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Mark Holt, Alex Molima, challenge George Scott for mayor
THELMA GRIMES
News-Sun
The candidates are official and the campaign season is officially under way for the first-ever mayoral election in Benson. Two City Council seats will also be decided.
Incumbent Mayor George Scott will face opposition from Mark Holt, the city's former city manager and former city police officer Alex Molina.
Scott is seeking a second term in office.
Scott is running for another term, he said, to keep the city moving forward.
"We've been able to accomplish quite a bit with the city's reorganization," Scott said. "Things run much more efficiently. I look forward to continuing that and bringing more businesses and growth to Benson. I just want to keep up with what we've already started."
Scott, 57, is a life-long Benson resident and businessman. Scott is the owner of the Pato Blanco RV Park in Benson.
Holt, 51, who officially retired after 19 years as a city employee, said he is running because he is concerned about the direction the city is taking and where the current City Council is taking it.
"Basically, we need to get back on track to what local government should be," Holt said. "I have had an overwhelming amount of people call me and ask me to run because of the deception of this council, especially after what they did with trying to bring a prison to town. I understand the city from the ground up. I am going to be running on experience, knowledge and trust."
Holt was referring to the proposed detention center for illegal immigrants on State Route 80 that failed in July.
Holt has been a resident of Benson for 20 years. Holt was city manager of Benson for five years before being terminated by the City Council in a 4-3 vote in July last year.
Molina, 47, said he is running for mayor because it's time to "get back to basics."
"We need to get back to the basic needs of the community," said Molina, a lifelong Benson resident. "I will work for the people and not have any personal agenda. Too many of the council members have personal agendas and have failed to fulfill a lot of promises. My main objective is to represent the people."
Molina is employed as a deputy marshal with the Tombstone Marshal's Office.
Regarding the City Council, incumbent Toney King has opted to run for a second four-year term, while Councilman Ted Amox is not.
King is running for a second term to continue helping the community.
"I want to continue my work with the community and working toward growth and more businesses," King said. "I want to try and keep the city focused on the people and make sure the council is truthful with the citizens. I want to increase morale at the city and improve communication with the community."
King, 41, is a 12-year Benson resident. King currently works for the Safeway corporation.
Along with King, J.W. Hill, Richard Leland, Rudolfo "Rudy" Peralta and Lori McGoffin are seeking seats on the council.
Hill, 65, is running to continue the work of the current City Council. Hill, along with wife, Betty, is the owner of Cates-Hill RV and Supplies.
"I think the present City Council has a lot of good things going," Hill said. "I'd like to continue that. I want to see Wal-Mart come to town, and being semi-retired, I can spend a lot of time dealing with city business."
Hill, a four-year Benson resident, ran unsuccessfully for the City Council in the 2003 election as well.
Leland, 59, is also running to keep the city running in the current direction. Leland, retired, served 21 years in the law enforcement industry. Leland has also run unsuccessfully for the council.
"I believe the current City Council, mayor and city manager have our city headed in the right direction," Leland said. "I just want to see it continue. Benson will grow, like it or not, and there must be income in place to support this growth. I'm not a very good speaker as most know, but I am a good listener and thinker. I think issues, through, and will then vote what I think is best for the majority of Bensonites."
McGoffin, 33, is running because she's tired of being ignored.
"I have a policy that you can't complain if you don't vote," McGoffin said. "My complaining is getting nowhere so I thought I would try something else. I have no agendas, I just want to help the town."
McGoffin is a 22-year Benson resident and is employed at the Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy.
Rudolfo "Rudy" Peralta, 30, is running to make some changes for the youth in Benson.
"I think there needs to be growth for the kids," Peralta said. "I want to start a family and I want to raise my kids here. I want my kids to be able to stay in Benson after they are out of high school and have a future here."
Peralta is a 10-year Benson resident. Peralta works at Safeway in Benson.
The mayor receives a monthly salary of $200 and each council member receives $100.
The primary election is set for Tuesday, March 8, and the general election will be held Tuesday, May 17.
To vote in the upcoming elections voters must be citizens living inside the Benson city limits and must register to vote with Cochise County before Monday, Feb. 7, 2005.
Citizens can register to vote at www.cochisecounty.com.
News-Sun
The candidates are official and the campaign season is officially under way for the first-ever mayoral election in Benson. Two City Council seats will also be decided.
Incumbent Mayor George Scott will face opposition from Mark Holt, the city's former city manager and former city police officer Alex Molina.
Scott is seeking a second term in office.
Scott is running for another term, he said, to keep the city moving forward.
"We've been able to accomplish quite a bit with the city's reorganization," Scott said. "Things run much more efficiently. I look forward to continuing that and bringing more businesses and growth to Benson. I just want to keep up with what we've already started."
Scott, 57, is a life-long Benson resident and businessman. Scott is the owner of the Pato Blanco RV Park in Benson.
Holt, 51, who officially retired after 19 years as a city employee, said he is running because he is concerned about the direction the city is taking and where the current City Council is taking it.
"Basically, we need to get back on track to what local government should be," Holt said. "I have had an overwhelming amount of people call me and ask me to run because of the deception of this council, especially after what they did with trying to bring a prison to town. I understand the city from the ground up. I am going to be running on experience, knowledge and trust."
Holt was referring to the proposed detention center for illegal immigrants on State Route 80 that failed in July.
Holt has been a resident of Benson for 20 years. Holt was city manager of Benson for five years before being terminated by the City Council in a 4-3 vote in July last year.
Molina, 47, said he is running for mayor because it's time to "get back to basics."
"We need to get back to the basic needs of the community," said Molina, a lifelong Benson resident. "I will work for the people and not have any personal agenda. Too many of the council members have personal agendas and have failed to fulfill a lot of promises. My main objective is to represent the people."
Molina is employed as a deputy marshal with the Tombstone Marshal's Office.
Regarding the City Council, incumbent Toney King has opted to run for a second four-year term, while Councilman Ted Amox is not.
King is running for a second term to continue helping the community.
"I want to continue my work with the community and working toward growth and more businesses," King said. "I want to try and keep the city focused on the people and make sure the council is truthful with the citizens. I want to increase morale at the city and improve communication with the community."
King, 41, is a 12-year Benson resident. King currently works for the Safeway corporation.
Along with King, J.W. Hill, Richard Leland, Rudolfo "Rudy" Peralta and Lori McGoffin are seeking seats on the council.
Hill, 65, is running to continue the work of the current City Council. Hill, along with wife, Betty, is the owner of Cates-Hill RV and Supplies.
"I think the present City Council has a lot of good things going," Hill said. "I'd like to continue that. I want to see Wal-Mart come to town, and being semi-retired, I can spend a lot of time dealing with city business."
Hill, a four-year Benson resident, ran unsuccessfully for the City Council in the 2003 election as well.
Leland, 59, is also running to keep the city running in the current direction. Leland, retired, served 21 years in the law enforcement industry. Leland has also run unsuccessfully for the council.
"I believe the current City Council, mayor and city manager have our city headed in the right direction," Leland said. "I just want to see it continue. Benson will grow, like it or not, and there must be income in place to support this growth. I'm not a very good speaker as most know, but I am a good listener and thinker. I think issues, through, and will then vote what I think is best for the majority of Bensonites."
McGoffin, 33, is running because she's tired of being ignored.
"I have a policy that you can't complain if you don't vote," McGoffin said. "My complaining is getting nowhere so I thought I would try something else. I have no agendas, I just want to help the town."
McGoffin is a 22-year Benson resident and is employed at the Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy.
Rudolfo "Rudy" Peralta, 30, is running to make some changes for the youth in Benson.
"I think there needs to be growth for the kids," Peralta said. "I want to start a family and I want to raise my kids here. I want my kids to be able to stay in Benson after they are out of high school and have a future here."
Peralta is a 10-year Benson resident. Peralta works at Safeway in Benson.
The mayor receives a monthly salary of $200 and each council member receives $100.
The primary election is set for Tuesday, March 8, and the general election will be held Tuesday, May 17.
To vote in the upcoming elections voters must be citizens living inside the Benson city limits and must register to vote with Cochise County before Monday, Feb. 7, 2005.
Citizens can register to vote at www.cochisecounty.com.
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