Meet the candidate: Laura Ochoa-Todd, City Council District 8
Age:
Occupation: I am very comfortably retired and live off of my social security retirement, life savings, rents, and every once in a while, CD’s.
Please describe your personal and professional background.
I was born and raised in El Paso by a single immigrant mother. I have lived in San Francisco, Houston, Memphis, Key West and returned to my hometown of El Paso for good in 1999. I have worked in office management, real estate, housing, credit counseling, sales, and retail. Although I have worked in many business disciplines, I never concentrated in any to make a career of it, but my most enjoyable was being a realtor.
Describe your political identity.
At this point in my life, I consider myself non-partisan because I have seen corruption on both
the Democrat and Republican sides. I am not a politician but interested in local politics. I am for power to the people and believe everyone should vote for the person, not the party.
Questions related to El Paso City Council District 8 race
Do you support the proposed Downtown I-10 Deck Plaza project? Why or why not? If elected, would you support using city funds to help finance the project?
I do not support the I-10 Deck Plaza project because I feel it is a waste of money. With El Paso being in 3.1 billion dollars in debt and approximately 90 active proposed projects pending, we should work on reducing, not adding, more debt and finish pending projects. El Paso is unique. I don’t believe the idea I have heard that the deck plaza will bring communities in El Paso together. I don’t even believe people will ever even visit it except one time just to see it. If elected I would not support using city funds to help finance the project in any way shape or form.
Property taxes remain a top concern for many El Paso homeowners. What specific actions would you support to slow the growth of property tax bills or reduce services?
I support reducing only nonessential services. I would support making all tax entities accountable and transparent whenever they go over their budgets. Should they fall short, make them responsible in reducing their department essential services, balance their budgets and not depend on taxpayer monies.
Road conditions continue to be a major concern for voters. What steps would you take to ensure adequate and sustainable funding for street maintenance and repairs across El Paso?
In 2022 voters approved $237 million to repair and resurface streets and roads over the course of ten years. So, we should make this project a number one priority, regardless of what projects are at the top of the list. That is why I am against the Deck Plaza and other vanity type projects when we still have six years to finish up the street/road project.
What is your assessment of the city's Data Center Policy Framework? Does it strike the right balance between economic development and protecting community resources, or would you propose changes?
The Data Center Policy Framework was created to oversee and evaluate FUTURE large-scale (hyperscale) data center projects. We don’t need to assess this policy if it is for FUTURE data center projects. From what I’ve seen in the news about protests, recall of a representative, etc. we should not entertain having FUTURE data center projects in El Paso anymore.
Should the city continue offering tax abatements and other incentives to attract profitable corporations or industries? Under what circumstances, if any, should those incentives be approved?
El Paso is very economical and lucrative to corporations and industries. I don’t think we should offer tax abatements or other incentives. If such corporations decide to move to El Paso, they should pay for all the services, utilities, etc. themselves for they will be saving already in land acquisition, labor, taxes, and utilities. If, however, they do move their operations to El Paso, contracts should be very carefully scrutinized and approved by the entire city council, not just the majority. We have to remember what is approved today will affect generation to come.
Public safety remains a core city responsibility. What are your top priorities for police, fire and emergency services, and how would you pay for them?
These services are budgeted yearly and very well-funded. Still, their union rejected a multi-year 43-million-dollar contract. Personally, I feel we need to hold them accountable and transparent with their use of funds and why they’re asking for 56 to 66 million dollars more. For example, if they want new vehicles, we should know why. What is wrong with the old ones? I would not approve new vehicles if the old ones where still in good condition.
What do you see as El Paso's biggest economic challenge, and what specific policies would you pursue to address it?
El Paso is in trouble with 3.1 billion in debt and spending beyond necessities. Additionally, even under this condition, top officials continue to give themselves exorbitant raises just because they can. Yet around 18.4% of all people in the city live below the federal poverty level. And property values have become unaffordable for El Pasoans. As a start, I personally would freeze city officials’ salary raises indefinitely until we could brainstorm how to return them to other comparable cities salaries. In collaboration with Central Appraisal analyze how El Paso’s properties nearly doubled and under what circumstances.
Have you read the City Charter? What did you learn is the top City Council priority?
Still reading the whole charter. City Council priority is guided by an action plan and strategic framework structured around five core pillars: Economic Mobility, Public Safety, Infrastructure, Quality of Life, and Good Governance.
City leaders often face divisive issues. How would you work with colleagues, stakeholders and residents to find common ground and build consensus on major city decisions?
By understanding the issues carefully, building good dialogue, listening, focusing on common goals and justifying our beliefs and decisions to solve divisions.
What should be the city's next big civic project?
There are too many pending projects right now, so we should hold off on new projects until we have a concise plan on how we are seriously going to move forward to get to a next big civic project.
Learn more about Laura Ochoa-Todd
Do you plan to continue in your current employment if elected?
I am very comfortably retired.
What experiences in leadership do you have that qualify you for this position?
Well, I am a regular day to day citizen who decided to step up to help populate city council with fiscally conservative people who will work for their constituents instead of themselves. What I have is social leadership skills and can bring people together to achieve and build consensus. I feel that to qualify for this position, you need to understand who you work for, listen, and work your absolute best for them. I am not afraid or intimidated by officials/leaders/others in speaking my mind to do the right thing. People are all the same, just products of different environments.
Have you ever been arrested or charged with a crime? Have you ever had a civil judgment against you? Have you ever been in arrears on local, state or federal taxes? If so, please provide an explanation.
No, no and no.
If elected, would you have any potential conflicts of interest that you are aware of that would impair your ability to serve? Please explain what they are and how you would avoid the conflict.
No, none that I am aware of.
What does transparent government mean to you? Will you be personally accessible to answer questions while in office?
To me, transparent government means that the government will govern in the open, not secretly or behind closed doors. For all people to be able to see and hear what the government is doing. I always want our government at every level to be transparent, so I will be transparent to the best of my ability and be accessible to answer any questions if elected.
What distinguishes you from the other candidates in this race, and why should voters choose you?
Voters should vote for me because I really am for what the people want because I am a simple day to day citizen – I am one of them. I cannot be bought. If I were already a representative, I would have voted for council not to get a raise and to freeze the city top officials’ raises. Unlike the other candidates running for District 8, I am fiscally conservative, against wasteful spending and over taxing, mature, serious, fair, honest, and conscientious. And most importantly, I know my constituents are my boss.
The candidates' responses are being published largely as they were submitted.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Meet the Candidate: Laura Ochoa-Todd seeks City Council, 8 seat
