El Paso Times Piece on County Comish Races

I read the piece in the El Paso Times yesterday about the County Commissioner races and was excited to see the fact that they sent out a questionnaire asking for stances on issues. Especially because I'm expecting to see one big flip-flop.

Hopefully I'll be wrong.

But four years ago when candidate for El Paso County Commissioner Precinct 1 Carlos Leon was running for Sheriff, he had a steady campaign message.

Family values.

Its actually conspicuously absent from this go-around of campaigning. But then again, he's not running against a candidate who's sexuality he can call in to question. Four years ago, it was a different story.

Anyone in the gay community can tell you that the line about family values was code for saying the opponent is gay. Somehow implying that straight people have family values and gay people don't. But its the dog whistle stuff that gives someone room to say that they are not saying what we all know they really are saying.

In fact, when have you ever heard of someone raising family values in a sheriff's race?

Never.

But it was used so much by Leon that I finally decided I was going to flat out ask him. Of course, if someone was really trying to use another candidate's private life as a campaign issue its not like they would come out and admit it. But nonetheless, I asked the question four years ago.



In fact, four years ago there were some fliers that were put on cars at a forum that said something along the lines of "Do you really want a gay sheriff". They never found out who had that done but I mention it to give context to the sentiment going around that race.

At a recent forum hosted by the El Paso Stonewall Young Democrats, the question of domestic partner benefits was posed to the candidates and all of the candidates, including Leon, answered that they would be in support of domestic partner benefits.

Lets hope that when the El Paso Times releases the answers to the questionnaires that no one flip-flopped.

I also noticed in the Times' piece that Leon alluded to his motorcycle accident.

That was a tragic turn of events and I'm sure was a life-changing moment for Leon. Many people prayed for his recovery, myself included.

He was able to over-come his injuries and is healthy enough to campaign now.

But seriously, how many times is he going to mention it? It is starting to sound like pandering or a ploy for sympathy. I am much more interested in Leon's track record, leadership experience, and policy positions than I am hearing over and over and over and over and over about the accident.