People for Prosperity
Having lived and worked in Las Cruces for over 28 years, I have never written a letter to the editor, yet I am compelled to enter the fray because I feel so strongly about the misinformation being spread about growth and prosperity in Las Cruces. The much-discussed and maligned growth in Las Cruces has helped many families enjoy the American Dream, including my own.
I first came to Las Cruces as a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer at the Holloman AFB Hospital in 1968.We would come to Las Cruces to buy office supplies and other needs, since it was much bigger than Alamogordo. Upon my retirement in 1979 we moved our family here to pursue the American Dream. (Own your own home, raise your family and have a successful business.)
As a businessman, I prospered in Las Cruces. We bought A-1 Rental Centers with very little money and lots of credit. The company grew to employ 45 people in five locations throughout Las Cruces, Alamogordo, and Silver City. We also started a medical rental & sales business and introduced new and exciting services to the area. In addition, we built up a ranching operation north of T or C, and finally, we purchased a feed store here in Las Cruces. We are living the American Dream. After selling most of the business entities I stayed involved and became even more involved in the banking industry.
Because I believe in Las Cruces and its potential, I’ve donated my time and energy to many different civic and economic organizations. I joined the Chamber of Commerce and served on that Board for 7 years, becoming President in 1986. I served with a small committee to form The Whole Enchilada Festival and worked with it for over 10 years. I served on the Convention and Visitors Board, Economic Development Boards locally and at the state level twice. I was elected to the National Board of Directors to represent the Construction, Industrial Council and later rose through the chairs to become President and Chairman of the Board of the American Rental Association.
We’ve grown businesses here, served here, lived here. We know Las Cruces. We have been in the trenches to help grow this Community. I worked side by side on the TWEF Fiesta with the trash collectors, the street cleaners, the soft drink sales people, the folks that sell chili. I’ve cracked eggs for the enchiladas and helped Roberto develop the first “Big Enchilada.”
I’ve been there. The community we helped developed provides more jobs today for more families. I am sensitive to the needs of these families and the plumbers, dry wall installers, carpenters, and yes, the port-a-potty folks. These are the folks that will suffer if this community stops growing and becomes a decaying community. If you haven’t been to some of the Midwestern or west Texas towns that withered and died, it is a sad situation. The People for Prosperity that I am involved with is here for the long haul.
We want to have a Community that is for all people, but tell the truth. We don’t need these people whose agenda is to use scare tactics and untruths to get their own agenda accomplished. I for one will not support a short lived People for Prosperity. I want us all to prosper far into the future. I want us all to achieve our American Dream.
Hotch Manning
Founding Member, People for Prosperity