EPCC Candidate Frank Macias' Mailer

I got Frank Macias' mailer today and it was interesting to me.

He makes a "promise to never vote for a property tax increase."

Never vote for a property tax increase.

What an empty platitude. Seriously this kind of shit annoys me because its the kind of irresponsible things people say to get elected.

But it damn sure isn't good policy.

Now because you guys get your tangas in a twist, I'm not saying tax us to death, waste money, or be poor stewards of public tax dollars. If that is all you get from this, go back to elementary school and learn how to read.

What I am saying is that if you've never served on a board or not the particulars about the budget, needs of the faculty, students, and staff, then you shouldn't say that you wouldn't raise taxes.

The reality is you may be in a position where you have to raise taxes and there are any manner of situations that could put an entity in that situation.

Saying you won't vote for a tax increase is the easiest and most chicken-shit stance you can take as a candidate and an elected. Why? Because it's safe.

You can always say "but I didn't raise your taxes" because you're basically along for the ride as a no vote. But you aren't ever going to be someone who solves a problem or improves anything.

In fact, as a trustee for El Paso Community College, you'd basically just pass on the expenses in the form of tuition hikes. Which again, its a safe thing to do - but you most certainly aren't doing anything to improve El Paso. Most students that go to community college are there because they are financing their education through Pell grants and other grants that they might qualify for.

So all you're doing is ensuring that their money doesn't go that far.

And honestly the only way you can honestly say you won't vote to raise taxes is to vote against any budget that will increase taxes. So if you vote no to any budget that would increase taxes, then by definition you're voting against education, staff, faculty, and every single other item in that budget.

And that is not responsible leadership.

On a positive note, it was a clean design. Simple message. Not cluttered and a good layout. Weird day for it to land in the mail, so I am gonna guess someone dropped the ball on getting it from design, through the mail house, and to the post office.