El Paso Matters – Meet the El Paso county attorney candidates in the Democratic Primary

Christina Sanchez: Frequent communication needs to occur with each school district throughout the county. The office can take meaningful measures to lead an effort on a structured educational program on the consequences of vaping, as well as on any social issues that lead children to vape. Our longstanding relationships with community organizations can assist in curriculum development to ensure a strategic approach for different age groups.

Sergio A. Saldivar: This is a rapidly growing concern as is the rampant surge in violent juvenile crime. To address vaping, I would create more interactive outreach programs with CA’s Office, the schools and would include law enforcement. I would provide students information on the undeniable health risks, promote anti-vaping campaigns with local celebrity influencers (such as Aaron Jones) and prosecute those retailers with civil and/or criminal penalties when caught selling to minors.

Christina Sanchez: In my role as senior division chief, I supervise a team of nine lawyers and four staff members. This requires that I participate in the internal County Attorney’s Office budget review process which includes collecting and submitting data on attorney workload and making recommendations on staffing needs. 

My experience in serving on the EPCC Board of Trustees has afforded me the opportunity to participate in the budget making process and make decisions on significant policy and budgetary matters.

Sergio A. Saldivar: I have over 30 years of diverse business manager experience. 10 years of running a family business with a substantial workforce and 20 of running a successful and busy law practice. I have dealt with employee issues, payroll, human resources, budgets, inventory, work product and maintaining capital while managing a successful work-life balance for employees. Empowering, training, retaining and supporting supervisors while delegating tasks will insure the efficiency of an office that size.

Christina Sanchez: No, a conflict of interest does not exist. The commissioners are represented by the County Attorney’s Office. The Hospital District maintains its own in-house counsel team that is supervised by a Chief Legal Officer who represents the Hospital District and reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer. The County Attorney’s Office has no oversight or legal relationship with the Hospital District’s legal department.

Sergio A. Saldivar: No Conflicts

Christina Sanchez: The Protective Order Unit is adequately staffed with a specially trained team prepared to handle sensitive and traumatic experiences that applicants face when seeking a protective order. One change that I envision would be to set up a stand-alone center that would provide wraparound services to victims of domestic violence as soon as they walk in the door seeking legal assistance.

Sergio A. Saldivar: I believe the CA’s current staffing for protective orders is adequate. I also believe that this is an essential and necessary component of the CA’s Office to protect victims, regardless of gender. I would however, implement a stricter vetting policy which screens for motive. All too often, there is an ulterior motive in seeking a protective order. This is a waste of county resources and can negatively impact people’s livelihoods and reputations without consequence to the actors.

Christina Sanchez: I would work to have a coordinated campaign to educate the public on the County Attorney’s Office role in handling wage theft, environmental cases and nuisance abatement matters. 

For years, we have witnessed the State pass laws that are not reflective of our community values. We are in this fight now, pushing back on voter disenfranchisement laws and laws that strain public resources. If elected, I would work to strengthen our affirmative litigation unit to continue to protect local control.

Sergio A. Saldivar: The CA’s Office has been relatively silent for many years. It is an essential part of the legal and law enforcement community in El Paso County. In my opinion, this office can have a more heightened visibility in the community. I would work to ensure its continued legal advising to the County Commissioners with all current legal issues but improve the CA Offices’ relationship with law enforcement at all levels. Our community has recently seen many novel border issues which need to be resolved.