Democratic Party Chairwoman Holguin's Silence is Shameful

A friend of mine that is supporting Iliana Holguin posted on his page recently that she “will put respect and integrity back into that District and El Paso County”. On her campaign material she claims “trusted leadership”.

The facts say otherwise -particularly over the last few days. 

It’s hard to say you’re trusted leadership when your family business received funds from the Democratic Party while you are the Chair of the Party. 

Its even harder to make that claim when - for the second time - you failed to uphold the values of the Party you are the Chairwoman of. 

Constable Angie Sommers is up to the same thing she did last year at this time - only this time she’s defending the cop that murdered George Floyd. In fact, she is quite possibly the ONLY law enforcement official - or law enforcement professional for that matter - that I have seen defend the cop. 

And it smacks of racism. 

Sommers is undergoing a lot of heat because of her controversial statements that can be found in this post on KLAQ.

She did something similar - during Pride Month no less - last year where she made anti-LGBTQ statements. 

It defies logic that Sommers runs as a Democrat. 

But when she made the comments last year I called Chairwoman Holguin to inform her about the situation. Sommers is an elected official so she answers only to the voters. The County Judge isn’t her boss, so there’s nothing he can really do about it. 

But since Sommers runs as a Democrat, the only person that is in any position to hold Sommers accountable is the Chair of the Democratic Party, which is why I took the issue to Chairwoman Holguin. 

Rather than stand up for a traditionally disenfranchised community like the LGBTQ community - and stand on the platform and values of the Democratic Party - by any measure, Holguin gave Sommers a pass. You’d think she’d at the very least, issue a press release admonishing Sommers for her statements, and call upon her to adhere to the platform of the Party she runs under. I was pushing for censure or anything more than a slap on the wrist. 

What did Holguin do?

She invited her to come to the Democratic Party - SEVERAL MONTHS LATER - to give her an opportunity to clarify her remarks. 

Do you know what she didn’t do?

She didn’t stand up for the LGBTQ community and tell Sommers she was wrong for her statements. Remaining silent in the face of discrimination is an act of cowardice. Its downright malpractice as the Chair of the Party that is supposed to be the advocates for the LGBTQ community. 

Not one time during that meeting did our chairwoman have the courage to stand up, look Sommers in the eye and tell her that she was wrong for her comments. There are a lot of you reading this that were in the room that day. Iliana was meek. There was no fire to hold Sommers accountable. There was no outrage - no sense of injustice, from Holguin. Other members of the Party had to hold Sommers accountable. 

That is downright shameful. 

So here we are in the midst of our country in turmoil and yet another African-American man is murdered by a cop. Where is the Democratic Party - led by Iliana Holguin on this issue?

No where. 

Iliana Holguin - who is supposed to be the standard bearer for the values of our Party - has been completely silent at a moment when silence is unacceptable. 

Because silence is compliance. 

Not a single statement from our local Democratic Party. The El Paso Young Democrats issued a statement. But where is the Party Boss? 

On the El Paso County Democratic Party Facebook page there is a post from the Texas Democratic Party with a statement from the state party. Thats it. Absolutely NOTHING from the local Chair of the El Paso County Democratic Party. 

Yet another time that there is an injustice to a traditionally disenfranchised community and for the second time in less than a year, Holguin is AWOL on an important issue central to the values of the Democratic Party. 

Thats not leadership. 

Now that is part is really gonna piss you off. We are into the second week of unrest following this clear injustice to George Floyd and she’s be silent on the issue. It apparently isn’t important enough of an issue to comment on - as she asks voters to be elected to a position of public trust. 

I kid you not - this is not an exaggeration - Iliana Holguin has posted about Earth Day and Star Wars Day - but hasn’t posted about one of the worst cases of injustice since, well, the last time the cops murdered someone. 

Freaking Star Wars Day!!!!

Seriously - why is fucking Star Wars Day and Earth Day worthy of comment from the Chair of the Democratic Party and candidate for commissioners court, but NOT the injustices endured by an African-American killed by the very people charged with protecting the community?

I’ll tell you why.

Because Iliana Holguin is more concerned about losing political support from the law enforcement unions that she is standing up for an obvious injustice. 

Just yesterday she had campaign material delivered to homes - touting the endorsement of law enforcement associations. That means the material was sent out late last week - well after the death of George Floyd and not only was she silent, but she didn’t think twice about showing she’s supported by law enforcement. 

I mean she didn’t even pump the brakes and say, maybe we wait to tout the law enforcement endorsements a week or two and respect the situation going on right now. 

You think that is someone who is going to show the courage to stand up for the disenfranchised as a policy maker? You think she’s someone who is going to fight for criminal justice reform at the County? 

If she hasn’t done so when she’s been given the opportunity to - there is absolutely no reason to believe she will if elected. 

And the shamelessness of her campaign apparently knows no bounds because just Monday she posted something new on her campaign page. She posted her logo against a pride flag. 

Thats a no-brainer for a Democratic Party Chair. But its a complete slap in the face when its someone who didn’t admonish a Democratic elected official for anti -LGBTQ statements when she had the chance - and has a message about how “we must never stop fighting for justice and equality”. 

Except apparently when its a black man who is the victim of a cop murder and you’re supported by police associations. Or when you’re the chair of the Democratic Party and you have a Democratic elected official - and member of law enforcement - attacking the LGBTQ community and rather than admonish her - you give her a chance to “clarify” her comments. 

She posted her pride post on the first day of pride month. She posted her Earth Day post on Earth Day. She posted her Star Wars Day post on Star Wars Day. 

A seriously egregious injustice happened almost two weeks ago - nothing but silence from Chairwoman Holguin. 

Iliana doesn’t fight for justice and equality - she is consistently silent in the face of injustice. That isn’t leadership, is self-centered political expediency.