As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day and our strong democracy, it seems totally appropriate that I announce my intention to run for the District 2 seat on the Las Cruces City Council. I have held that seat for nearly four years, and those years have included some very important progress for District 2 and for the City of Las Cruces. I plan for the next four years to bring even more to the district and to the city that my wife and I, and various members of our families, call “home.”
Making this announcement, I return to why I ran for a seat on the council in the first place, and that was, and remains, to bring a strong vision for the healthy and prosperous future of Las Cruces into being for all who live here, now and in the future. Between its educational, medical, recreational, cultural, and business elements and its historic and vibrant neighborhoods, District 2 is an integral part of that vision.
For the sake of our realizing the possibilities here, I have been willing to be labeled "politician" and other names that are not always very complimentary, but it has also led to my being able to help shape what we have and what we will have in Las Cruces. I appreciate the many times people have understood what I am doing and have thanked me for doing it. That understanding and those thanks help me maintain my resolve to run for office so that we can continue to work for better paying jobs in Las Cruces, a broader based economy here, more community assets and characteristics in which we can take pride, and a city that shines as an example for other communities.
There have been a number of people who have asked me to run this year for mayor. Their confidence in my capabilities, their support for a dynamic vision for the future of Las Cruces, and their willingness to roll up their sleeves for what's best for our home is inspirational. It has made me stop and consider very carefully what is needed now for the brightest possible future here.
To those who have encouraged me to run for mayor, I say, thank you! However, I have given it a lot of thought, and I have decided that this is not yet the time for that race.
So, with the help of those in District 2 who understand and support our efforts, I will return to the District 2 seat on the Council, I will continue the work we have started, and I will keep the mayor’s seat in sight for the future. As impatient as we can all get, some things have to be built on strong foundations and with structural elements that can endure.
Regardless of what happens in the mayor’s race four years from now, we have to continue working to build a strong future for all in District 2 and all here in Las Cruces. We have to move forward with vision, with purpose, and with consensus. That is what I believe my serving four more years as Councilor for District 2 will help us accomplish for the future of Las Cruces, our home.
Gregory Smith is the City Councilor for District 2 in the City of Las Cruces.