The Rio Arriba County Commission should be expanded to five members.
Having worked with both Taos and Grant Counties, which both have five commissioners, I have seen the benefits that two additional members brings to the public. It allows two commissioners to speak to each other and with constituents at the same time without the conversation being in violation of the Open Meetings Act. It gives a larger voice to every part of the county, more chances to be heard from the farthest parts of the county.
I am a firm believer in government transparency and public involvement. A public process is always important and preferred, but the problem is that it is not actually required for the hiring of a county manager. I urge the county to adopt a manager hiring policy that requires transparency in the future.
I have called for increasing the commission to five at numerous times over the years and continually been given different reasons why we shouldn’t join the other five-commissioner counties.
Saying that it is too expensive is no excuse for residents of Rio Arriba to accept having too little representation. County population has grown, budgets are much larger and more complicated than in the past.
Let’s demand more representation. Let’s not argue over he said-she said. Let’s move forward united around making a positive change which gives voters a greater voice in the county government.
Carol Miller
Ojo Sarco