The stage is set for the El Paso City Council election.
Along with casting ballots in the gubernatorial contest and a highly contentious U.S. Senate race in November, El Pasoans will vote in four City Council races.
The last day to file for a spot on the ballot was Monday, Aug. 17, and more than a dozen candidates answered the call. With so many candidates in the race, it's likely the City Council elections will have to be decided in a December runoff.
All four seats have an incumbent looking to stay in office, but at least three of them will have to answer for their votes against renegotiating the deal with Meta over its Northeast data center, a move that led some residents to shout, "Vote them out," immediately after the vote was taken.
The city
would have faced legal liability had it unilaterally terminated its agreement with Meta. Outside counsel warned City Hall of staggering financial risks to taxpayers if it broke the Chapter 380 Economic Development Program Agreement.
Two incumbents on the ballot — city Reps. Art Fierro and Chris Canales — were part of the original vote to approve the economic incentive package for Meta in December 2023.
Another big issue among El Paso voters is the proposed Downtown I-10 Deck Plaza, a multimillion-dollar project that has divided City Council members in recent years — some city representatives enthusiastically support the plan for its potential to raise revenue and others are flatly opposed over fears that taxpayer funds might be siphoned for the project.
Along with that will come the regular City Council jobs of balancing a budget, raising tax revenue, attracting new business and economic development, investing in quality-of-life programs and maintaining essential services for residents.
City Council members serve four-year terms and will receive a $72,800 salary after a recent increase.
Here's a look at who's on the ballot:
District 1
District 1 on El Paso's West Side is currently represented by Mayor Pro Tem city Rep. Alejandra Chavez, who is seeking reelection after taking office to finish out former city Rep. Brian Kennedy's term after his unsuccessful bid for mayor. Chavez is a former restaurant owner and Enron analyst.
Following are the candidates vying to unseat the incumbent:
- Sam Armijo, veteran and former GE consultant who unsuccessfully ran for City Council in 2024
- Matthew James Kozic, attorney
- Daniela Garcia, administrative assistant
District 5
District 5 in El Paso's East Side is currently represented by city Rep. Ivan Nino, who won election to complete former city Rep. Isabel Salcido's term after she mounted an unsuccessful bid for mayor in 2024. Like Chavez, Nino is a former county tax assessor and district court administrator.
Following are the candidates vying to unseat Nino:
- Jacqueline Horn
- Richard Genera, organizer who unsuccessfully ran for City Council in 2024
District 6
District 6 in El Paso's East-Valley area is currently represented by city Rep. Art Fierro who was elected to City Council in 2022 after serving in the Texas House of Representatives.
Following are the candidates vying to replace Fierro:
- Claudia Contreras Siller, animal welfare advocate
- Pedro Fernandez Jr., independent delivery contractor
- Jesus Moreno, District 3 administrative assistant
- Hector Omar Alva "Alba," photographer
District 8
District 8 in Downtown El Paso is currently represented by city Rep. Chris Canales who was elected to City Council in 2022. Canales, who formerly worked in the fields of natural resources management and green sector consulting, was the only incumbent who voted in favor of renegotiating the Meta deal.
Following are the candidates looking to replace Canales:
- Arturo Alluin, restaurant owner
- Laura Ochoa-Todd, retired
- Johnny J. Gonzalez, retired
- Matthew Guzman, executive director of the Mary L. Peyton Foundation
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Who’s on El Paso’s City Council ballot? 4 seats at stake
