D8 Race Analysis

Let me start off with a question that has been bothering me. I only know about Gilbert Guillen from the context of the Duranguito conversation - which turned out to be a non-issue to voters and if you don't believe me, just look at the results of the election.

I heard there was only one property owner than hasn't signed on the dotted line for the arena yet, but I noticed that the name isn't Gilbert Guillen. So since I only know of him because of the Duranguito thing I'm wondering if he his the lone hold out that hasn't signed with the city yet.

Since that is what he has become most notable for as it relates to a bid to replace the controversial Cortney Niland I think the public needs to know one thing...

Has he sold-out, or is he the hold-out?

That being said, lets move on.

The race has a few interesting candidates. Guillen for obvious reasons is one of the more notable candidates and got off to an early start. The other notables in the race are Robert Cormell who previously ran for mayor, Cissy Lizarraga who is the wife of District Court Judge Marcos Lizarraga, and former state rep candidate Adolfo Lopez.

For bilingually impaired media folks, the name is pronounced Lee-SAH-rra-guh. That names kicks everyone's ass on TV, so consider this my good deed for the day.

Cormell has already dropped mail. He is a religious conservative but has been on the ballot before and if he can keep down the Jesus, he is likely to appeal to a lot of voters on the westside.

Lizarraga is wealthy and they have lived on the westside for a long time so they are well-known and Cissy is smart, classy, and has a strong grasp of issues. She's more popular than her spouse.

Adolfo Lopez is really likable and very bright. He was Forma's candidate to replace Marisa Marquez in the legislature. He didn't win but a big chunk of the district has had his mail in their mailboxes not too long ago. He'd be great on council but the question for him is if Forma is going to help him in the race. They have their hands full trying to win a mayoral race right now, which they really need to win so that they can regain a little of their credibility back after that disaster of switching candidates DURING a campaign cycle from one camp to another in the Svarzbein race.

Guillen has to find a way to appeal to voters other than those in Segundo Barrio. I know there are a lot of raza that get annoyed when I say this, but in terms of elections Segundo Barrio has no weight at all. There aren't a lot of voters there and you can pretty much add up the total number of votes in all the segundo precincts and that is probably equal to just one precinct on the westside.

Segundo really needs to be in another district.

If Guillen were the only Latino in the race he'd stand a much better chance. But right now it looks like a run-off between Cormell and Lizarraga - unless Guillen or Lopez gets some money behind them quickly.

I will say this - and it is of almost no consequence but its something I pay attention to - Lizarraga and Guillen have the best signs. The old-school big G with the names is cool even though the colors suck, but Lizarraga's logo is clean, unique, and stands out. Its hands down the best logo of the run-off and D8 cycle.