This is your weekly news roundup, which takes a quick look at some developments in government, politics, education, environment and other topics across El Paso.
Walmart Gunman Heads Back to Court
The man who has admitted killing 23 people and wounding 22 others at the Cielo Vista Walmart in 2019 will appear in a state courtroom next week for the first time in almost five years.
District Judge Sam Medrano will hold a scheduling conference Thursday, Sept. 12, which could lead to a trial date being set for Patrick Crusius, who faces state charges of capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Crusius, now 26, has not appeared in a state courtroom since his arraignment in October 2019. But unlike previous hearings in the state case, Medrano is requiring him to be present for this hearing.
Crusius pleaded guilty last year to federal weapons and hate crime charges after prosecutors agreed to not seek the death penalty. He was sentenced to 90 consecutive life terms in prison.
The state capital murder charges carry a possible death sentence.
District 1, 5 City Representative Races Draw 4 Candidates Each
Eight candidates have filed to fill the unexpired terms of two city representatives who are running for mayor: Four candidates filed for the Upper Valley/Westside District 1 seat now held by Brian Kennedy and four others are seeking the Far Eastside District 5 seat held by Isabel Salcido.
Kennedy and Salcido will serve as the city representatives for their districts until their replacements are sworn into office in January. The terms expire in 2027.
Candidates who have filed to run for the District 5 seat are Felix Muñoz, who unsuccessfully ran against Salcido in the November 2022 general election; Amanda Cunningham, a social services consultant and advisor; Ivan Niño, Salcido’s legislative aide; and Tamara Davis, who is self employed.
Candidates who filed to run for the District 1 seat are Army veteran Thomas “Tom” Handy, a former nonprofit executive and writer; Joseph “Sam” Armijo, an engineering consultant; Monica Reyes, executive director of student support services with the Canutillo Independent School District; and Alejandra Chavez, an advisor and consultant.
The filing deadline for the two seats was Wednesday, Sept. 4, as special elections had to be called for the offices that were not scheduled to be on the ballot this year. Those races will appear on the general Election Day ballot Nov. 5 along with the mayoral race and the four city representative seats that were up for election this year. Filing deadlines for those seats was Aug. 19.
The last day to register to vote is Oct. 7. Early voting runs from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1.
City Rep. Isabel Salcido Loans Herself $100k for Mayoral Campaign
City Rep. Isabel Salcido, who resigned her Far Eastside District 5 seat Aug. 15 to run for mayor, has loaned her campaign $100,000.
Salcido confirmed the personal loan to El Paso Matters Thursday after the city’s Tuesday meeting agenda that shows the donation was posted. All candidates running for city office – regardless of whether they are incumbents – are required to disclose campaign contributions above $500 to the City Clerk’s Office for notation on council agendas.
The next campaign finance report is due Oct. 7 – 30 days before the Nov. 5 election.
Salcido is serving her second term, which expires January 2027. Under the state’s resign to run and hold over laws, she will give up her city representative seat regardless of whether she wins the mayoral race but will remain in her seat until her replacement is sworn in January 2025.
Four candidates have filed to run for the unexpired District 5 term.
Two other city representatives are among eight candidates seeking the mayoral seat: Brian Kennedy from the Upper Valley/Westside District 1 and Cassandra Hernandez from the East Central/Lower Valley District 3.
Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García, right, the reputed leader of the Sinaloa cartel, appeared in a federal courtroom in El Pasoon Thursday, Aug. 1, accompanied by his attorney, Frank Perez of Dallas. (Illustration by Nacho L. Garcia Jr.)
‘El Mayo’ Zambada’s Trial Moves to New York
A day after a federal judge in El Paso denied a motion to move the trial of reputed drug cartel leader Ismael Zambada García, also known as “El Mayo,” the federal government initiated the process to transfer the case from the Western District of Texas to New York.
A motion filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Thursday claims Zambada and his attorney were initially opposed to the transfer that began with a government request Aug. 15. Zambada was granted the opportunity to file further opposition. However, he withdrew opposition to the move Aug. 28.
The government’s request to transfer the case to the Eastern District of New York was initially declined Wednesday, Sept. 4, on the basis that Zambada’s arrest warrant was issued in Texas. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone ruled that the charges should be tried in Texas, where Zambada was originally indicted in 2012.
Zambada, a high-ranking leader of the Sinaloa cartel, was apprehended on July 25, along with Joaquín Guzmán López, son of the infamous Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, at Doña Ana International Jetport. Zambada faces numerous charges, including drug trafficking, conspiracy to import controlled substances, money laundering, and involvement in a continuing criminal enterprise. He has also been indicted in multiple other districts, including New York and California, where similar charges are pending. Zambada remains in custody in El Paso and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Zambada went before Cardone on Aug. 1 at the Albert Armendariz Sr. Federal Courthouse for his first status hearing since his capture.
The post Walmart gunman heads back to court; cartel leader Zambada’s trial to move to New York; plus, El Paso city elections latest appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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