ALAMOSA – Four Alamosa City Council candidates utilized a one-and-a-half hour forum at city hall Tuesday night as to what they would do if elected by the people during the Nov. 5 election.

All four candidates are in favor of the street tax.

The city, the Alamosa Chamber of Commerce and the Valley Courier co-sponsored the forum, which was witnessed by about 30 people and Valley Courier Publisher Keith R. Cerny was the moderator.

Kristina A. Daniel, candidate for city council at large; Robert Oringdulph, candidate for city council at large; Elizabeth “Liz” Hensley, candidate for city council Ward 1; and Charles Griego, candidate for city council Ward 3, were given four minutes each to introduce themselves and express their opinions about whether they favored raising taxes to fix Alamosa’s roads and on growing domestic marijuana.

Daniel said she has been an Alamosa resident for 17 years and she has been a council member for the last four years and was elected for the Ward 2 position two years ago. Even though she lost in her last election, she was appointed for the at-large position for the last two years.

“I believe what I bring to the community is a sense of equity,” Daniel said. “I’m really talking about how we all come together to solve community issues.

“I don’t think the issues we face in Alamosa as specifically targeted to one area; we are all one community.

“We’re all trying to work together.”

Daniel said the people of Alamosa know that roads need to be repaired.

“We know that we have miles and miles of street and we know that the funding that we have annually is not enough to fix those streets at a fast pace; so far, no one really likes taxes, we don’t like raising taxes,” Daniel said. “I believe in 10 years … taxing the streets will get a lot done in our community.”

Daniel said the goal is to make the streets safer and better.

She also touched on the marijuana issue.

“I believe we should allow people to grow in their own backyard with the limit that we’ve put in place,” Daniel said.

Oringdulph has lived in the San Luis Valley for all of his life, except 

for six years.

He was born in Mesita, which is south of San Luis, which is where he went to high school, earned his degree at Adams State, majoring in political science and secondary education.

Oringdulph returned to San Luis in 1977 to work with his father in the family’s mining business.

After the business was sold in 1981, Oringdulph has been involved in a handful of successful business ventures.

“I think I bring to council a myriad of experience in business and marketing and in the different things that I have had the opportunity to do,” Oringdulph said. “I agree with Kristina that the citizens in Alamosa need a voice in the city council—I intend to do that. I intend to be listening and be aware of all the people.”

Oringdulph agreed that Alamosa’s streets need repair.

“The sales tax is not the most equitable way to deal with the debt because those who earn less income get the worst of the sales tax, but it’s probably the best way to be able to do that.”

Oringdulph had a very negative viewpoint about the marijuana issue.

“Medical marijuana may be fine … but I feel like, as far as growing marijuana outside, it’s offensive,” Oringdulph said. “I think that neighbors and those are around (it) … it’s not a good thing.

“So, I’m in favor of the initiative of not having marijuana being grown outside of a residence.”

Hensley said she is finishing up her four-year term on city council, and added that she is major pro-tem currently.

She said during her first year on council she “really got involved” in the Colorado Municipal League, and immediately found out that it “was really awesome.”

Hensley earned a spot on the CML executive board during her first year, Hensley said. Within that year she became treasurer, vice president and is now that CML’s president executive board for the state of Colorado.

“I’m really enjoying it and I feel like I have really learned a lot,” Hensley said. “One of those things I think I learned from CML is that I actually can bring the idea of both Alamosa … I bring that rural concept and rural idea back to the Denver area and be able to share that CML.

“I think I’ve learned from a legislative standpoint – and bring that back to our community.”

“So, that’s been a great asset and I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Hensley said Alamosa is right on the “cusp” when it comes to improving economically.

“There are a lot of changes that are making that happen and it’s really an exciting time to be here,” said Hensley, who is a 20-year Alamosa resident.

As far as raising taxes to fix the streets, Hensley summed it up this way.

“I’m also not a big fan of taxes but at the same time what I like about this one is that it’s very transparent,” Hensley said.

As far as the marijuana growth is concerned, Hensley agreed with one of her colleagues.

“I do agree with Kristina that we put a lot of effort into it to make this decision,” Hensley said. “We really balanced the pros and cons.

“So, with me that we have enough policy and different regulations that if there is a nuisance that it would be handled so that it shouldn’t become a nuisance.”

Griego said he was born and raised in Alamosa and if not for military service, he would have been in his hometown for 100% of his life.

He said Alamosa has grown since the early 1980s.

“The city has come a long way,” Griego said. “I’ve reached a lot of my goals, and one of my goals are the streets in my area and the draining system.

“The last time I ran I tried to get that done … and I wasn’t able to do it.”

He added: But every year we seem to go back, instead of forward.

“I’m for the street tax because my area is the only one that has dirt roads, right now.”

Griego said he is for keeping the status quo concerning the marijuana issue.