09/25/2025
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'I love this community': Pantoya vying for second term on LJ City Council
JOE ZEMBA
La Junta Tribune-Democrat
Lisa Pantoya is the epitome of what it means to be a La Junta native, and she's never shied away from it.
The product of La Junta's New Addition, an historic settlement north of current day La Junta comprised mainly of the area's Mexican population, Pantoya has lived her entire life in La Junta and she has no plans of ever leaving.
"I love this community," said Pantoya, who has lived those words as a councilmember representing Ward 3 on the La Junta City Council over the past four years.
"I've lived in Ward 3 for 29 years and in La Junta for 50," she said. "I am a La Junta High School graduate and when I became a teen mom, I chose to stay here. I've worked my entire adult life in La Junta, and I've worked my way up and become self-made. Everything that I've done has molded me to love this community."
As a result, Pantoya has chosen to run for a second term on the City of La Junta Council, where she will be challenged by current board member Jeremiah Stoker, who moved from his home in Ward 2 to Ward 3, creating the two-person contest.
Pantoya has worked in banking for the past 20 years, including the past 18 years at The State Bank, a profession she says has translated well to public service.
"I know how to find solutions," said Pantoya. "In banking, I started as a teller, and I've worked my way up to different levels."
In fact, Pantoya credits her banking background to what she says has been the biggest change in the city over the past four years, and her greatest accomplishment.
"Four years ago, we learned that the city's reserve fund was going to be depleted by 2026," she said. "That was also going to affect our general fund and needed resources throughout the city. Through ongoing discussions with our Mayor, Joe Ayala, and the board, collectively, we altered the way the money generated accrues interest. Two things happened," she added. "Before, the city invested reserve funds solely in local banks, which was not getting the yield that they could. Mayor Ayala asked if those funds had to be invested locally," she explained. "They do not. So we invested funds at other banks where interest rates generated the yield needed to offset what would have otherwise been lost funds."
Additionally, Pantoya says the efforts made to promote Ballot Measure 2A, which increased sales tax revenues within city limits by one percent, passed in 2023 by voters, has made city funds solvent.
"When the initial tax increase failed in 2022, we were faced with a decision regarding pay increases for the hard-working people employed by the city," she said. "We gave the raises and we knew then that in order to continue to provide for our employees and sustain needed city resources, things would need to change. We needed a team."
As co-chair of the pro-2A committee, Pantoya helped raise over $3,000 for marketing materials to reach voters in the city.
Since its passage, Pantoya says the city's budget remains solvent and is steadily increasing.
The council's Mayor Pro-Tem, Pantoya, when asked why she would like to serve a second term, said, "There is still more work to be done. I feel like we are just starting. It takes time to be able to figure out solutions."
"I love La Junta and I'm dying here," she said. "I'm not going anywhere. This is my home. I want to make La Junta a better place for my friends, my family, and all the people that choose to live here. I still know a lot of people that I went to high school with that are here. I've never left. I'm proud to be able to say that. I'm starting to see the positives this council has accomplished and I want to continue to be a part of it."
However, Pantoya did acknowledge difficulties faced by the City of La Junta, primarily the pending closure of Safeway.
"The Safeway announcement will affect all of us," said Pantoya. "I feel for the people who are losing their job and for the people in this community who have relied on them for so many years."
"The city is researching alternatives to fill the void being left by Safeway's closure and we will continue to be active," she said. "In the meantime, we must look at this as an opportunity that is not just about growth, but about being better. We have just as much small business success stories as other places. Supporting the businesses that are choosing La Junta and keeping those hard-working people in business creates opportunities for potential businesses to choose La Junta. We will figure it out," said Pantoya.
Asked what the City of La Junta could expect from her if re-elected, Pantoya said, "Revenues will continue to grow, I will closely look at budgets, and I will focus on cutting back on crime. There is potential for neighborhood watch programs and community conversations intended to gather community input."
"I will continue to talk to talk to people, not only in my ward, and not only in the Valley," she added.
Ballots will be mailed to voters in the coming weeks and voters will have the option to return ballots either by mail or in person.
