Election Day on Nov. 3will decide who represents El Paso on the City Council in Districts 1, 5, 6, and 8.
To help voters learn more about the candidates on the ballot, the El Paso Times asked those seeking office to answer a standard set of questions about their backgrounds, priorities and views on issues affecting the community.
El Paso City Council District 6 represents parts of the city's East Side and Lower Valley
All candidates were invited to complete an election questionnaire to introduce themselves, their platform and address important voter topics.
The following is a sampling of candidates' responses. Click the link on the candidate's name to read the full questionnaire.
Claudia Contreras Siller and Hector Omar Alva “Alba” did not respond.
El Paso City Council District 6
- Art Fierro
- Claudia Contreras Siller
- Pedro Fernandez Jr.
- Jesse Moreno
- Hector Omar Alva “Alba”
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?
Fierro: While I do personally support the Deck Plaza project and would like to see the amenity in El Paso, I would not take any action to further the project unless there was a financially viable path for the City of El Paso as a partner. The project is engaged heavily now on raising the private funding required to draw down federal funding. The city has not contributed any general fund dollars to the project’s construction.
Fernandez Jr.: I do not support the proposed Downtown I-10 Deck Plaza project. There are too many vague goals and assurances, much akin to those we saw with the META 380 agreement, which the incumbent continues to support, and a potential need for more public money that is currently not sustainable with the City’s existing budget constraints. The project has yet to meet its funding goal, which has an October deadline, with no publicized extension as of the time of my writing this answer. As much as I appreciate the thought behind the project and the work that was invested in putting it together, the more realistic goal is to continue to find other ways to revitalize/develop Downtown and provide for more recreational greenspaces in other ways that don’t further burden El Paso taxpayers. I would not commit city funds to help finance the project.
Moreno: While the concept of the Downtown Deck Plaza is positive the reality is not reconnecting neighborhoods divided by the interstate and reclaiming public space downtown is worth pursuing. But I oppose using city general funds to finance it. We should still allow those seeking funding for it the time and tools they need but this should be funded through private partnerships, state, and federal transportation dollars. Asking El Paso taxpayers to foot the bill for a downtown amenity while basic infrastructure needs go unmet elsewhere in the city. While tourism and economic development is critical taxpayers' budgets are already stretched thin.
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?
Fierro: While some might suggest that a “no new revenue” tax rate would be the best option, the suggestion is disingenuous rhetoric because council is fully aware of the adverse impact it would have on crucial services. Limiting spending growth moving forward is required at every point of decision making by city council. Certain services such as police, fire, street maintenance and public health are critical and difficult to make subject to reductions. However, each department should engage in their own streamlining to create efficiencies that will reduce their spending. For example, adopting a system of preventative measures to decrease street maintenance costs in the future should be implemented.
Fernandez Jr.: I would vote against issuing non-voter approved debt to finance projects that don’t focus on emergency infrastructure, further adding to our debt service obligations in the city budget, costing the City of El Paso and potentially raising taxpayer bills down the road, without their say so. Additionally, I would rigorously review the City’s budget book and focus on government waste/redundancy to find expenses to cut in the next fiscal year’s budget and proactively work to avoid budget proposals that include tax increases before the day of a vote on the budget. Any major proposed cuts should constitute a need to hold public comment or community meetings to discuss with residents whether they would be supportive or against such cuts to adjust accordingly.
Moreno: Slowing property tax growth requires action on two fronts. At the state level, I'd continue advocating and hopefully alongside city staff, for structural relief, since so much of what drives our tax bills, like appraisal methodology and state mandates, originates in Austin, not City Hall. Locally, I'd push the city to practice real budget restraint: adopting the no-new-revenue rate whenever possible, scrutinizing budget growth that has outpaced inflation and population growth in recent years, and prioritizing the local homestead exemption as direct, immediate relief for homeowners. I’d seek to collaborate strongly with CAD and related stakeholders to guide citizens on protesting their property tax and make very accessible.
What should be the city's next big civic project?
Fierro: The city needs to once and for all get on an achievable track to revitalize the Chihuahuita neighborhood. That has taken far too long and now we face the costly consequence. But that area cannot be left dilapidated without any progress in sight.
Fernandez Jr.: Expanded improvement on roads and modernized infrastructure.
Moreno: El Paso's next big civic project should come directly from our community, not from a corporation or a contract we approve out of financial desperation or a proposal from those with a financial legacy in the region. I'd start by asking residents directly what they want that next major investment to be, so whatever we build next has the public's buy-in from day one. True representation at work.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Meet 5 candidates running for El Paso City Council District 6
