El Paso Matters – Q&A: City Council District 8 candidates in Nov. 3 general election

Arturo R. Alluin: Did not respond.

Chris Canales: I want El Paso to be an affordable and welcoming city where people of all backgrounds can build a good life. That means investing in the city we already have: expanding housing choices, strengthening neighborhoods, creating good paying jobs, managing finances responsibly, and maintaining streets, infrastructure and public facilities. We also need to grow sustainably, directing development where existing infrastructure can support it and protecting our clean air, water and natural resources.

Johnny J. Gonzalez: Transparency and of the citizens representative.

Matthew Guzman: I want El Paso to be ripe with job opportunities for young professionals seeking a city on the rise. I want the region to recognize El Paso as a destination for the arts, food and culture. And I want residents to be proud of where they live and happy with their quality of life. To get there we have to capitalize and execute on the economic development opportunities ahead of us. Namely the buildout of the Advanced Manufacturing District and creating sustainable energy capacity to support growth. 

Laura Ochoa-Todd: I want EP to look beautiful and clean and feel like a small town in a big city.  The city needs to analyze how to make the city look clean, good roads and streets before starting new huge city project developments.  The city needs to concentrate in the entire city somehow, not only a few parts. We need to keep our citizen, who love El Paso, here and not have them think of moving elsewhere to be happy.

Arturo R. Alluin: Did not respond.

Chris Canales: We should diversify our economy by targeting industries that fit our strengths, including renewable energy and advanced manufacturing. I supported creating the new Business One Stop Shop to help local businesses and entrepreneurs access resources and assistance. We must also streamline permitting and inspections, invest in infrastructure, infill, and redevelopment, and focus resources on projects that create quality jobs, substantial taxable value and lasting benefits for El Pasoans.

Johnny J. Gonzalez: Run efficiently. 

Matthew Guzman: We need to align educational institutions and workforce development with high wage sectors like aerospace, advanced manufacturing, robotics and skilled trades so we can provide the workers these companies need when they look to relocate. We need to create shovel-ready sites to lure companies looking to expand. And, as companies begin to recognize the benefits of our location and the quality of our workforce, incentive packages should be based on performance and job creation. 

Laura Ochoa-Todd: I am all for attracting more commercial and industrial development, but should not attract them solely by offering extremely massive high abatements or incentives.  El Paso is a beautiful city with great weather, lower manpower salaries because of the border, economical housing, etc. Relying on residential property taxpayers to fund city services is, in my opinion, lazy and abusive.

Arturo R. Alluin: Did not respond.

Chris Canales: We must provide competitive compensation and adequate staffing to keep up with public safety needs. I have supported funding three police academies annually to address vacancies while investing in programs like the Crisis Intervention Team for mental health that best match resources to community needs. Public safety spending must also receive the same scrutiny as every part of the budget, including efficient use of personnel and overtime, so we can adequately fund other essential City services.

Johnny J. Gonzalez: Competition with whom, run city government where needed and appropriate!

Matthew Guzman: We have been training recruits with our tax dollars then watching them leave for other cities. We need to take a look at contract minimums for new fire and police recruits to ensure they have a stable workforce and aren’t forced to go over budget on overtime hours that eventually burnout their existing workforce. Safety services are an increasing part of the overall budget, which brings us back to our need to grow the commercial and industrial tax base to fund these expanding services. 

Laura Ochoa-Todd: Why should Police, fire, and other entities worry if they cannot balance their budgets if they are not held accountable because there is always taxpayer monies to save them?  So, I say hold them accountable!  If we make them accountable then maybe we can start change.  If they are held accountable and are made to make their budgets balance and find waste, show checks and balances then I think it will make city control costs and fund other city priorities.

Arturo R. Alluin: Did not respond.

Chris Canales: I don’t want hyperscale data centers, particularly those supporting AI, in El Paso. They require huge amounts of scarce land, energy, water and infrastructure. I led Council action to not incentivize them moving forward. If private projects go ahead anyway, they must be made to pay their full infrastructure costs, protect ratepayers from higher utility rates, meet strict water and energy standards and provide enforceable community benefits commensurate with their enormous resource demands.

Johnny J. Gonzalez: Data centers not approved by community, not allowed!

Matthew Guzman: We need to ensure these companies are creating jobs, attracting industry, and growing our commercial/industrial tax revenue. There needs to be contract language in place that ensures the responsible use of our resources, and investment from these companies into our energy and water infrastructure that creates new capacity, or improves efficiencies. Legally binding Community Benefit Agreements need to be executed that ensure El Paso extracts as much from these companies as they extract from us.  

Laura Ochoa-Todd: Although the CEO of El Paso Water stated data center do not use a lot of water, without any proof, my understanding of data centers is they use massive amounts of water and electricity. So, because of the unknowns and all the El Paso community uproar, I do not support entertaining the building of any more data centers in the desert city of El Paso.

Arturo R. Alluin: Did not respond.

Chris Canales: Taxpayers should receive a clear, measurable return for economic development incentives. During my term, I have approved stronger requirements for projects receiving City incentives, including performance standards and clawbacks. We should prioritize projects that create quality jobs, expand the tax base and produce lasting benefits that justify the public investment, while accounting for infrastructure and resource needs and publicly tracking whether promised benefits are actually delivered.

Johnny J. Gonzalez: Tax incentive need approvals by public input authority also and limited!

Matthew Guzman: Taxpayers should expect that the revenue derived from these deals will have a real effect on their tax bills. Transparency is paramount, and when a deal is finalized we should be able to provide a visual projection showing what was given up in incentives versus the tax revenue expected, the new jobs created, and the services the new tax revenue can cover. Taxpayers want to know where their money is being spent and spared. 

Laura Ochoa-Todd: Jobs with definitely good wages for our citizens.  If good paying wages and many job opportunities, will be worth LOW tax breaks, grants, or other incentives.