Edward Rodriguez, Carlsbad mayoral candidate, outlines goals for growth and other issues

A lifelong Carlsbad resident and current Mayor Pro Tem Edward Rodriguez is one of five candidates seeking the Mayor’s spot for the City of Carlsbad.

For the past eight years he has served as Ward 1 City Councilor and decided to run for Mayor after current Mayor Dale Janway decided not to run in the Nov. 7 local elections.

In an email to the Current-Argus Rodriguez said Carlsbad “is full of honest, hardworking and industrious souls who should be well represented.”

“They deserve to have someone working on their behalf to keep Carlsbad the productive center of New Mexico’s economy and to work hard to ensure we continue in that respect by bringing in new streams of revenue and production,” he said.

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Background on Edward Rodriguez

According to the City of Carlsbad City Council website, Rodriguez graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1978. He attained college degrees from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, University of the Southwest in Hobbs and New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.

He worked for Carlsbad Municipal Schools (CMS) for 27 years and has worked for Constructors Inc and SB Weed LLC, SB Oilfield Services and Branson Rentals, read the City Council website.

Rodriguez is active in the Carlsbad community and has served on numerous City of Carlsbad committees.

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Housing, education and safety biggest needs from oil and gas growth

Rodriguez said housing is and will always be an issue related to growth in Carlsbad.

He said land and cost availability and utility provisions pose challenges that need to be addressed by everyone in Carlsbad.

Rodriguez said public improvement districts are a possibility in dealing with housing needs in the community.

“This is one type of funding program under which funds for provision of utilities to new development ventures are appropriated by the municipality, which is then repaid upon development and sale of the new properties,” he said.

“These types of ventures are public expenditures which require stringent contractual agreements and timelines for repayment of these funds to the city,” Rodriguez added.

He cited a study conducted by the Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP) that noted education was a top quality of life issue for Permian Basin communities like Carlsbad.

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“Children in school today will be joining the workforce of tomorrow and quality education is critical for success. Our schools must have the resources to provide the next generation with access to highly qualified teachers and a robust curriculum,” read part of the study from the PSP website.

Rodriguez said working with CMS and Southeast New Mexico College were needed ensuring environments and educational programs maximizing students’ chances produce gains and meaningful employment opportunities.

Regarding safety and security, he said both are critical for Carlsbad citizens.

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“We need to strengthen our law enforcement in not only numbers but also work with our court system to ensure those needing to be kept off the streets are,” Rodriguez said.

“We need to keep up the work and be ever vigilant with the inflow of drugs, immigration, homelessness, and bad drivers in general,” he added.

How should Carlsbad grow the population and local economy?

Rodriguez said the City of Carlsbad needs to continue efforts to keep an abundant fresh water supply and the City needs to look at the next generation of job creation.

“That will keep Carlsbad at the forefront of desirable places to live and work,” he said.

“Emphasize that local businesses and local labor forces be employed and utilized in our expansion efforts,” Rodriguez added.

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He said the City of Carlsbad should work with major companies in the oil and gas industry along with the nuclear industry to place home offices in Carlsbad for the benefit of workers and the community.

Rodriguez added the City of Carlsbad also needs to support the potash industry, which began in 1926 along with Carlsbad MainStreet organization for continued economic development in downtown Carlsbad.

Street work and maintenance remains critical

During his time on City Council, Rodriguez said the City of Carlsbad dealt with a number of street and other infrastructure issues.

“The Brine Well Remediation Project, the Bataan Bridge repair, the North Canal Bridge repair, the Loop By-Pass projects in conjunction with Eddy County, residential area street crack filling and recoating to extend the life of the road; are all things I’ve discussed with many folks,” he said.

“The time work is being done is always stressful and inconvenient, but most understand that the result is what we really want and need,” Rodriguez added.

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He said the City of Carlsbad will always need highway funding to maintain the streets and roads before major reconstruction is required.

“We need to continue in our efforts to get the state and federal dollars we deserve for such work.  Our presence in Santa Fe and Washington (D.C.) is critical to ensuring these funds are appropriated and applied,” Rodriguez said.

He said a possible new port of entry for semitrailers near Loving along U.S. highway 285 might ensure proper taxes are being paid for the use of roadways in and out of Carlsbad.

“Taxes that will then be used to maintain and improve these same highways to maximize industry and, most importantly, safety,” Rodriguez said.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: A look at Carlsbad mayoral candidate Edward Rodriguez