District 5 City Commission Candidates Respond to Questions for the Candidate by KALHRadio.org and AMT

AlamogordoTownNews.com and KALHradio.org shares a responsibility as a media platform to allow all candidates to express why they should be considered for the offices they seek. Our role in journalism is to showcase the details of candidates and offer information then you the voter will decide. As we get closer to the actual election our editorial board will release our endorsements for the various offices.

The District 5 race is a contested election between incumbent the very visible, Sharon McDonald and a former commissioner for District 5, Al Hernandez.

Each candidate can claim their origin of having been raised in Chihuahuita-the oldest and most diverse neighborhood in Alamogordo. The neighborhood predates the city of Alamogordo. Individuals raised in Chihuahuita have a special connection to the community, with the deepest roots of multi-generational working class connections to Alamogordo, it's history and a strong respect for its history. 

Each of the two candidates represents a generation that has seen multiple decades of change in Alamogordo. Both grew up during a period when the nation was just coming out of the chaos of segregation, each worked, were educated locally, and then through a post-secondary education transitioned into young adults during a period of significant political change and economic change in Southern New Mexico.

Each candidate offers a unique leadership perspective based on their experiences and because of their deep multi-generational family and community roots of Chihuahuita. Those born and connected to the neighborhood of Chihuahuita (the state streets) have a unique perspective, not understood from any other neighborhood.

No other neighborhood in the city has the stories, history or character that dates back long before the Eddy brothers considered the founding of Alamogordo.

Sadly, no other neighborhood has been more neglected and disrespected, over the decades, by city leadership of capital investment over its 125 years since incorporation into the city than Chihuahuita, until the last few years.

When looking at the existing Alamogordo City Commission, each of these two individuals would represent the elder, wiser, calmer and more experienced states-persons of city government. 

Their experience having grown up and lived off and on a majority of their lives in one of Alamogordo's oldest and most historic neighborhoods is unique. This district is the most unique and most diverse of all of Alamogordo. It is a neighborhood and a district with an re-evolving sense of pride and a neighborhood that is of historical importance and deserves respect.

The two candidates that are serious about serving the public good and are participating in any opportunity to be before the public at large is incumbent seated District 5 City Commissioner, Sharon McDonald and former Commissioner, Al Hernandez. What follows is their responses to our questions for the candidates...

AlamogordoTownNews.com Question: Provide a brief biography of your governing and business experience or if a new candidate for office what community experience qualifies you for public office?

Sharon McDonald Response: I am the incumbent having served a very productive term as a city commissioner. I was raised in Alamogordo and attended school in this community from elementary to high school. I graduated from Alamogordo High School and attended Western New Mexico University for one and half years, I continued my education while working full time and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Indiana University (SB).

I married a resident of Alamogordo; Edward McDonald and I grew up here together. We have five children, ten grandchildren and a generation to come that will forever keep us young at heart.

 I worked for a Fortune 500 company in Human Resources specializing in employee benefits and was responsible for 25 contracts, ranging from health care benefits to insurance benefits for 7500 active employees and over 10,000 retirees. I worked with outsourcing benefits through Fidelity Investments in Boston MA and Hewlett Packard in Chicago. In my profession I also worked to develop a system to transfer all employee benefits via a tape to tape transfer. Even during those years I would return to Alamogordo every summer and spend the summers engaged in the community and with my family. 

I have devoted my time and energy to organizations that help our community, schools, businesses, families, children, and education for a more resilient town. I love working hard for the citizens of District 5 to help beautify our neighborhoods. I enjoy working the polls at election time and attending Chamber of Commerce meetings, just to know what is happening with people around our community. I’ve championed the Dudley School redevelopment and was recently awarded the White Sands Rotary Club Professional Person of the Year Award for 2023, as a result of my community service, to include the annual District 5 Cleanup Initiative and the Dudley School project.

Response Al Hernandez: I have previously served as a city commissioner for a total of 12 years. I have also worked in a supervisory roll for over 30 years in my employment with Gerald Champion hospital and Mesa Verde.

AlamogordoTownNews.com Question 2: As a candidate seeking office or as an incumbent, please explain 3 initiatives you personally sponsored, or as a candidate would  propose to directly impact your district or village and how you will facilitate passage with the commission?

Response Sharon McDonald: The three initiatives I am proudest of, have sponsored and I seek re-election to ensure they continue to improve our district includes:

A. The Sacramento Community Park on Alaska Avenue behind the Alamogordo High School. 

B. Our Annual District 5 Community Volunteer Clean Up Event

C. The Dudley School Community Center and Park revitalization project. 

The Dudley School Project has brought our community together in collaboration and is an example of partnership and collaboration with Alamogordo Public Schools, the City of Alamogordo, the Tularosa Basin Historic Society, and a group of many business and private volunteers who have committed hours of hard work, painting, pulling weeds, cleaning, constructing and working together across diverse communities with a common goal. This project is building a foundation of deep bonds from the volunteers and a collaboration that is an example of unity and community pride within the district and across the city of Alamogordo. 

Response Al Hernandez: The city needs to work on its current infrastructure, water and sewer lines as well as roads. I would ask for an outside agency to determine the needs and have it presented to the commission. 

We need to have Code enforcement get back to the basics and work on cleaning up the worst areas to include Walker area. Code enforcement needs to have a structured plan on removing dilapidated structures, currently it’s just a pick and choose process. I would take this project to the city manager to initiate. 

The third item I would work to get our airport upgraded to allow commercial flights in and out. I would ask the city manager for all work that has been done on this project and work with staff and others to come up with a plan to present to the commission. I would also ask the city manager to look at a growth plan, to start looking at how to make sure we have the properties needed for future development of city facilities and parks.

AlamogordoTownNews.com Question 3 -Why are you running for office? What is your motivation to be an office holder?

Response Sharon McDonald: I have held office and have seen the challenges you face as a commissioner during my first term. I am seeking re-election to see those projects that I have started through to completion - the Dudley School Community Center History Room and Park, the many new sidewalks being built out in the district, eventually road and infrastructure improvements, and further enhancements to safety in our new neighborhood parks.

Response Al Hernandez: To bring government accountability back to the citizens. For instance we pay for an ambulance service that the company is not fulfilling their end of the contract. We have roads that have had repairs done and have not been patched for several months and so on.

AlamogordoTownNews.com Question 4 - What do you view as the biggest opportunity as a leader in the role you are seeking? How will you expand community engagement and bipartisan leadership?

Response Sharon McDonald: Community Clean Up. As community leaders we are working in the neighborhoods and within the city of Alamogordo to further address the issues of blight. We have much more to do! But we a have started and with a focus on blight we are making an impact. Code enforcement is better funded and better staffed now, than when I began by term by a collaboration and a focus on blight by the commissioners.  We have addressed several properties and if re-elected we will continue even more. 

Our District 5 Community Cleanup effort has brought organizations and citizens to work together in unity as one with all communities. We have the help of the City of Alamogordo and they donate their dumpsters each year specifically Public Utilities, Keep Alamogordo Beautiful, Code Enforcement, churches, multiple civic minded volunteers, families and people of all ages help and all for the benefit and goal of a better community. This event is a model of collaboration and community builder of civic pride.

Response Al Hernandez: I have been in a leadership roll most of my adult life. I have learned to work and lead all types of people. I would make myself available to the citizens for all concerns.

AlamogordoTownNews.com Question 5 - The demographics of Otero County 4.6% Black, 8.1% Other 39.7% Hispanic, 46.9% Caucasian, 7.1% identify as members of the LBGTQ community according to the US Census. What outreach have you done to build consensus and constituencies within the diversity of the citizens in your district or village?

Response Sharon McDonald: Having grown up in District 5 or the neighborhood known as Chihuahuita the major projects I have sponsored are only possible by building consensus and constituencies within the diversity of our community of citizens. The new Sacramento Community Park was built to provide a safe place in our neighborhood for families to gather, District 5 Cleanup Days are all about building consensus and collaboration across a broad range of age groups and diverse constituencies. The Dudley School rehabilitation effort is the first major investment in District 5 that will tell the history of the neighborhood and of the families that experienced the Dudley School experience. This project is the biggest project of community pride within the district. This project it is taking a dilapidated building that was blighted and dangerous and transforming it with a nod to its historical importance. This project is breathing a fresh positive new life into the building. The building will evolved along with the neighborhood as a safe gathering spot of pride, festivities and fun. This collaborative community effort serves the interest of a diverse population and has had volunteers from a cross section of Alamogordo. The collaboration has brought the most diverse collection of volunteers of any I have witnessed in Alamogordo in decades. 

Response Al Hernandez: In my eyes we are one human race. I have worked with many groups and will continue to do so either way. I believe one of the biggest problems in the world is that we label people, we need to just always help our brothers and sisters. I will continue this roll.

AlamogordoTownNews.com Question 5: What is the one thing about your district city or village that excites you the most?

Response Sharon McDonald: I am most excited about the history and the people of our community and the ties our community has to its history. Our history of Alamogordo as a city goes back 125 years, of my neighborhood it goes back much further. Each year there is more and more to learn about and explore. Dudley school is one of the oldest buildings in the city, the original two rooms were built in 1901 and then it expanded in 1913. I'm excited to see it to completion and I am even more excited to see what it will become - a center of district activity and broad community pride. There is much about Alamogordo to be excited about, when we break from social media and actually talk to one another and look around at our community - the dedicated hardworking citizens that care, participate and every day make a small difference. That is what makes me proud, and excites me, to get up and get out and work daily, its all about our history and our people. 

Response Al Hernandez: The pride of the older generation, most are gone now, but all the stories that came out of my neighborhood. Alamogordo is rich in its culture and has so much to offer to the citizens and visitors. Our clean air and light traffic is some of the best in New Mexico. 

Commentary: AlamogordoTownNews.com, AlamogordoConservativeDaily.org and KALHradio.org appreciates the time the candidates put into their responses. It takes courage to run for elected office and courage to put oneself before the public. To those candidates that are willing to put themselves before a broad cross section of audiences not just those of their "party" we applaud your courage and thank you. Thank you Mr. Hernandez and Mrs. McDonald for your past many years of service to your community. Good luck to each of you in a safe and civil election 2023.

For transparency sake we share that our media business is owned by Rene Sepulveda a registered Democrat. He has issued a few personal endorsements via opinion pieces. Those are of his personal choice and may not reflect the opinions of the editorial board.

The primary author of a majority of the content on our site is our lead journalist, a registered Republican, Chris Edwards. Mr. Edwards during past elections assisted in the campaigns of two Democrats and one Republican Judge. The judge who's campaign he assisted with in crafting a web presence, and social media engagement, won her race. She is a seated 12th Judicial District Judge.

The editorial board consists of representation from each party plus a Libertarian, Independent and Decline to State affiliations. We do not offer commentary on their responses in this series of articles, and thus allow you the reader to decide the merits of the candidate based upon responses. A future endorsement commentary will be issued closer to November 7th.

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