Voters in South Monterey County will soon be choosing mayors, city council members and school board trustees in the upcoming Nov. 3 General Election. To help voters make an informed decision, Salinas Valley Tribune sent out a questionnaire to all the candidates running in contested races in King City, Greenfield, Soledad and Gonzales, asking for their stance on local issues. Read their responses below:
GONZALES MAYOR
Gonzales Mayor Maria Orozco is seeking re-election this year and will compete against local property manager Henry Martinez Jr. and retiree Jose Rios. Only Orozco and Rios responded to the paper’s questionnaire.
What do you hope to accomplish as mayor?
OROZCO: As Mayor it has been an honor to serve the residents of Gonzales. I will continue to represent the needs of all our residents and move forward to ensure that the goals and priorities that we have set for our city are carried out. We need to continue to seek resources to assist our businesses with economic development opportunities to ensure their success. We need to continue working on finding the best solution for traffic congestion and affordable housing opportunities as well as other quality of life services for our residents.
RIOS: My hope as the next Mayor is to help build a community center that will enhance the lives of our entire community.
Which issues and concerns will be your main focus within your city?
OROZCO: Our city faces difficult economic and emotional challenges due to the impact of Covid-19. The virus has impacted our community at all levels. From the closure of our businesses, schools, churches and recreational activities to loss of jobs. My priority will be to continue to provide assistance to businesses and families by working closely with our school district, agencies and non-profit organizations who can assist with providing resources for our community so that we can meet the challenges of Covid-19.
RIOS: Safety, continue to support efforts to keep this community the safest in Monterey County; affordable housing; work with LAFCO to allow us to annex additional land for growth; infrastructure, improve our streets.
Why are you the best candidate to tackle those issues?
OROZCO: I am proud of the work I have accomplished throughout the years along with my current and former city council members to improve the quality of life for our families in Gonzales. As we move forward, we will face many difficult challenges as we continue to deal with Covid-19. Now, more than ever it’s important to have a Mayor who has the experience in working with all segments of our community. My knowledge and experience in advocating for resources will help us as we move forward to continue making Gonzales a safe, family oriented community we can all be proud to call home.
RIOS: I feel with my past experience as a city councilman, planning commission chair, Fairview basketball council and 36 years of work experience, I am qualified to help lead this great community. I humbly ask for your vote.
