A Conversation with Lic. Eugenio Elorduy Walther
GOVERNOR-ELECT EMBRACES CROSS-BORDER TIES



Few Mexican politicians are better versed in cross-border opportunities and challenges than Lic. Eugenio Elorduy Walther, Governor-elect of Baja California. He is former Mayor of Mexicali and serves along with Mexico's President Vicente Fox Quesada on the National Executive Committee of the National Action Party (PAN). Elorduy is a long-time member of the San Diego Dialogue, where he co-chairs the Forum Fronterizo Council.

SDDR: Congratulations on your election as governor. It will be a great pleasure to be able to work with you through San Diego Dialogue and the Forum Fronterizo on projects of benefit to both sides of the border. Our readers would be very interested to know what level of importance you give to relations between California and Baja California, especially in the border area.

Elorduy: Well, in the first place, I am a very firm believer in maintaining and improving relationships between people and in particular between our two countries, especially our region. I firmly believe that, even though there is a border between our two countries, a reality that obviously we must respect, it should in no way impede our working together. It should not impede getting to know each other much more, to gain and augment our mutual trust in the search for solutions to common problems.

SDDR: What do you see, sir, as those common problems?

Elorduy: Unquestionably, we have the problem of the flow of people from our country into the United States. That is one reality we must deal with. We also have a common problem centering on water availability for Baja and San Diego County, especially the Baja coastal cities. I also see improving and maintaining the best quality in education as a common challenge that we can both work at. I see the environment, improving on its quality and respecting it, as another common venture. And another situation is improving the quality of government. We must always endeavor to improve how we treat the citizen, who is our boss. These are some of the topics that I consider very important. Then there is one that I call "the darkest side of the moon," which is the safety issue.

SDDR: Public safety?

Elorduy: Yes, which is obviously very much related to organized crime on both sides of our border.

SDDR: Are you hopeful that your administration can come up with some ways of tackling this that haven't been pursued in the past?

Elorduy: I think definitely so, as we will be working with a very different and much better Mexican federal government, better in its attitude. We have in the person of Vicente Fox a President who is honestly committed to working on the safety issue. Even though he's only been in office for approximately eight months, one result has been the apprehension and, in fact, extradition of Mexican nationals to the U.S. Also, I would point to the agreements that have just been signed. These show a mutual trust on the part of both the U.S. and Mexican federal governments. So we will be working with our federal government in terms of our responsibility at the state and city government level, especially on prevention of crime.

SDDR: One thing that encouraged us on this side of the border in the last month was the Mexican Congress' approval for states and municipalities to use municipal bonds to finance public infrastructure. Do you see this as an important new tool at the state and city levels?

Elorduy: Definitely. It is something that fortifies state and city treasuries so we can work on medium- and long-term solutions to important requirements our populations have. For example, we can do something about urbanization and the need for public works, which is important to our city governments. So I think this is an important change that will definitely help.

SDDR: Recently, you participated in the Forum Fronterizo program on energy opportunities in Baja California. Paul Boeker, president of the Institute of the Americas, said that opportunities arising out of the energy sector would allow Baja California to build its industrial base in exciting new ways. This could take you beyond the maquiladora stage and even present opportunities for high-tech manufacturing with intensive energy requirements. In other words, a whole new range of possibilities for economic development may be opening up. Is this a feeling that you share and might that hold out new opportunities for linking to high-tech research in San Diego?

Elorduy: I think the energy opportunities that Ambassador Boeker talked about are definitely very important assets in the economic development of our state. This will help us promote the type of large industry that we need and are prepared to receive, for example, car manufacturing. But it also provides the opportunity to make our quality of life better. We must assure that the production of electricity also benefits the Baja California consumer in his home. We must get better electricity rates, as you must also. We, too, have been feeling the pinch at the household level for many years in our state.

SDDR: Do you have a way to illustrate the burden the Baja consumer faces?

Elorduy: Well, a person earning three times the minimum wage - for example in the Mexicali area - must pay up to 50% of his monthly income on the electricity bill.

SDDR: Wow!

Elorduy: Also, as we develop new energy plants, it is very important to consider the environment. We must take very good care not to sacrifice the environment just because we are getting more economic development or places to work. We must maintain a balance because the quality of our life depends on the quality of our environment.

SDDR: One suspicion is that energy plants will migrate to Baja California to escape California's strict environmental regulations.

Elorduy: Well, I think that that is not a just reason to move to Baja. It is not fair for investment to be made in a country because environmental regulations in other countries restrict their operations. This type of investment, in my opinion, should take into account the fact that we are also human beings on this side of the border and that we deserve the same quality of environment as any other country.

SDDR: What authority does the state of Baja have to require that energy investments meet the same environmental standards as California, or would you even try to achieve that?

Elorduy: Currently, Federal Mexican regulations control the authorization for and regulation of these power plants. Fortunately, even though our federal government does not have an obligation to consult the Baja state government, the current government is doing so. This is part of the new attitude attributable to President Fox. What we need at the state government level is to work with our federal government to establish regulations that address the quality of life we need to be in harmony with these power plants. And we must work at the state level on the authorization of these power plants. I don't mean to exclude the federal government. We must work together to harmonize the quality of the environment with the welcoming of these power plants.

SDDR: What kind of cooperation would you like from San Diego and from California in your term?

Elorduy: I have always seen that the more you talk and listen to people, the greater the feeling of trust. With trust, you can get to accord to solve the problems that we have mentioned. We must talk with Governor Gray Davis and set up a continuing working relationship. In fact, President Fox has just made a very special visit to California to note the importance of this state and its relationship with our country. And that's the way we also look at it from Baja California. We also respect institutions like the San Diego Dialogue as a regional effort to address problems and pursue opportunities.

SDDR: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Elorduy: I think we should add to our earlier environmental comments. I would ask our neighbors next door to Mexicali - the Imperial Valley - to look at some of the things that worry us. For example, the burning of agricultural fields and airplane fumigation of crops affect the air in Mexicali. I think we have a mutual responsibility because it is a two-way street. Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to the San Diego Dialogue for the opportunity to have this conversation. And I would also like to reaffirm my commitment to working together to make our communities grow.

SDDR: Thank you