Commissioners plan to focus on jobs

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - There are now two new and two familiar faces on the Bernalillo County commission.

Commissioners were sworn in Tuesday morning and the new group said they are ready to get to work, making sure Bernalillo County is a top contender for businesses and jobs.

New commissioners, former Albuquerque city councilor Debbie O'Malley and businessman Lonnie Talbert say they have big plans for their new seats.

Talbert got emotional as he took to oath of office.

"I worked my butt off for 90 days to win an election," Talbert said. "It's extremely humbling, and it's an honor to be a public servant."

Now he said the real work begins.

"We need to have a county where when our young people graduate, that this is the place they want to stay," Talbert said.

Debbie O'Malley had been an Albuquerque City Councilor since 2003. She says with a new, bigger district she has a lot to learn, but also she thinks this job could be easier.

"In some ways I can be more effective, only because there's four commissioners and in getting things through, we don't go through a bigger process," O'Malley added.

Incumbents Art De La Cruz and Maggie Hart Stebbins say the commission already agrees on one thing.

"Clearly our number one priority is creating jobs," said Commissioner Heart Stebbins.

The new commissioners say they have to make sure the proper infrastructure is in place to attract jobs. Other than that, they aren't saying yet how they plan to make the county more desirable.

Business owner Roxanna Meyers has already been sworn in to take Debbie O'Malley's city council seat.

Maggie Toulouse Oliver was also sworn in as county clerk for another term so was treasurer Manny Ortiz.