James “Bobby” Hamilton – running for Commissioner District 2
What made you decide to run for office?
This community is everything to my family and me. Together with my family, we own Ace Hardware, Ashley Furniture, and Enchantment Vineyards as well as commercial and residential properties in Roosevelt County. We have invested everything we have here, we are raising our kids here, and I want to ensure that this county not only survives but thrives.
How well do you believe you know the U.S. Constitution? The NM Constitution?
Very well and its importance is evident right now more than ever. There is currently a lot of pressure on our constitutional rights at both the state and federal level. It is imperative that we as Commissioners are in Santa Fe and talking to our lawmakers, developing a good relationship, and constantly communicating not only our needs as a county but also the importance of adherence to both the state and U.S. Constitution. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights lays out what we are entitled to as citizens and who has the power to make and enforce laws and civil liberties.
What is the role of government in general?
The government is in place to uphold our legal framework, maintain public safety, ensure proper infrastructure, and help to regulate economic activities. I believe in a limited government and a free market with minimal governmental interference. We as citizens are paying tax dollars to take care of the things which we cannot take care of ourselves, and it is how that money is used and its efficiency that is one of my main priorities.
What do you believe are the most important attributes of a candidate? Integrity and character or ability and experience to do the job?
I think the single most important attribute is being accessible and a good listener who is proficient at taking the ideas and opinions of those living in their district and effectively communicating and fighting for them. I am a man of grit and determination and I promise not to give up until the job is finished.
How much should an elected servant be available to his/her constituents? How do you plan to make yourself available?
A candidate should be a conduit for their constituents. It is our job as commissioners to be the single voice for those living in our district. I want everyone to call me, and that’s why I am publishing my cell phone number 575-268-0013. I WANT to hear from you. I WANT to know what is important to you, and I WANT to be your proud representative.
What kinds of things (activities, events, organizations, etc) have you been a part of or have supported up until now?
Well, it is a running joke in our family, that my wife signs us up for everything but through our involvement I have met some amazing people. We are very involved with CAFB and are members of the Portales Military Affairs Committee. We support ENMU sports and have served as a basketball family for the Women’s team for many years. I currently serve on the ENMU Foundation board as well as the Roosevelt County Protest Valuation Board; although, our biggest contributions have probably been through our businesses. We are always excited to host events and fundraisers at the winery. We recently hosted a Military Spouse’s group for a tour of Portales and have provided a location for CAFB’s Hiring for Heros and other support groups. We are also about to have a fundraiser for the local volunteer fire departments at Ace Hardware. We support Santa Cop, and so much more. In my free time I really enjoy the outdoors. Hunting, fishing, and shooting sports are activities that I have loved since I was young. And when I can convince my family to join me, it’s even better.
Whenever you have to make difficult decisions, what process do you normally go through to reach that decision?
I am methodical and a deep thinker. I try to put myself in the position of both sides and really examine an alternate point of view. I am also a firm believer in seeking council from a mentor or a professional with experience in the matter. Difficult decisions are part of the job and regardless, it’s imperative to do as much due diligence and research as possible beforehand. Each time I’ve made a difficult decision in our business, it’s been a learning experience. I’ve learned to never rush a decision that feels too important. I’ve learned to think through the consequences and be prepared for them. And I’ve learned to always do what is right in the big picture and not get too hung up on what things look like in the moment.
What should the relationship be between elected officials and the People?
Elected officials should always be easily accessible and approachable to the People. Many times, a friendly conversation helps to build a relationship with constituents and is imperative in a small community. Elected officials are in their position to help the People and should ensure that community members know that they can count on them. They should serve as the representative and sounding voice for the majority.
If you encounter angry constituents, publicly or privately, how will you handle that situation?
I work in customer service and unfortunately there will be that occasional, upset, customer. Most of the time, the person just wants their grievances to be heard and wants to know what you can do for them to help resolve the situation. I believe in staying calm so not to escalate the situation and letting the person speak their mind and get what they need to off their chest. My main goal is to always listen and hear what the issue is before asking any questions to fully understand the issue. Once the issue is understood I would explain the options for a resolution or if I don’t know I will get back to the constituent. Communication is key and follow-up should be made during the process of fixing the issue as well as when the issue has been resolved. The constituent should know that you are working on the issue throughout the process.
What line would the state government have to cross before you believe it would be your duty to make a stand? Or do you believe making a stand is the right course of action? Why or why not?
As a county, most of our funding comes entirely from one source — the State of New Mexico. It is imperative that we do whatever we can to work together. We need the state, and we need the funding, and should we ever decide to fight the state, we should be prepared for the consequences and have a contingency plan in place. Now that being said, there are lines that cannot be crossed and operating outside the laws of our Constitution is one that I will strongly defend.
If elected, what will be some of the things you’ll do between the election and when you take office?
I plan to do a whole lot of listening and get even more involved with the Roosevelt County Republicans. I would also like to meet individually with each of the sitting Roosevelt County Commissioners as well as Commissioner Rod Savage to develop a better working relationship as well as to understand their concerns and biggest challenges.
What are the three most important issues facing Roosevelt/New Mexico and how do you plan to address those?
The single most important issue we have is finding a resolution to the fighting between the County and the City of Portales. I’m encouraged by the recent progress, but we have a long way to go. Our county government should be working with the municipalities throughout the county to accomplish our common goals. By working in a coordinated effort, our community can work to build a better relationship with the State of New Mexico to acquire the funds needed by many departments throughout the county. I would like to see workshops where all community officials participate in creating ICIP requests that can be presented to the state, with representatives from multiple governments present. We also have the opportunity to reduce costs through shared service agreements and pulling together resources. Roosevelt County has many brilliant and talented residents ready and willing to help and we need to foster an open environment of collaboration.
We are all worried about industry here in Roosevelt County. We are watching our dairy industry disappear before our eyes without another industry there to replace them. And it’s not just the dairies, it’s all of the businesses here to support them like trucking. We also just had the peanut plant here burn. The bird flu disaster in Farwell is also threatening our poultry industry here. There are hundreds of jobs at stake here in Roosevelt County and we need to be stepping up to help those businesses here as well as to be proactively searching for alternatives. We also have aging wind turbines around Elida, nearing the end of their project. The County needs to be budgeting for a loss of funds and making plans to attract new ones. This is serious and something we haven’t given enough attention to.
And finally, we all know about the water issue. It’s complicated and something which Roosevelt County has little ability to resolve currently. The City of Portales is the largest supplier of water currently and they are diligently working to find solutions. They also supply water to the Roosevelt County Water Cooperative. Neither organization has any ties to Roosevelt County although water drastically affects all of us living here. I believe Roosevelt County can help through cooperation again in joint funding requests to Santa Fe as well as helping to find ways to attract new industries that are water conservative. It will take all of us working together to get this done.
If you could look into the future five years from now, what do you want Roosevelt/New Mexico to be like?
A thriving economy with the county having a strong foundation to support new businesses and residents. A place where families moving here are exciting to be stationed, with great schools and plenty of family activities.
Who was your childhood mentor and why? Who has had the greatest impact on your life as an adult and why? Either can be someone you know personally, a historical figure, etc.
I’ve had the privilege of having three great mentors in my life. My first mentor, as a child, was my father, Allen Hamilton. He taught me how to treat others, work hard and be responsible. So much of our time together was spent working outdoors, driving down the road headed to rodeos, or practicing rigorously to perfect whatever I was trying to accomplish. He was always there for me and pushed me to be better in everything I did. He demanded perfection and taught me that I was capable of far more than I ever imagined. He helped me believe in myself.
My second mentor was Mike Kokin. I worked for him in high school and college. He was a well-known firearms dealer and collector. Even though both my parents were involved in business to some extent, this was my first experience seeing deals in action. He broadened my horizons, and I learned so much by observing and meeting so many amazing people from around the world. He taught me to think beyond what is right in front of me and the importance of relationships.
In the last 18 years, my father-in-law Max Merrick has really opened my eyes. He has treated me like a son and taught me the value of a small town and all it has to offer. He has taught me about small business and all of its many layers. It is not only important to be profitable, but it is imperative that together we make this town better. We don’t want to just employ 75 people; we want to be a team working side by side to improve our community. We want to sponsor every little league event or bake sale, or kids event. And at the end of the day, we want to take what we make and reinvest it right back here in Roosevelt County.
