Q. What is your full name, and where and when were you born?
A. Ronald L. Jackson. I was born in Hobbs, NM in 1960

Q. What led you to the decision to run for Mayor of Portales?
A. I had been on City council for 12 years and off for the last four years. I felt like the City of in need of some leadership and just thought it was time to get back involved with the city. So I just threw my hat in the ring. It was a surprise when it turned out that I was un-opposed.

Q. What are Portales’ biggest strengths?
A. I feel like the biggest strength are the people that live here and how close knit the community is. I think the strength in the people lies in the fact that we started out as an agricultural based community that was faith based. So hard work and prayer will get a lot done!

Q. What are its biggest challenges?
A. Our biggest challenges are our NEED for a water supply. Next would be the funding for street repairs and infrastructure repair.

Q. What have you done career-wise that helped prepare you for this position?
A. My US military service really gave me a solid base for leadership. My years at JP Stone bank has given me an understanding of finance and a lot of experience in reading people. My 12 years on the Council gave me a solid understanding of local government. Plus, I really care about our town so you add all those up and I feel like it gives me the resume to be Mayor of Portales.

Q. What are your short-term and long-time goals for Portales?
A. We are planning a retreat for the Council and City Management to do just that. I felt like it was important to involve everyone on Council and upper-management in setting a 1 year – 3 year and five year plan. I do have my own goals but let’s talk more about that after the retreat.

Q. What do you think about living on the High Plains?
A. I just like the small town atmosphere. I like how friendly the people are, I think the cost of living is very reasonable . It is great to have the University here, it really creates a diverse community. Despite some recent activity, I still feel like Portales is one the safest places to live.

Q. Where did you attend high school, and what activities were you involved in (year graduated)?
A. I attended Portales High School and graduated in 1979. After high school in US Army for 4 1/`2 hours, then Herbert Lumber for two year and then went to work at Parkway. Then went to work at Portales National Bank as it was known then and now it is James Polk Stone bank.

Q. What are your hobbies?
A. My hobby is my family and yard work. Spending time with my family is what I enjoy and doing yard work is my stress reliever. I don’t really have any other hobbies.

Q. What have been your happiest and saddest moments?
A. Happiest moment was when I married my wife and next had to be the birth of each of my children. The saddest moments or times were when I lost My Grandma Brown , and then losing my Mom Oleta.

Q. Where were you born, raised, towns you lived in, and what was your life like growing up (what did parents do, siblings, etc.)?
A. I was born in Hobbs, NM moved to Portales then moved to Texico and moved back to Portales in 1975.
I have two brothers and two sisters, so a family of five!

Q. Tell us about your own family: their names, jobs, activities, hobbies, talents, schools attended, degrees, etc., and what your family means to you?
A. My wife Cheri K. works for the Portales Schools and we have been married 21 years. She is an ENMU grad and when she was going to ENMU, we lived across the street from each other. We would check each other out at the mailbox.
We have two children, Sarah a graduate from PHS and recently graduated from Texas Tech and Drew also a PHS grad. He graduated from PHS the same day that Sarah graduated from Texas Tech. One in the morning and one in the afternoon! What a day! Our son Drew is attending Wayland Baptist University and living out his dream of playing college football.

Q. What gives your life the most meaning?
A. My faith and my family.

Q. Do you have a general philosophy of life?
A. Live by the golden rule. Treat others the way you would want to be treated.

Q. Anything else you would like to share with the community?
A. I am very proud to have the opportunity to serve as mayor and hope that together we can do great things for Portales. I want to be accessible to the public. You are always going to have those two or three old grouches that complain about everything, and that is fine however I want to hear from our people, if you have a problem or you have an idea that would help Portales…. You can reach me through City Hall or at James Polk Stone Bank.