El Paso Politics

Another item that council will be putting forward to voters is regarding municipal elections being held in November. Putting the municipal elections on the same ballot as all the other elections was a well-intentioned attempt to get more people to vote on municipal issues. Sure, more people theoretically will vote but does it make anything better? I think you'll still end up with a significant number of undervotes because its so far down the ballot and November elections are partisan affairs. That means you have a significant number of people that will vote straight ticket and not stick around for the rest of the ballot. At least when you have the May elections you have school board elections, also nonpartisan affairs, and you have a targeted group of people who at the very least care enough to vote on municipal elections. Opponents to having the elections in November for the city have raised several other issues like run-offs being in December. I don't think that is really tha...

Yvonne Rosales had her announcement event yesterday in the downtown area. I grabbed a quick interview with her after the crowd of supporters left and asked her some basic questions.

Both challengers for the District Attorney seat currently held for the last two decades by Jaime Esparza are having events this week. Yvonne Rosales has her campaign announcement today at 5:30pm at the Arts Festival Plaza next to the Plaza Theater.  Leonard Morales has a campaign kick-off event/fundraiser tomorrow at Nolita's Corner Bistro downtown.  I haven't seen or heard of any new events for the incumbent although he did have a fundraiser earlier this year when word got out that he had opponents.

I don't know much about this guy but he recently filed. Sources say he is a bit of a salty character.  Whatever that means.  Ha ha, got'em

Well I whacked Svarzbein earlier today and mentioned Grossman too. However lets look at this issue a little more deeply. There's a glaring question that is not being asked in this conversation about the grant. Why isn't the El Paso County Historical Commission applying for the grant themselves? The EPCHC is its own county entity. They don't NEED the city to make the survey happen. They have the authority to do it themselves or partner with a private entity or the County. Its all legal . The reason that the EPCHC wants to hook up with the city is the fact that its a hell of a lot less effort on their part if they are with the city on this. A quick google search and this document pops up and lays down everything that can be done. Its the Junior Woodchuck Guidebook of the EPCHC. So if the EPCHC wants to save a building downtown there needs to be a preservation plan. You can't have a plan until after you have a study, which requires some cash. And here is exactly how they...

Photo Credit (Left) Richard Baron It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to rationalize City Rep Peter Svarzbein's campaign rhetoric and his vote to kill acceptance of a grant for historical designation of the downtown area. Candidate Svarzbein said one thing - he was supportive of, and even participated in, historical preservation projects, while Representative Svarzbein votes against it. He has no cover for that vote. It was a bad vote. He took the easy way out the minute there was a little, and trust me when I say a little, adversity. Svarzbein the candidate would've backed that grant every day of the week and twice on Sunday. For whatever reason Representative Svarzbein didn't. Critics have said that he sold out. That is probably one of the worst criticisms that can be laid out against an elected leader. Is it true? I don't know. All I know is what Svarzbein actually said on the record during an interview on ABC 7 Xtra last night and that was essentially this...