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About Frank Baca
Frank Baca for Bernalillo County Commissioner, District 2
Work History
Frank Baca's career as a lawyer and a public servant give him the experience and perspective necessary to serve District 2 as a competent and engaged County Commissioner.
Frank Baca is a "mostly" retired attorney for the people. Frank has practiced law for the people in the South Valley for most of his career in the areas of criminal law as well as civil litigation law in the areas of business law, real estate and injury claims.
From 2015-2019, Frank Baca was a senior trial attorney and deputy district attorney with the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s office.
Frank was General Counsel of the New Mexico Gaming Control Board (NMGCB) from 2003 until 2015. His role was to advise the board on legal and policy-making matters, and to represent the Board in all legal matters related to gaming in New Mexico. Mr. Baca’s office administered the legal requirements of the tribal gaming compacts signed in December 2001 and the amended 2007 and 2015 compacts. In 2012, Frank also assumed the role of Executive Director of the NMGCB. He continued in the dual role of General Counsel and Executive Director for four (4) years.
In 2009, Frank was named as one of the top 25 attorneys in New Mexico by New Mexico Business weekly. In 2016, he was named Prosecutor of the Year for the 13th Judicial District. Frank was on the board of the New Mexico Hispanic Bar Association for six years, two (2) as president.
Community Involvement
Frank has a long history of involvement with community and economic development groups.
He helped found and served as a board member for the Rio Grande Community Development Corporation/South Valley Economic Development Center for 12 years, ten years as president.
Frank has been involved in numerous neighborhood associations, road improvement, water & sewer projects and educational initiatives over the years.
He was also a founder of the Festival de Otono and the annual burning of El Kookooee.
In 1997, he was named a South Valley Outstanding Citizen.
Personal History
Frank Baca has a deep family history and connection to the South Valley. Lena K. Baca, Frank's mother, was raised in the heart of Barelas. His father, Frank Sr. was raised on Perry Road in the heart of the South Valley. The family home was situated on Isleta Blvd, near "Dead man's corner," a property still owned by the Baca family.
Frank has three grown sons (a police officer, an electrician and a business owner) and eight grandchildren.
Frank attended Armijo Elementary, Ernie Pyle Middle School and graduated from Rio Grande High School, received a B.A. in history at Yale University in 1977, and earned a law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1981. He and his family have always dedicated themselves to their community.
Community needs
The primary responsibility of a county commissioner is to address the basic, infrastructural needs of the community: roads, traffic signals, police protection, parks, weed and litter etc.
It is crucial to determine those needs and priorities by inquiring and LISTENING to community members, as opposed to telling the community what it needs.
The most effective way to accomplish this is to conduct frequent "town hall meetings" and conduct surveys by mail and online.
A county commissioner should also work to ensure the district receives its fair share of county expenditures once the community needs are identified.
Crime &
CRIMINAL
JUSTICE REFORM
"As a former prosecutor and a father of a police officer, I am very aware that there is a clear distinction between career criminals and those committing crimes due to medical issues such as depression, schizophrenia, substance abuse and alcoholism as well as those who resort to crime as a way out of poverty.
Career criminals need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law in order to promote safety. However, those who commit crimes that also endanger the community, but are due to mental health issues must be medically treated as a more cost-effective manner of reducing crime and keeping the community safe. Those programs must be made available while a person is incarcerated with required follow-up care.
Poverty also forces individuals into crime in order to survive; educational and job programs as an alternative to incarceration, address this issue."
CULTURAL PRESERVATION
The South Valley and adjacent communities hold a unique place within the State due to the historical nature of the community and the confluence of semi-rural and urban environments.
Careful an d sensitive leadership:
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On one hand, it is important to acknowledge our uniqueness as a way to promote pride and self-respect
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On the other hand, over-promotion encourages gentrification which threatens that uniqueness and livability by increasing property taxes and threatening eviction of long-time residents.
There are so many positive aspects of our community that need to be acknowledged from historical significance, agricultural and equestrian life-style to the family and social values of our community, including our focus on family and religion.
At the same time, residents need to be informed of the true value of their property and to be assisted in finding ways of keeping property in their families.
EDUCATION
Education is the foundation of economic development and the most effective way to address social ills of substance abuse, poverty and other related issues. It is crucial to support education from financial incentives to developing a campaign to promote education and to develop a “culture of education.”
A county commissioner can support existing programs and initiatives that promote education and educators. It is also crucial to work with the community, legislators and school board members to seek out and support new bold programs and initiatives.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
People need jobs. Jobs close to one’s home promote a healthier life style. The nature and location of economic development is crucial to a dynamic and improved quality of life. Effort should be made to protect the Valley floor while allowing growth in a responsible and manageable fashion in appropriate commercial and industrial areas.
In the Southwest Mesa area, the door should be open to quality growth with proper controls in place to ensure availability of natural resources and to avoid the development of future blighted areas. The priority should be to make sure the needs of the current residents are met while new infrastructural projects are considered.
We endorse Frank Baca for Bernalillo County Commissioner, District 2
Frank Baca is endorsed by countless political and community leaders who know that he is listens and he will be our strong voice on the Bernalillo County Commission.
Elected officials who have Endorsed Frank Baca for Bernalillo County Commission, District 2:
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Representative Eleanor Chavez
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Representative Miguel Garcia
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Senator Antoinette Sedillo Lopez
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Senator Linda Lopez
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Commissioner. Barbara Baca
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Commissioner Eric Olivas
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former Mayor Martin Chavez
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former APS board member Yolanda Montoya Cordova
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former County Commissioner Orlando Vigil
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Melissa Armijo, State Board of Education
Contact Me
Frank A. Baca for County Commission
P.O. Box 72609, 87195
frbaca@msn.com; (505) 400-5588 (Frank's direct email and cell: write, call, or text)
Contact Me
Frank A. Baca for County Commission
P.O. Box 72609, 87195
frbaca@msn.com; (505) 400-5588 (Frank's direct email and cell: write, call, or text)