EL PASO – Eight men who aspire to run this city sit, slowly drinking water from Styrofoam cups in front of an audience some 120 persons, in anticipation of the questions they have to answer to prove they are worthy of the title of mayor.
The Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce held a mayoral forum recently where the candidates in the May 11 election attempted to prove they each were the best man for the job. Present in the packed hall were: educator Jorge Artalejo, business owner Robert Cormell, mortgage broker Gus Haddad, businessman Oscar Leeser, education management specialist Hector Lopez, U.S. Department of Defense retiree Dean Martinez, city representative Steve Ortega, and educator Jaime Perez.
From left, candidates Dean Martinez, Steve Ortega and Jaime O. Perez at a recent mayoral forum hosted by the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce. (Michelle Blanks/Borderzine.com)
“There is a confidence in the community, optimism about El Paso that I have not seen since living here. If you support my candidacy you support the continued improvement of this community in a positive and ambitious direction,” said Ortega in an opening statement allotted to each candidate in reference to why they would be an ideal mayor for El Paso.
Jaime O. Perez said that he believes that government should get out of the way of businesses so that you are able to do what you need to do without any interference. Perez does not feel that there is a need to transfer tax dollars to benefit the wealthiest in the community and that it is not an effective long-term strategy.
“The only role that I see the government doing is being the infrastructure for your businesses to succeed, clean streets and sidewalks, and that is the only thing they should be doing,” said Perez.
Dean Martinez would like to implement several changes in the way that the government functions in El Paso. His campaign goals are to lower taxes, changes in the city charter, new development for jobs in El Paso, and better education within the districts (in reference to the investigations that are going on for corruption in the local school districts).
“I would love to restore the power back to the people and the mayor. Since 2007 the power has been stripped from the mayor little by little and when it is stripped so are you,” said Martinez
Hector Lopez utilized his time by questioning what the future has in store for El Paso. Lopez wants to build public trust and put city management as a form of government on the ballot, promote investments in local businesses. “It’s time to build on our own strengths and our own assets,” said Lopez.
Oscar Leeser spoke of his history with El Paso and growing up learning English and working as a janitor and how his car dealership, Hyundai El Paso, supports El Paso by sponsoring events like the Sun Bowl.
“What we need to do in our city is build trust, integrity, and real world experience, we need to change the way we do business,” said Leeser.
Gus Haddad wants the pubic to elect a stable hand, someone to guide the community to new opportunities. Haddad attributes his success in the business world to his faith, family, and the El Paso community.
Robert Cormell created a safe place for children to hang out with his restaurant, What’s For Dinner, on the East side by Hanks High school. His platform is based on his venues providing support to the community by transcending what they do for people into what he can do for the city of El Paso.
“I’m passionate about our city and I care about the young men and women I have met, and I think that it is time that they are represented better here in El Paso,” said Cormell.
Jorge Artalejo remained in his seat during the entire forum and chose to spend his allocated time not reflecting on why he would be an ideal candidate for mayor, but by noting the presence of our County Judge Veronica Escobar, who said he believes that the County Judge presence at election debates and forums is to influence voters in favor of city Rep. Steve Ortega.
“That’s the problem here in El Paso – the unequal relationship between the city and the county, the image of popularity that is present affords that other individual a seat in office and demonstrates the domination that takes place in politics here,” said Artalejo.
After that portion of the forum concluded, the candidates were asked a series of questions by Kathleen Campbell Walker, chair of the Greater Chamber of Commerce board that ranged in topics from economic development, to Ft. Bliss, to the demolition of City Hall for the new triple-A baseball stadium, and to healthcare delivery.
The most heated question however, was of course in regard to the new ballpark. “Please tell us what you think the ballpark can do to serve as a catalyst to downtown development?” said Campbell.
Artalejo started off this portion of the forum by blaming Ortega for all of the suffering and trouble that El Paso is now facing. Artalejo said that our focus should not fall on relationships with cities such as Oklahoma City; our focus should lie on building relationships with big cities like Los Angeles, Houston, and Chicago.
“We need to take incentive and motivation from them to follow in their direction and follow along those lines in order to be successful,” Artalejo said.
Perez said that the revenue has gone up and that baseball park is not an economic driver. “This park isn’t going to revitalize the community; we must think of the city as a whole,” said Perez.
Ortega followed up Perez by explaining that this is one of the largest cities with no team. Out of all the candidates, Ortega was the only one at the forum who openly indorsed the ballpark. “We need to build a community that people want to live in and in order to do that we must make it an exciting community,” said Ortega.
Lopez and Leeser both agreed that the voices of the voters, of the public, need to be heard and the issue of the ballpark was not granted an opportunity to be let those voices be heard.
“We need to re-energize the community, build public trust, see El Paso progress, invest in education, internships, and start economic development,” said Leeser.
Haddad said that Oklahoma’s project was paid for before it was built, and that this was not a good way to bring sustainable jobs to the city.
Cormell believes that this is not creating the unity that El Paso needs to succeed and progress. “Eighty-two per cent don’t like what was done, they took down buildings and caused a lot of problems among the community, we must work together,” said Cormell.
With early voting coming closed and elections quickly approaching, the candidates for mayor and making sure that the issues and concerns of the public are getting aired.
