Swisstack’s motives seem to be pure

To say I was not impressed by Mayor Tom Swisstack’s address at the “State of the City” meeting last week would make me a liar.

It was not the smooth delivery, or the glowing quotations that captured my attenton. I would have to admit that it was the content and the information that Swisstack shared with Albuquerque and Rio Rancho citizens at that luncheon that wowed me.

With 80,000 residents in Rio Rancho, why shouldn’t we be the second-largest city in New Mexico?

However, Swisstack wants it to be a city where we can live in a quality environment.

Where we have adequate police protection and firefighters to come to our aid when necessary.

We now have an ISO Class 3 rating, which is an honor only five percent of New Mexican cities have.

He also wants city workers to like their job because they are treated well. In turn, they can exhibit superior customer service skills to Rio Rancho citizens.

Because of flood control issues, he is also addressing those concerns with a 25-year plan built on five-year increments.

Forget that we will be building University of New Mexico and New Mexico Community College branches, a new high school and middle school; we also have a ‘state of the art’ hospital under construction beginning mid-summer this year.

Don’t label me an apple polisher.

It is refreshing to find a politician, who loves his city and wants to make it the “City of Vision” it could be.

Mayors don’t have to hold community meetings or build transition teams. If they like the office of mayor, but deny the function, no one usually is the wiser.

This is not the situation in Rio Rancho. Swisstack is working hard after the citizens of this city voted him into the mayor’s seat.

He is at most every function, event and fundraiser in the city, and turns up in more places than I do as editor, which is saying something.

Let’s give credit where credit is due until Swisstack gives us a reason to doubt his mission and his capabilities.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait until the special workshop meeting, which will be held at 6 p.m. on June 2 at Rio Rancho City Hall, a meeting which will illuminate the results of the 12 community meetings held by Swisstack since he became mayor.