AWC panel tackles issues

Politicians and community members in Yuma County came together Thursday at a political forum to discuss local issues.

The forum was hosted by the Arizona Western College political science department, with panelists including Wellton Town Councilman Alex M. Bejarano, San Luis Mayor Juan Carlos Escamilla, Yuma Union High School District Governing board member Charlene Fernandez, Yuma Deputy Mayor Ema Lea Shoop, Gadsden School District board member Tadeo De La Hoya; and Somerton City Councilman Miguel Villalpando.

Political science Professor Mohammed "Mo" Bahramzadeh moderated the event and fielded audience questions for the panel.

One hot-button topic was the discussion of teachers in the Yuma area, including the equality and availability of teachers.

Shoop said teachers are getting "burned out" in the classroom because they're not getting enough preparation in their education.

Fernandez disagreed, saying that teachers are "equipped."

The panel also discussed the community taking a more active role.

Shoop cited the Estancia/land use issue that the Yuma City Council voted on Wednesday. Members of the public said they were not aware of it, she said, yet the development has been in the works for years.

Panel members also discussed water use and what the future of water in the Yuma area might be.

"As agriculture comes out of production, that water will be shifted to other uses," Shoop said as she estimated the population in the city of Yuma could reach 250,000 in the next 50 years.

What the panel members all agreed on is they hope to see younger people become more involved, whether that's attending a city council meeting or a school board meeting.

Ted Martinez, professor of environmental science at AWC, brought his class Thursday to attend the forum.

"When do you get this opportunity?" Martinez said about having a chance to engage the officials in dialogue. "It was nice to see them face to face."