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.
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.
El Paso City Council District 5
- Ivan Niño
- Richard Genera
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?
Niño:
At a time when residents are asking us to address streets, public safety, traffic, parks, and affordability, those core responsibilities must remain our priority.
I believe the proposed Downtown I-10 Deck Plaza has the potential to reconnect parts of Downtown, create additional public space, and support economic development. However, any city investment must be financially responsible and clearly demonstrate a benefit to El Paso taxpayers.
Before supporting a significant city investment, I would need to see a complete funding plan, clearly defined long-term maintenance obligations, substantial participation from state, federal, private, and philanthropic partners, and a clear return for our community.
I would consider exploring limited city investment if it leverages substantially greater outside funding, does not require a property-tax increase, and does not come at the expense of essential city services. I would not support the city or local property taxpayers becoming the primary financial burden for the project.
Genera: My first priority as a city representative is affordability. When evaluating a project like the Deck Plaza, the fundamental question I have to ask is: how will this investment make life more affordable for my constituents, and what is the return to the city?
At this point, I have not seen a plan that demonstrates a clear and sufficient public benefit to justify the use of public funds. I would, however, be open to exploring partnerships with private entities, including opportunities for naming rights or other forms of private investment, that could reduce the burden on taxpayers and generate a positive return for the city sooner.
We also need to look beyond the initial construction cost. Much of the conversation has focused on how much it will cost to build the Deck Plaza, but we also need to ask who will pay to maintain, operate, repair, and eventually replace it. Those long-term costs could become a significant burden on the city and its taxpayers. I would support exploring public-private partnerships that could help cover ongoing maintenance and operating expenses, so the City isnot left carrying the full cost for decades to come.
For those reasons, I am not currently supportive of using public funds to finance the Deck Plaza. Any future proposal should demonstrate a clear public benefit, responsible use of taxpayer dollars, and a compelling case for how the project improves the lives of District 5 residents.
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?
Niño: Affordability has been one of my priorities since taking office, and I believe city government has a responsibility to recognize the financial pressure facing homeowners and families. Since taking office, I have consistently asked the city to identify cost savings, reduce unnecessary spending, and look for ways to operate more efficiently. That approach continued throughout this year’s budget process.
I voted against the initially introduced voter-approval tax rate and voted against the proposed budget multiple times as we worked toward a better agreement. Ultimately, City Council adopted a lower property tax rate than originally proposed, which I supported. I have also supported property-tax exemptions that provide relief for seniors, veterans, and residents with disabilities. These exemptions are an important part of helping longtime residents remain in their homes, particularly as property values and the overall cost of living continue to rise.
But lowering a proposed tax rate or providing exemptions is only part of the solution. We also must address the growth of city spending. I support continuing line-by-line reviews of major expenditures, scrutinizing outside contracts and professional services, identifying duplication, competitively rebidding contracts where appropriate, reducing unnecessary spending, paying down debt when financially responsible, and requiring measurable results from taxpayer-funded programs.
We must also continue growing El Paso’s commercial and industrial tax base so that homeowners are not asked to carry an increasingly large share of the cost of city government. I would not begin with across-the-board cuts to police, fire, streets, parks, or programs serving seniors and veterans. Our first responsibility should be to make government more efficient, protect core services, prioritize spending, and make difficult decisions about lower-priority expenditures before asking taxpayers for more.
Genera: Every decision I make, every vote I cast, will be viewed first through the lens of “How is this going to make my constituent’s lives more affordable?” I’m prepared to have a plan that maximizes affordability to maintain a no new tax revenue rate for each budget cycle, but I’m also going to ensure that at times when investments in public safety are needed, or if costs of services will impact the tax base, the constituency is fully involved in that discussion, with weekly community meetings. That’s how we dig ourselves out of this property tax hole.
What should be the city's next big civic project?
Niño: I believe El Paso’s next major civic investment should be a citywide transportation and mobility initiative focused on better streets, better connectivity, and reducing the amount of time El Pasoans spend in traffic.
Residents across El Paso consistently talk about deteriorating streets, congestion, missing roadway connections, unsafe intersections, sidewalks, lighting, and the challenges of getting from one part of the city to another.
I would like to see a long-term citywide effort that combines major street reconstruction, preventive maintenance, new roadway connections, modern traffic signals, safer intersections, sidewalks, lighting, and improved transportation options into one coordinated strategy. We should also look at how we better connect neighborhoods to employment centers, schools, healthcare, and other parts of the city.
The Montwood Drive Extension is a good example of why this matters. It has been discussed for more than two decades, and we have now moved it into construction. Projects like this can improve traffic flow, provide better connectivity, strengthen emergency access, support economic growth, and improve quality of life.
I believe our next major civic investment should focus on making it easier, safer, and more efficient for El Pasoans to move throughout our city.
Genera: The most important project I see for El Paso is making life more affordable for the people who live here. That is not something a city council member can accomplish in one term, or even two. It is a long-term effort that requires consistent leadership, responsible budgeting, and a willingness to keep pushing for better outcomes. My hope is to start that work and build something that future leaders can continue.
That is a big part of why I am running. I want to rebuild El Pasoans’ trust in their local government and show that their city representative can be accessible, accountable, and willing to take action. I cannot fix the State, and I certainly cannot fix the country, but I can work every day to make sure that here, at the local level, your voice matters and yourparticipation makes a difference.
If I can help restore even a little of that trust and encourage more El Pasoans to take pride in being civically engaged, I will consider that one of the most meaningful things I could accomplish in office.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Meet 2 candidates running for El Paso City Council District 5
