09/13/2026
The next City Commissioner meeting is Sept 21st 6pm. I would love for the community to show up. Please don’t blow this off. I know this is lengthy but read the whole message that I am going to present to the Mayor and City commissioners. If you really care about this community then let’s do something about it. If you feel to stand on the side lines could you at least share this so we can get the word out?
Good evening, Mayor and Commissioners.
I came here tonight because my recent experiences have given me a new perspective on what matters most—and on what is possible for Hobbs.
Over the past couple of weeks, I spent about 10 days in the hospital dealing with some serious health issues. Shortly after getting out, I’m preparing to travel to Washington, D.C., where Rig Outfitters has been recognized as one of the top 100 small businesses in the United States.
Those two experiences have made me especially grateful: grateful for my health, grateful for the people who supported me, and grateful for the opportunity to represent a business that was built right here in Hobbs.
I’m incredibly proud of that national recognition. But what I’m probably most proud of is that Rig Outfitters didn’t come from Dallas, Phoenix, Houston, or some other major city.
It came from Hobbs, New Mexico.
That matters because it reminds us that great things can come from places like ours. A business from Hobbs can earn national recognition, and I believe our community can set an equally ambitious goal.
Why can’t Hobbs someday be recognized as one of the top 100 communities in America to live, work, and raise a family?
My health experience reminded me that we don’t know how much time we have, so we should use the time we do have to make a meaningful difference. And this recognition reminded me that our community is capable of more than people sometimes expect.
Sometimes we hear people describe Hobbs as nothing more than a dirty little oil town.
Why do we have to accept that?
If a business from Hobbs can be recognized among the top 100 businesses in America, why can’t we work together to make Hobbs one of the top 100 communities in America?
Obviously, that doesn’t happen overnight. And no single group can do it by itself.
The city can’t do it by itself.
Businesses can’t do it by themselves.
Residents can’t do it by themselves.
But we can do it together.
I’d like to propose starting something I’m calling Hobbs 100.
And I want to start with something the city is already doing.
The City of Hobbs organizes community cleanup events several times a year, and I want to recognize the people who make those events happen. Those efforts matter, and I’m not here to criticize the people responsible for organizing them or make anyone feel that their work isn’t appreciated.
But I do believe we can do a much better job promoting those opportunities and getting the word out.
Right now, the city invites people to come out for a couple of hours, help pick up trash, and then receive small gifts or other tokens of appreciation. That’s a good start, but too often not enough people know about the events, and participation remains limited.
I don’t believe that means people don’t care. I believe it may mean we need to promote these events more effectively and make them a bigger part of the community.
Let’s make those cleanup days more visible, better organized, and more widely supported. Let’s promote them well in advance through local businesses, schools, churches, civic organizations, social media, local news, and direct invitations.
Let’s make sure people know when the events are happening, where to meet, what they need to bring, how long it will take, and what their participation will accomplish.
Let’s also recognize the businesses, families, organizations, and individuals who show up. The gifts and appreciation are a nice gesture, but the bigger goal should be building a culture of pride and participation in Hobbs.
And this cannot be placed entirely on the community.
It has to involve the city, business owners, local leaders, organizations, and residents working together.
Businesses can help promote the cleanup events, encourage their employees to participate, sponsor supplies or refreshments, and take responsibility for the areas around their own properties.
Keep your parking lot clean. Keep your alley clean. Pick up the trash around your property instead of waiting for somebody else to do it.
City leaders can help make these events more visible, coordinate with businesses and organizations, and make sure the community knows how to get involved.
Residents can participate, invite their families and friends, and help spread the word.
If you’re walking across a parking lot and there’s a cup or a piece of paper lying there, pick it up.
If you see a cleanup event being promoted, share it. Invite someone to join you. Bring your family, your coworkers, or your organization.
If you see something that needs attention, don’t always ask, “Whose job is that?”
Instead ask, “What can I do?”
But I also believe this same spirit of community involvement needs to apply to another important issue: public safety.
We have a new police chief whom I have had the opportunity to meet and speak with personally. I believe in his leadership, I believe in the direction he wants to take our police department, and I believe we have an opportunity for a fresh start.
But here’s something I think we all need to understand:
The police department cannot fight crime alone.
We can hire great officers. We can give them better equipment. We can put strong leadership in place.
But they still need us.
We need residents who are willing to report crimes and suspicious activity instead of assuming somebody else will do it.
We need business owners communicating with one another and with law enforcement.
We need neighborhoods looking out for their neighbors.
And I’d like to see us work with our police department to establish or strengthen Neighborhood Watch programs and business watch programs throughout Hobbs.
Not citizens confronting criminals. Not people putting themselves in danger.
I’m talking about neighbors knowing neighbors. Businesses communicating with businesses. People knowing who to call, what to report, and how to provide useful information to our police department.
Imagine having neighborhood captains throughout Hobbs who communicate with HPD and their neighbors.
Imagine businesses within the same shopping centers and business districts sharing information when there is a pattern of theft, vandalism, or suspicious activity.
Imagine our police department periodically meeting with these groups, answering questions and helping citizens understand what they can do to prevent crime.
Public safety is a partnership.
If we want a safer Hobbs, we have to participate in making it safer.
Again, the question should not always be, “Whose job is that?”
Instead, we should ask:
“What can I do to help?”
That is what I believe Hobbs 100 should ultimately represent.
Community responsibility. Community pride. Community involvement.
Let’s ask 100 businesses and community leaders to make a commitment to Hobbs.
Not a complicated contract. Not another government regulation.
Just a commitment.
Keep your property clean.
Participate in community cleanup efforts.
Report crime and suspicious activity.
Support our police officers.
Know your neighbors.
Help somebody who needs help.
And instead of constantly talking about everything that’s wrong with Hobbs, let’s start becoming part of what’s right with Hobbs.
I’m not standing here tonight asking the City of Hobbs for a bunch of money.
I’m asking for your partnership.
I’m willing to put my name on this.
I’m willing to have Rig Outfitters be one of the first businesses to sign the commitment.
And I’m willing to help recruit other business owners and people in this community to join us.
Let’s start with 100 businesses, 100 community leaders, and 100 days.
And then let’s see where we can take it.
I’ve learned something over the years in business—and my recent health experience reinforced it:
You don’t accomplish big things because somebody tells you they’re easy.
You accomplish them because somebody is willing to say,
“Why not us?”
So tonight, that’s really all I’m asking.
Why not Hobbs?
Why can’t we make Hobbs cleaner?
Why can’t we make Hobbs safer?
Why can’t we make Hobbs more beautiful?
Why can’t we make people proud when they drive into our city?
And why can’t a little oil town in southeastern New Mexico someday be recognized as one of the best communities in America?
I think it can.
And I’d love for all of you to help me get it started.
The image was AI generated but the message is from me.
