El Paso Matters – Q&A: City Council District 5 candidates in Nov. 5 general election

The City Council is nonpartisan and comprises eight district representatives who annually set a tax rate, adopt a budget and make wide-ranging policy decisions. City representatives also appoint a city manager and city attorney. The winner will serve the remaining two years of the four-year term and be paid $63,038 a year. District 5 represents most of the Upper Eastside east of Joe Battle Boulevard roughly around Montwood Drive.

Who’s running for this seat?

Candidate Questionnaires

Candidates were asked to limit their responses to 100 words. Responses have been lightly edited for grammar.

What is your vision for the city of El Paso for the next 10 years and what needs to be done to get there?

Amanda Cunningham: El Paso is a rapidly growing international hub with a close sense of community. Ensuring the quality of life for the residents through great infrastructure, low property taxes, and maximizing federal grants and economic development, El Paso will be a one of a kind city.

Ivan Niño: In the next 10 years, I envision El Paso as a vibrant, inclusive city where everyone can thrive. My focus is on affordability, public safety and infrastructure improvements. By supporting local businesses, investing in youth programs and expanding services for seniors, we can build a stronger community. Working together with other entities, we’ll promote policies that prioritize homeownership, create opportunities, and ensure El Paso remains a place where families can live, grow and succeed. 

Tamara Lantigua Davis: Improve our streets from potholes work on getting Montwood open to prevent traffic delays. Create programs for children 

Felix J. Muñoz: Stop increasing our taxes, get more investors to invest in El Paso for minor and major projects without using taxpayer funds. I would like to bring a major theme park to our city to bring more revenue and hopefully stop tax increases.  

Sean “Kowalski” Orr: People are coming to live in El Paso because of our lower taxes and our new growing economy. Our community will be safer; the El Paso Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, and the constables office working together for community policing. The city is working with the county and state on improving living costs in our city. Putting politics aside, by limiting the burden of property taxes, by decreasing our city’s spending on entertainment, and from expanding the sheriff and constable offices. We can achieve this.

The city of El Paso since 2004 has had a council-manager form of government, limiting the mayor’s power. In the past year, the city manager’s authority over auditing and other functions has been removed. How do you balance power between elected city officials and the city manager?

Amanda Cunningham: Balancing the power is a sure way to ensure policies are being properly enforced and that the council adheres to their chief advisors’ recommendations to ensure the residents of the city are properly advocated. This relationship will ensure ordinance, policies and resolutions that benefit the city are implemented and enforced. The balance of power will ensure no personal motives are district biases are present and the integrity of the elected officials and manager are maintained. 

Ivan Niño: Balancing power between elected officials and the city manager requires clear roles, transparency and collaboration. Elected officials represent the community’s voice, while the city manager handles daily operations. To ensure balance, we need open communication and oversight. The council sets policies and goals, and the city manager implements them. A strong partnership built on trust and accountability ensures both sides work together to serve El Paso effectively.

Tamara Lantigua Davis: Working together. 

Felix J. Muñoz: Transparency. City manager can make recommendations or suggestions, but ultimately, the mayor should have the final decision, since being the mayor is an elected position. 

Sean “Kowalski” Orr: The balance of power is already established, as long as they adhere to the job description they applied for. We set boundaries on what they are prohibited from doing, and the manager is responsible for filling out the agenda. The council will oversee the contract and its duration. Conducting independent audits of the budget and the city ensures that everyone remains accountable.

The November ballot asks voters whether to revoke the Downtown arena bond. Do we need such a venue? Please explain.

Amanda Cunningham: At this time, a revocation for the arena Downtown is essential to lowering the city’s debt and ensuring the resident needs are met. This arena will not bring in enough revenue for the city at this time and should be revisited at a later date when the taxes are lowered. The benefits do not outweigh the negative effects for the people. 

Ivan Niño: As a proud El Pasoan, I’m committed to improving our community’s quality of life. El Pasoans deserve good jobs, affordable housing, and safe neighborhoods. The Downtown arena could bring economic benefits, creating jobs and generating income. While we’re all tired of rising costs, I support public-private partnerships to prevent additional burdens on taxpayers. However, this decision rests with the voters this November, and I trust our community to decide what’s best for El Paso’s future.

Tamara Lantigua Davis: We do need it. It’s good for the city to have. 

Felix J. Muñoz: No! The Downtown arena bond should not be revoked. We already have Southwest University Park, Civic Center, Sun Bowl and Don Haskins Center. Downtown area is already overcrowded, traffic is horrible during downtown events.  

Sean “Kowalski” Orr: Nope! Why is the city working in the entertainment business? We don’t need the arena; we have plenty of entertainment centers that can cover the means of this arena. What we don’t have is the ability to handle the traffic and the cost of the arena. Our streets are already packed and broken. Spend the money on necessary items.

The city has long struggled with how to prioritize and fund street repairs. How would you address this challenge and pay for it?

Amanda Cunningham: Utilizing and taking advantage of the federal grants of the Department of Transportation would ensure our streets are repaired properly without increasing property taxes of the people. There are many grants our city can take advantage of such as the Safe Streets for All People grants. As a grant writer, I will advocate and fight for our city to receive these resources. 

Ivan Niño: Safe streets are public safety and quality of life. Smart budgeting and exploring grants to fund these repairs without overburdening taxpayers. We must review current methods to ensure they are high quality and durable. Working with the county and other entities will be key to finding innovative fund sources outside of taxpayer contributions. Prioritizing safety and focusing on sustainable solutions, we can effectively address this long-standing issue and improve our community’s infrastructure.

Tamara Lantigua Davis: Street repairs should be a priority in our city. I would look at our budgets and go from there. 

Felix J. Muñoz: Use the $237 million dollars from the 2022 voter-approved infrastructure and safety to repair the streets and ensure that these funds are only used for that purpose and nothing else. Prioritize by funding the streets that are mostly used but not forgetting the less traveled streets.

Sean “Kowalski” Orr: Setting up a system to determine what street will need to be repaired, by damage and traffic. To get a big job done, the most efficient way to get it done is by taking it one area at a time. The taxpayers are already giving us money. To fix the streets, not to be asked for more, because we need money for a job that never started.

What is the top priority specific to your district and how would you address it?

Amanda Cunningham: For District 5, top priorities will be lowering property taxes; improving traffic and infrastructure; stopping dumping, specifically working with the county for the unincorporated areas within our district that has excessive dumping; improving waste management services; and working with the local police to improve community policing relations. Federal grants would help address and resolve these issues while lowering the property taxes to improve the quality of life for our residents. 

Ivan Niño: Safer streets. Enhancing our infrastructure is crucial for making daily commutes safer and more efficient. The city is collaborating with the county, the Metropolitan Planning Organization, TxDOT, and other partners on key projects like the Montwood Drive expansion, starting next year, and connecting John Hayes to Pellicano and Vista Del Sol. However, we need to do more. The outdated master plan for District 5 must be revisited to create proactive plans that address our rapid growth.

Tamara Lantigua Davis: Traffic and improving our streets. I would come up with a plan to open up more roads that would allow people to travel different routes. 

Felix J. Muñoz: Street decay, overgrown weeds and dumping trash in the incorporated areas in our district, safety crossroads for students when crossing to/from school. 1) Ensure that our district gets its fair share of the 2022, $237 million street and safety infrastructure bond. 2) Use people that are serving community service to help with weed control and picking up trash from the sidewalks, without using taxpayer money. Also, getting the community involved in a cleaner District 5.

Sean “Kowalski” Orr: Completing Montwood Drive. It is a nightmare to drive on the Eastside. The peak hours for Zaragoza, Montana, Edgemere and Pebble Hills are 6:30 to 8 a.m. and 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. There would be less traffic on these roadways if we were to finalize Montwood Drive and reach John Hayes Street. While this won’t simply eliminate traffic, it will provide options that could really facilitate easy travel. 

The post Q&A: City Council District 5 candidates in Nov. 5 general election appeared first on El Paso Matters.

 Read: Read More