stray dog issue in the city.

We also have an issue of too many abandoned homes and buildings causing a multitude of problems.

Debbie Zamora

Q: Tell us about yourself.

A: I am currently the appointed commissioner for District 3.

I was born and raised here in Clovis. I've been married to Martin Zamora for 43 years, and have raised two daughters, and six grandchildren in this wonderful community which we call home.

Q: Why do you want this job?

A: I have witnessed the importance of being involved in serving the people of our community. As a commissioner, we must be willing to fight back the overreach of state government. We must do all we can to keep growing our economy. Issues that I would like to address: More youth programs, less crime, and better quality of living.

District 3

(Four-year term)

Helen Casaus

Q: Tell us about yourself.

A: I am a long-term resident of Clovis. I was a nurse for 45 years. I retired and went into politics and I've enjoyed every minute of it. I have three children, my daughter lives in Dallas and my two sons live here. I have several grandchildren and great grandchildren. I stay very busy and do a lot of volunteer work and I just do everything I can for the community.

Q: Why do you want this job?

A: I feel like there's still a lot of things that I would like to accomplish in District 3. I not only work for District 3, I work for the whole community, but I would like to pinpoint for District 3. We have accomplished quite a bit in my 7 1/2 years of commission already.

Bryan Davis

Q: Tell us about yourself.

A: I was born and raised here in Clovis and have always been an active member of our community. I ran cross country and played in the Wildcat band in high school. Then I moved to Juarez as a missionary in my 20s. I enjoyed learning a new culture and deepened my love for America at the same time. Since my wife and I moved back to Clovis I have been working on starting a LifeWise Academy here, and serving at Legacy Church.

Q: Why do you want this job?

A: I believe Clovis needs brave leadership and would love the opportunity to provide that to our community.

Paul Nelson

Q: Tell us about yourself.

A: I have been a resident of the Clovis area for 40 years, I worked for the city of Clovis for almost 23 years. First as a public safety dispatcher and then to start the Internet Technology department. I'm currently the IT director for La Casa Family Health Center.

Q: Why do you want this job?

A: I want to continue serving the citizens of Clovis and I think by having someone who worked for the city as a commissioner, I will bring a unique and needed perspective to the Commission.

District 4

Chris Bryant

Q: Tell us about yourself.

A: As a lifelong resident of Clovis, my wife of 48 years and I could not have chosen a better community to raise our family of five, which has grown to include our 17 grandchildren. When I'm not meeting with the nine boards I sit on, a privilege which I thoroughly enjoy, I spend my time watching Bluey and entertaining my grandchildren.

Q: Why do you want this job?

A: During my 16 years on the city commission and the last four of being the mayor pro-tem I have strived to extend the same open-door policy I hold with my family, with our community. Holding this position is a privilege that I do not take lightly.

Josefita Griego

Q: Tell us about yourself.

A: I appreciate your interest in publishing my information. (M)y public relations liaison is posting all my pertinent information on social media ...

Q: Would you be declining the interview then?

A: A copy of our official positions and a short bio will be posted on my community page as well as candidate page shortly.

Dean Hardage

Q: Tell us about yourself.

A: I was born in Clovis. I started school at Bella Vista elementary and graduated from Farwell High School in 1976. I joined the Army and I served for 13 years. I returned in 2000 and attended Clovis Community College for my associate's degree in electronics, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Eastern New Mexico University with a bachelor's in electronics/business. I work as a technician for Dairy Farmers of America in Portales.

Q: Why do you want this job?

A: I've seen things done that did not serve the community well. Some of it affected me personally, some would have affected others, some would have affected the city. If not me, who? If not now, when?