About 60 area residents came to a Highlands University lecture hall Tuesday for the Optic's San Miguel County primary candidate forum. From crime to economic development to citizen involvement, the candidates covered a wide range of issues during the two-hour event.

Jason W. Brooks/Optic photo About 60 people, in total., showed up Tuesday for the Optic's candidate forum for San Miguel County offices in the June 5 primary. At the podium is Joseph "Mikey" Martinez, a candidate for San Miguel Sheriff. Buy this photo Jason W. Brooks/Optic photo Max O. Trujilo, a candidate for the San Miguel County Commission's District 3 seat, left, speaks to the audience during Tuesday's Optic candidate forum for San Miguel County offices in the June 5 primary. To his left are Commission candidates Harold Garcia, Marty Sweeney, Rock G. Ulibarri and Richard T. Rivera. Buy this photo

As a bonus, candidates, especially incumbents, were happy to explain policy, procedure and workflow within respective county departments. All 17 of the candidates for San Miguel County offices in the June 5 primary are Democrats, though nearly all of the primary races are contested.

Incumbent Division 2 Magistrate Judge Melanie Rivera and her challenger, Nick Montoya, were part of the first panel, as was the Division 1 Magistrate Judge, Christian Montaño, who is running unopposed in the June 5 primary. Joseph Sanchez, an Alcalde resident who is running for House District 40, which includes part of San Miguel County, also came to the forum.

None of the House District 40 candidates were invited to the forum. Sanchez, the only one of the three candidates to come to Las Vegas on Tuesday, was allowed by the Optic to give a short statement and take one question.

Questions were hand-written by the audience on notecards. The Optic will post video clips from the forum on the "Las Vegas Optic" Facebook page.

The second panel included Chris Lopez, Theo Carr and Joseph A. "Mikey" Martinez — three of the four men running to replace the retiring Gary Gold as San Miguel County Sheriff — along with one of the seekers if the county assesor seat, David G. Ortiz.

The third and final panel at the event, held in Highlands' Room G35, near the Student Union, included District 1 County Commissioner Rock Ulibarri and his two challengers, Harold M. Garcia and Marty Sweeney, along with Max O. Trujillo and Richard T. Rivera, two of the challengers for the District 3 seat being vacated by Arthur Padilla.

Connie M. Gallegos, Ortiz's challenger in the race for County Assessor, planned to attend, but notified the Optic late Tuesday to say she had a prior commitment.

When the Magistrate Judge candidates were at the front table, several policy questions were asked, including one about the revolving door to jail that seems to trap poverty-stricken defendants.

"Due to the State Supreme Court decision in the Walter Brown case, we have to take poverty into consideration as a factor when setting bail," Rivera said. "We have to consider other options, including releasing someone on their own recognizance. There's also lowering the bail and other options open to judges."

Rivera also mentioned payment plans for fees and fines as a way of mitigating court costs. Montoya said "fix-it" tickets and other fees and fines are a way the government keeps poor people poor, and solutions should be discussed.

Sheriff candidates responded to several questions that led them to address substance abuse and the illegal drug trade. Martinez pointed out that with his experience working with federal agencies, he already knows who to contact to get task-force help or other federally allocated resources to combat crime.

Carr called for more community interface, where sheriff's deputies would be proactively introducing themselves to county residents, making it easier for the public to report crime and/or strange patterns and occurences.

Lopez adrressed the importance of school and youth outreach, pointing out that drills and preparedness are just as important as dialogue.

One member of the audience asked "If you had an illegal/undocumented felon in custody, would you hand them over to ICE?" Carr made humorous faces, saying yes, absolutely, while Lopez said he likely would as well, depending on the circumstances, while Martinez said it was "above his pay grade," and he'd consult the district attorney's office.

Ortiz touted his vast years of experience and training in skills and disciplines related to the Assessor's position. He encouraged each property owner to go to county offices and look at their property record cards.

The Commission candidates covered a great deal of ground, taking questions as a group for about one hour.

Garcia said poverty needs to be addressed by breaking out of the mold for ways income can be earned in northern New Mexico. He encouraged solar energy development.

Trujillo drew applause from the audience for what he said in response to a question about the Commission adopting a resolution last year in support of undocumented immigrants.

Rivera said a recent attempt by Ulibarri, the District 1 incumbent, to get a resolution on a County Commission agenda to support a private hospital union was misguided. His attack garnered some applause.

"We need to support county workers," he said.

Ulibarri, in response to a question about the Economic Development Corporation and its productivity and relationship with county leaders, said it's paramount for the county to work together.

Garcia criticized Ulibarri serving on both the County Comission and on the EDC Board of Directors. Both Ulibarri and fellow Commissioner Chris Najar appear on EDC letterhead as part of the Board of Directors.

Rivera said using existing training resources to create a local truck-driving school could help spur on economic development.

Sweeney said her experience as a nurse reminded her that the large accumulation of trash around the county requires care as well as humility to clean up, as one could catch any number of infections or diseaes from handling refuse improperly.

"All detainees and immigrants should be treated with respect," Trujillo said. "I don't think it's the role of county government to get involved in state and federal policies."