El Paso Matters – Q&A: City Council District 6 candidates in Nov. 3 general election

Hector Alba: Ten years from now, I want to see an El Paso that is growing but still feels like El Paso. I want more projects that make a lasting difference in transportation, infrastructure, Downtown and public spaces. We should build on our art, music and culture, support local talent, attract new businesses and jobs, and plan for growth without losing the character that makes our city unique.

Claudia Contreras Siller: Did not respond.

Pedro D. Fernandez Jr.: Safer, civically engaged, and growing within city limits. The city needs to develop a long-term budget plan/framework that survives future councils to get property taxes in check, support sustainable and durable infrastructure, reinvesting and modernizing El Paso. It needs to zone appropriately to allow for said sustainable development and focus on projects to increase affordability within city limits, such as affordable housing.

Art Fierro: I envision El Paso to continue to be one of the safest cities in our country, with more opportunities for our community, better quality of life, more affordable, and a place for El Pasoans to grow their families. We must work to be the best stewards of our citizens’ taxes that we can be, shifting the burden from them by bringing in more business who can pay their fair share. We’ll work to fund street repairs, better parks, and other important projects that District 6 deserves. 

Jesse Moreno: I want El Paso to have vibrant business-residential synergy yet affordable, safe and keeping our culture and charm as we grow. Key decisions: enforce our comprehensive plan’s infill-first approach, invest in small businesses relationships and neighborhoods, and conduct genuine community outreach to close the information gap on what residents want. We need to fast-track the basics, streets, drainage, broadband, expand social programs for the disenfranchised and build regional resilience.

Hector Alba: We need to make El Paso an easier and more attractive place to invest. That means preparing development ready sites with the infrastructure businesses need, making permitting more efficient, and actively recruiting industries that fit our strengths, including advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, and logistics. Any incentives we offer should be tied to real results. That means private investment, good paying jobs, and long-term growth in our commercial tax base.

Claudia Contreras Siller: Did not respond.

Pedro D. Fernandez Jr.: The city must open discussions as to what sustainable yet lucrative commercial development looks like and adopt strict guidelines that truly benefit the community, not starting at the floor of a negotiation where we as a community lose. This includes having discussions with El Pasoan-owned businesses on expansion within city limits, and/or El Paso-friendly development from outside commercial partners, allowing for further development of the commercial tax base to increase general fund revenue. 

Art Fierro: Bringing businesses into a community is a sales pitch. You need to be it’s a competition, it’s El Paso against everyone else. We need to be able to offer incentives, quality of life for their employees and a strong work force. 

Jesse Moreno: Given our majority of low-skilled jobs, we must invest in regional skill development. I’d lead initiatives connecting our workforce to entrepreneurship and emerging industries like solar energy building on our Sun City advantage to create higher-paying jobs and help expand established industries like education. Also balancing our business-to-residential ratio. I’d expand our Business One-Stop Shop and use small business organizations for outreach, while addressing barriers local businesses face.

Hector Alba: Public safety is a core responsibility. So we need competitive pay and enough staffing to recruit and retain good police and fire. At the same time, pay and staffing decisions should be tied to data, like response times, caseloads and retention. And we should always look for efficiencies and technology that control costs without cutting the frontline services that people depend on.

Claudia Contreras Siller: Did not respond.

Pedro D. Fernandez Jr.: It’s a balance. I don’t believe we should go into budget negotiations without having the capability to provide for what is agreed upon in the collective bargaining agreements, like we saw this year. It is irresponsible. However, the bar of as-needed budget items may have to be upped for some departments to get spending in control and allow a proper review of projections for the next fiscal year, Fiscal Year 2028, and what the city can do to offset costs through grants or possible higher sales revenue. 

Art Fierro: It is vital that the City of El Paso maintains its status as one of the safest cities in the country. The City must continue to support our first responders who keep us safe, and meet the needs of our community.

Jesse Moreno: I support competitive pay for police and fire, as retention costs less than turnover. But balance means auditing our 911 call volume: many calls aren’t life-threatening, often involving displaced individuals better served by local nonprofits than sworn officers. I’d redirect those calls, civilianize non-emergency roles, and stop hiring for them under PD/fire pensions. I believe the Police Department and Fire Department have done well to address these needs so far but that’s why growing our commercial tax base is essential.

Hector Alba: Data centers can bring investment and expand our tax base, but they also use a lot of water, power and infrastructure. If we’re going to approve these projects or offer incentives, there need to be clear standards. Companies should help cover the infrastructure they require, protect our water and electric resources, create real local jobs, and provide measurable economic benefits. We should welcome investment, but make sure El Paso residents aren’t left paying the cost.

Claudia Contreras Siller: Did not respond.

Pedro D. Fernandez Jr.: Continue to strengthen the current framework to allow for more city control of the conversation and then not enter negotiations at all. Three data centers putting strain on the Borderland area is three too many. 

Art Fierro: I strongly supported the data center policy that City Council has enacted for any future data center developments looking to enter our community. This policy directs staff to not actively recruit or incentivize anymore data centers, and sets strict guardrails. I will continue to advocate and support policies that protect the citizens of El Paso, and the future generations to come. 

Jesse Moreno: I’d work with council to require these developments to disclose all environmental effects, direct or inadvertent,  water use, energy sourcing, noise, air quality, through public dashboards and an independent oversight committee with enforcement power. Since CBAs face state preemption, we’d use zoning and permitting conditions instead. This reflects our CORE values: integrity, respect, excellence, accountability and people. People over profits, always.

Hector Alba: If we’re giving taxpayer money or tax breaks to a business, taxpayers should get something real in return. Set those expectations upfront, track the results over time, and if a company doesn’t deliver, the city should be able to recover some of that incentive. That’s how you protect taxpayers.

Claudia Contreras Siller: Did not respond.

Pedro D. Fernandez Jr.: Higher wage floors (as suggested by a city-commissioned report in 2022; failed to be heeded to by the negotiators of the 2023 Wurldwide/META 380 Agreement, which is one of several components that makes that deal awful) to ensure that El Pasoans are truly reaping the benefits of bringing business from out-of-town. Infrastructure, electricity and water demands should be tied to what is sustainable and/or provided by the business itself to operate in EP.

Art Fierro: The taxpayers should expect a return of increased quality of life, increase in well-paying jobs, and a future where these businesses will contribute in their fair share of taxes. The city must evaluate the current needs of our community, and weigh the benefits looking to the long-term growth.

Jesse Moreno: Taxpayers should expect $20-plus/hour permanent jobs (local first especially), ongoing workforce development, and real partnerships with neighborhood associations and or nearby community organizations. I’d measure success against clear, verified ROI benchmarks and performance clawbacks. Incentives shouldn’t move forward if nearby residents aren’t fully informed or without a lasting commitment to El Paso. Developers should also invest lightly in the surrounding area trees, sidewalks, lighting, etc.