By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
The Historic Shuler Theater hosted the 2025 municipal election candidate forum where seven of the eight candidates were on hand to speak to the public in attendance and on the KRTN Facebook Stream. Don Giacomo was not able to attend the forum and Jeff McClean has dropped out of the race.
The candidates opened the forum with some basic information and bio for themselves and give a quick view about what they want to do or accomplish. Kathleen Hanson spoke about the things she wanted to work on such as affordable housing and keeping local business in business. To occupy the vacant buildings which was also echoed by other candidates. Neil Segotta spoke about the history of the commission that he has seen in his 12 years of service.
Dan Campbell brings years of experience with Raton Water Works and his other experiences as a contractor. Jason Bennett comes to Raton from Texas and has had experience in operating his own businesses.
Sally Hoger wants to see more health care availability in Raton. She also wants to see more education opportunities for our younger residents as well older residents. Joey Bustos spoke about his experience as a veteran and law enforcement. He wants to help Raton grow again.
How can Raton make the downtown better and revitalize to bring more traffic downtown. Most candidates all felt that what Raton is doing in removing the old, dilapidated buildings is a good step in the right direction. Segotta noted that we need to get property owners to provide affordable rent and or affordable purchase prices so small business owners can afford to open a business. Hoger wants to see more green areas downtown. Bustos wants to see more volunteers to help do the work of cleanup and to create a more positive outlook. Schuster suggested an art park for the El Portal property and then wants to see improvements in the parks Raton already has.
Affordable and adequate housing is a major issue in rural America. Campbell noted the Rock program that Scott Berry is involved in which remodels housing and sells those remodeled houses at an affordable price. Bennett also echoed what Campbell noted. Segotta also echoed the Rock program is a worthwhile program that Raton is involved in. Hoger also agrees on the affordable housing. Schuster talked about rental units and affordable loan rates. Hanson talked about finding homes that can be remodeled, and she noted that she has assisted four families in finding homes and helping them to afford those homes.
What city ordinances or policies need to be changed? Benett noted there is a lot of work since many have not been updated since the 80s. Segotta agreed that is a tough one as the city has worked on some ordinances including the animal control ordinance. Segotta noted the anti-donation laws need changed. Hoger noted that the city commission needs to look at the ordinances for updating. Schuster noted the animal ordinance needs more work as the municipal judge indicates it has parts that don’t work well. Campbell agreed that ordinances need to be looked at.
Many residents are concerned about infrastructure improvements and how they can be funded. There is a lot of infrastructure that needs to be upgraded including roads and drainage systems. Segotta noted that it takes $1.5 million per mile to redo roads. Hoger talked about updating and producing our own electricity. Bustos indicated that Romero Park needs updated, and he is complaining that the east side is being neglected and wants to know where the money is going. Schuster noted that there are plans to upgrade Romero Park with a skateboard facility. Hanson noted that she likes the solar and how great it would be for Raton to be off grid. Campbell agreed the solar is good and would like to see more and talked about the water department and went on that to find money for roads is a big problem. Bennett also agreed with the roads and drainage issues and that chasing money for those improvements is tough.
What would you do to protect the city from climate change. Hoger wants to see the recycle center expanded and was in favor of improved green energy initiatives. Bustos continued to talk about Romero Park improvements as well as improvements for the dog park. Schuster indicated that Raton needs a small city bus for grocery trips and encourage bicycle riding. Hanson also wondered about wind generators thinking they could be good for Raton. Campbell also agreed with education of the younger residents on how to be more energy wise. Bennett agrees with the others. Segotta noted that the city has about a dozen electric car charging stations. The city is working on finding money to expand the current solar farm. Segotta noted that the recycle center is expanding but the recyclables are getting harder to find locations that take those recyclable materials and they are getting farther away from Raton.
Bustos doesn’t want wind generators here and he went on that he simply wants to see changes. Schuster noted that LEDA agreements are one way to help improve economic development and is looking to the state to make the agreements better. Hanson agreed with Schuster about the LEDA agreements and noted we need to be aware of the people we work with on these agreements. Campbell delved into the agreements and noted they are geared to job creation. Bennett also agreed that the grants are good and that we can possibly use them to help disadvantaged business. Segotta noted that we need to use our natural resources to help bring in those types of business. Hoger was not opposed to using city resources for business attraction.
Schuster thanked KRTN for streaming and publishing the city commission meetings and she noted she is available and can often be found in the public arena to visit with constituents. Hanson agreed and that transparency is important and that it’s all about the people.
Campbell noted that all the meetings are open to the public and encouraged people to come to meetings and watch the streamed meetings to be better informed and able to ask questions. Bennett also noted the meetings are open to the public as well as notices are displayed at city hall. Segotta noted his door is open and his phone number is published, and he also noted that he wants people to contact him, let’s chat he added. Hoger noted that the commission needs to communicate with residents and provide a little more history on some projects not just assuming we know what’s going on.
Raton is experiencing a brain drain and how can the city help keep the younger folks in town with jobs. Hanson said this is already in progress with the Center for Community Innovation programs that work with students and expose them to local jobs. Campbell also noted that the water department has the opportunity for students to shadow water department workers. Bennett also agreed and noted that business should offer intern positions. He noted that we have a lack of skilled trades, and we need more youth to look at those jobs. Segotta noted that he is working to get a trade program that was here a while back to come back to Raton. Hoger also agreed about the vocational programs and wants to see more online college opportunities. Bustos noted we need to bring vocational trades back to the high school. Schuster noted that a new educational committee is working with area colleges to bring more education to Raton.
What is your position on the Casino project. Campbell thinks the casino would bring in some traffic and Raton would see more income from utility use and hopefully help build more business. He noted that we need to get people off the highway and into Raton. Bennett thinks there would be businesses that would want to grow around the casino such as additional hotels and service support jobs. Segotta said other entities are already reaching out to Raton to bring new business in. Hoger also noted she thinks there would be new business creation as well. Bustos is against the casino for a variety of reasons. Schuster was initially against it but after hearing the Picarius Tribe elders she changed her moind and feels that it would be a good thing. Hanson also agreed but wants stipulations that would include hiring locals and give them good pay.
Can you share an example where you would go against partisan politics in favor of Raton. Bennett noted he was only for Raton and to heck with politics. Segotta agreed we need to be purple not red or blue. We need to work together Hoger also agreed with that while Bustos went off track on why businesses are going away. Schuster noted it’s all about the people and not politics. Commissioners represent the whole of town and not just a district and also look to what the commission can do for the extraterritorial zones. Hanson noted that Raton is family and wants to work for what is best for the community. Campbell noted local government is not a partisan group and is to work with the public for the public.
What is your vision for the future and where do you want to see Raton in five to 10 years? Segotta noted that the clean-up is continuing, and he sees Raton growing with recreation potential. Hoger’s vision is business growth and wants to see new business and thinks a bigger employer is one thing Raton needs. Bustos wants to see the town grow with good leaders. Schuster notes better internet is one thing the city has done to hopefully bring more opportunities to Raton and wants to see Raton bring more quality-of-life things to town. Hensen, Campbell and Bennett agree they want to see Raton thrive.
November 4, 2025, is election day with early voting to begin on October 7, 2025, through Saturday, November 1, 2025. Voter Registration Deadline is October 7, 2025, while Absentee Ballot Request Deadline is October 21, 2025.
