Is There a Doctor in the House?

Michiel Noe is a doctor and is running for District 5, the seat that will be vacated by Rachel Quintana. He’s had his initial papers filed with the city for some time now, but no one knew exactly what district he was going to run in because he only had his business address listed on the paperwork and there was no mention of the office sought.

He recently amended the paperwork to reflect the office he is seeking and he lists a different Treasurer now, Ronald Pate, whose address is outside of District 5.

Why the city allows a mailing address as opposed to an actual home address so that you know what district they are running in is beyond me, but it is what it is. Why he uses his business address when he actually lives in the district is beyond me as well.

After some research, it turns out that Dr. Noe lives in District 5.

Word on the street is that he has solicited the support of some notables in the Democratic Party including Dora Oaxaca and Alice Rosas. Oaxaca currently works for County Commissioner Willie Gandara, Jr and previously worked for State Rep Chente Quintanilla. Oaxaca has helped on a lot of political campaigns over the years and most recently was working closely with Justice of the Peace Barbara Perez.

Alice Rosas has also worked as a staffer during her career. She ran the El Paso District Office of State Rep Marissa Marquez at one point and has extensive campaign experience within the Democratic Party as well, most recently with Judge Marcos Lizarraga.

Noe also has been soliciting support from Joe Lopez and Chuy Reyes. Joe Lopez is an advertising guy who has been involved with a couple of bond elections and city council candidates. He’s good friends with Chuy Reyes, the brother of Congressman Reyes and head of the Lower Valley Water District.

Lopez actually attended the campaign kick-off event for Noe’s opponent in the race, Maria D. Mejia, aka Mayela. She used to work for a couple of city reps including Acosta and Ortega. She was basically running the District 3 office solo after the resignation of Alejandro Lozano and before the election of Emma Acosta.

Mejia locked up a lot of support from the political establishment early in the race. Everyone from Sheriff Wiles to Mayor Cook, to Democratic Party volunteers, to Marty and Chuy Reyes. Reyes was listed as a supporter on her campaign kick-off invitation.

She’s already been walking the district and introducing herself to the neighborhood associations.

Chuy Reyes’ support would be key for Noe if he could secure it because Reyes has a tremendous amount of influence.

Word around town is that Chuy Reyes met with Dr. Noe because he is friends with Joe Lopez, but has already committed his support to Mejia, along with his wife Marty Reyes. Marty Reyes is a member of the Ysleta Independent School District.

Mejia and Noe also met with one another, apparently at the behest of Mayor Cook who allegedly told Noe that he was supporting Mejia, at Hudsons. I’m told the two had a cordial conversation and committed to running clean campaigns.

Mejia’s campaign manager is Ken Sutherland, another influential member of the Democratic Party for many years who has run several campaigns, most recently for County Commissioner Sergio Lewis and Republican Rene Diaz.

Noe should be pretty good at fundraising if he taps in to his professional network and money is always a great equalizer.

Mejia has the advantage of being known in political circles, more experience at the city (which is not always an advantage), and a network through her work at LULAC.

I’ll be contacting both candidates so that I can get an idea of their stances on city issues.