Democracy… But Make Add a Cover Charge

Somewhere in El Paso, a group of well-meaning LULAC folks looked at a candidate forum and said:

“You know what this needs?

A ticket booth.”

Yes. You read that right.

LULAC Council 132A is hosting a candidate forum on February 20th at EPCC. Cool. We need forums. We need more civic engagement. We need people to actually hear from candidates instead of just voting based on yard signs and vibes.

But here’s the twist:

They’re charging admission.

No mammes.

First of All — Which LULAC Is This?

Before we even get to the price tag, can someone explain why there are 47 different LULAC councils in El Paso? Every time I blink there’s a new one. I don’t know if it’s bylaws, old-school beef, or somebody didn’t like how someone else folded the flautas at a banquet in 1987. Its like geriatric gang wars.

But okay. Council 132A. Got it.

They’re hosting a candidate forum. That alone? Not groundbreaking. I personally have my opinions about Latino organizations platforming candidates who support policies that aren’t exactly friendly to Latino families - but fine. They’re non-partisan. They’re mostly seniors. I get the whole “we invite everybody” energy.

That’s not the issue.

The issue is the cover charge.

$30 to Watch Judicial Candidates?

They are charging:

• $20 for students, seniors, and veterans

• $30 for everyone else

Treinta dólares.

That’s more than a movie ticket. Even at the bougie theater with the recliner seats and the little tray table for your chicken tenders.

And let’s be honest with ourselves.

Most judicial candidate forums are not exactly Coachella.

These are not electric personalities. This particular crop? The collective charisma of a wet tortilla. No salt. No butter. Just damp.

And you want people to pay to attend?

Are we including popcorn? A beverage? A raffle for emotional support?

Because otherwise this feels less like civic engagement and more like a Netflix subscription you didn’t ask for.

Forums Are a Public Good - Not a Fundraiser

Now let’s get serious.

Candidate forums serve a public purpose. They are one of the few spaces where voters can:

• Hear directly from candidates

• Compare positions side by side

• Ask tough questions

• Make informed decisions

We need more of them. Not fewer.

We definitely don’t need to start normalizing the idea that democracy comes with a ticket price.

Because here’s what happens when you do that:

People stop showing up.

If the public starts believing that attending forums costs money, turnout drops even further. And civic engagement is already on life support.

The barrier to entry for participating in democracy should not be $30 plus parking.

“It’s a Fundraiser.”

Former State Rep. Norma Chávez reportedly said the event is a fundraiser and the money will go toward scholarships.

Scholarships are great. Nobody is anti-scholarship.

But if you want to fundraise, just say that.

Sell plates.

Sell burritos.

Do a banquet.

Host a gala.

Apparently Ray Mancera even advised against making the forum a paid event because of how close it comes to violating internal rules and stepping on the League of Women Voters’ lane.

Word is he told them if they wanted to fundraise, he’d help them sell burritos.

Honestly? That’s the most logical sentence in this entire saga.

Because democracy should not require a wristband.

The Usual Suspects

Despite reportedly being told it wasn’t a good idea, the paid format moved forward. And who was encouraging it?

Paul De La Peña.

Of course.

Because when something messy is happening in El Paso civic circles, that vato is never far away. Like Beetlejuice. Say it three times and suddenly there’s a sponsorship packet.

Bigger Picture

Here’s the bottom line:

Charging admission to a candidate forum is counterproductive.

It sends the wrong message.

It discourages participation.

It monetizes access to information that should be freely available.

Forums are supposed to lower barriers to civic engagement, not raise them.

If LULAC wants to empower the Latino community - which is literally the mission - then access to candidates should be expanded, not paywalled.

Democracy is already fragile.

It doesn’t need a cover charge.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to start selling tickets to my next blog post.

Early bird special: $15.

Seniors get the Teddy’s discount.