CITY OF GRANTS, N.M. – Cindy Anderson, running for Mayor of the City of Grants, is seeking the public’s assistance in putting her in the city’s highest seat. But just who is Cindy Anderson, and what are her plans for the City of Grants?
Anderson is married to a local pastor and proudly beamed about her daughters, one of whom is a dispatcher at the Cibola County Regional Dispatch, answering 911 calls and serving the community.
Guided by her faith, Anderson has been doing her homework over the city. Wanting to know how the city operates; Anderson said she felt a calling to attend a city meeting several years ago, while at that meeting, she determined that the city was being ran less effectively than it could it be. After years of research over the city she has formulated plans to help guide the economy and bring new businesses to Grants.
Wanting to ensure that she has the best team surrounding her, Anderson already has a plan to surround herself with advisers who understand the inner workings of various departments of the city. Not wanting to give any of their names just yet, Anderson said she already has people in mind to help advise her over issues within the city.
“I can be corrected,” Anderson said, “I don’t mind criticism.” She explained that criticism was a good way to improve decisions and steer the city in the best possible direction.
The economy in the city is not healthy, she explained, saying that with a new idea she has in mind, the city can grow its economy. Calling her plan a “Launch Program,” Anderson seeks to leverage already existing buildings that are owned by the city to bring in new business. Renting building space for a few evenings at a time, Anderson wants to bring in new restaurants and potentially other business. “We already have buildings with stoves, the golf course has a stove, and there is the library too,” Anderson said the launch program could bring in a series of new businesses, and if they are successful in the time they are in Grants, they would have a reason to move permanently to the city. “I would love a Cajun place, I love Cajun,” she said as a potential business to join the economy of Grants; a multicultural flavor, she said, would bring tourism to the city.
Fixing the economy is only part of what Anderson wants to bring to Grants. She explained that the city’s infrastructure is on her priority list. Wanting to work on the city’s pipes, she wanted to focus on human infrastructure. “I’m looking at a property,” Anderson said, “For [a] homeless shelter.” The homeless shelter would do more than just be a safe place for Grants’ homeless, Anderson wants to turn the facility into a business, ran by the people who take advantage of the service. “It needs to make money, and it can give them a purpose,” she said. Wanting to create a better facility for the animals of Grants, she said the current shelter is successful, but its too small to provide for the needs. Wanting to provide a full safe space for local animals, Anderson said that she would like to see the shelter large enough so it no longer has to euthanize the animals that come to them.
Shifting back to physical infrastructure, Anderson explained that she wants to see the piping issues of Grants fixed. She then said that one of the greatest infrastructure issues of Grants is the lack of water. “We have pumps that aren’t working, and we need to have our water, I mean, you can’t do anything without water.” Anderson was talking abut Well No. 3, saying that she would look into investments that could fix the city’s water issues.
Looking at first responders, Anderson said she would focus on better asset management. Anderson explained that her personal health experience has led her to see police officers, ambulances, and firetrucks respond to calls that were relatively simple, and she would like to see how assets can be better managed. “I would give our first responders a raise,” she said, declaring that it would be a top priority. “They need to be appreciated. Sure, you can give them a plaque or a medal but if they don’t have the resources they need, then its pointless.” “You have to fix the leak,” Anderson said, “Nothing can get done if you don’t fix the leak.” Asset management with first responders is not the only place she would look to restructure, she said there is a lot of financial waste in the city, and that she would work with her city council to address “leaks” in the city finances. Fixing the financial issues in the city will go a long way toward restoring the city’s credibility, she said. “It’s about integrity. Our city needs integrity to keep people here.” To Anderson, “integrity” means being honest, and taking care of the people in Grants. “I’m going to say it’s honesty, having a high moral fiber, treat others the way you want to be treated, and having a high moral compass.”