Getting it Wright - Voting Records & Integrity

So City Rep Cissy Lizarraga said in a debate recently that none of her opponents had voted in the special election she won to replace City Rep Cortney Niland.

Turns out that Rich Wright in fact has. Lizarraga sent me a text a few days ago to let me know that she had discovered the error. There are a few people with his name and she apparently saw the wrong guy's voting history. I actually made the same mistake.

I give credit for Lizarraga correcting the record.

But the El Paso Times ran an article about the issue and fellow D8 candidate Greg Baine, who I hear may be being run by everyone's favorite slime ball Carlos Sierra, had a rather interesting quote.

Baine basically said what difference does it make, and then turned it around to say that Lizarraga was attacking his integrity. I'm not sure how bringing up his voting record is an attack on his integrity, but if is voting record is in fact an attack on his integrity, then he's in trouble.

Before we get into Baine's "integrity" allegation, lets talk about why his voting record is important. First, I am of the believe that your right to vote is your right to bitch. Baine rarely votes. He's got a very spotty voting record. So its a pretty legitimate critique to level against him since he hasn't demonstrated any civic interest.

But lets talk about that integrity argument. I think Lizarraga should absolutely challenge the Colonel's integrity. Lets do an integrity check shall we?

Baine is a Republican. He doesn't tell people that. He conveniently leaves it out. But he is in fact, a Republican. What little voting history he actually has since 2006 demonstrates he's a Republican. He should be honest about that with voters. Lizarraga, Wright, and Dylan Corbett are all solid Democrats.

Here's a screenshot of Baine's voting history that he never talks about with voters. As you can see, I circled the part to show he voted in the most recent primary he voted in the Republican primary. He's the only candidate in that field to do so.

But more to the point, look at the giant red box. Notice anything about it?

Its empty.

There should be a solid voting history there. Wright and Lizarraga have that same area FILLED with solid voting history were as Baine has shown absolutely no civic participation in the same time period.

So what difference does it make? I'll show you.

Let me tell you why party affiliation matters in city elections. Most everyone wants to hide behind the fact that the elections are "nonpartisan". Just because there is no party attached to the voters doesn't mean they party isn't important. More and more often issues that are rooted in partisan affiliation are coming up at city council.

A perfect example is immigration.

Trump's camp out in Tornillo is outside the city limits but if you saw what has transpired over the last few days, then you know that immigrants were basically dumped downtown like trash.

If your city rep candidate supports Trumpian policies like that - then they have an obligation to be open and honest with the voters. Baine hasn't been. That is why his integrity is an issue.

But one candidate has actually demonstrated real integrity during this emergency situation and I like catching politicos doing the right thing since so often we catch them doing the wrong thing.

No one would blame District 8 City Rep Candidate Dylan Corbett for focusing on his campaign right now. After all its crunch time and he's scrambling to try to make a run-off against incumbent Cissy Lizarraga. But while Greg Baine is acting self-righteous, Dylan Corbett put aside his campaign to focus on helping the immigration situation with these families. Corbett runs a non-profit, the Hope Border Institute, and they sprang into action with other non-profits in the immigrant rights community to help the families.

This is a national policy that is now having a direct impact on local policy. This situation shows who displays leadership and who is posturing.

I respect the fact that Corbett unselfishly put aside his campaign at a very critical juncture to roll up his sleeves and actually do something.

Baine should be honest with voters about the fact that he supports draconian immigration policy coming from the Trump Administration.

Wright told me he knew Lizarraga got the facts wrong and he was right.

Lizarraga admitted she got the facts wrong when she found out she was wrong.

Dylan Corbett put aside his campaign to show true leadership.

And Baine hasn't been honest about his support of draconian Trump policy.

Hell every candidate OTHER than Baine has shown integrity. He might not want to act so self-righteous.