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. They serve four-year terms and are paid $63,038 a year. District 4 represents parts of Northeast roughly north of Hondo Pass Drive.
Who’s running for this seat?
Joe “Chief” Molinar, 64, is the incumbent city representative for District 4 and retired EPPD lieutenant.
Cynthia Boyar Trejo, 58, is a business owner.
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?
Joe “Chief” Molinar: A desirable city/community where families and businesses thrive.
Cynthia Boyar Trejo: My vision for El Paso is to create a city that thrives economically through sound financial management and strategic economic growth. This includes advocating for diverse and advanced industries, improving public safety, and ensuring our first responders have the resources needed. We must also focus on maintaining and enhancing public spaces like parks and libraries to build a sense of community. Through collaboration and purposeful planning, we can create a stronger and thriving city.
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?
Joe “Chief” Molinar: Excellent communication between the City Council officials and the city manager must exist. This is definitely not about “power” but instead willingness to come together and work through problems to find solutions. An auditing function through the Financial Oversight and Audit Committee (FOAC) remains in place.
Cynthia Boyar Trejo: Balancing power between elected officials and the city manager requires clear role separation. Elected officials should focus on policy and community engagement, while the city manager should oversee daily operations. Regular communication, performance evaluations, and independent audits are necessary for transparency, accountability and rebuilding trust within the community.
The November ballot asks voters whether to revoke the Downtown arena bond. Do we need such a venue? Please explain.
Joe “Chief” Molinar: No, we do not need a Downtown arena or a deck park over I-10. The cost to build these two items would overwhelm the El Paso taxpayers with debt to them and for generations to come.
Cynthia Boyar Trejo: A venue can promote economic growth and enhance community engagement. However, it must align with residents’ needs and expectations. Voters deserve a clear vision for moving forward, including potential benefits and costs. Clarity and transparency are essential for rebuilding trust and ensuring community support, making it crucial to communicate how the arena will serve the community and contribute to El Paso’s development.
The city has long struggled with how to prioritize and fund street repairs. How would you address this challenge and pay for it?
Joe “Chief” Molinar: We need to prioritize additional funding for streets. We need to cease the use of the Pavement Condition Index (PCI), which measures the physical condition of the streets. We also need to remedy the conditions for street resurfacing contractors, their equipment and their personnel.
Cynthia Boyar Trejo: To prioritize and fund street repairs, we must conduct a comprehensive assessment to identify critical areas based on safety and community impact. Funding could come from reallocating budgets, seeking grants, and exploring public-private partnerships. Long-term planning with community input is essential for effective and accountable street maintenance.
What is the top priority specific to your district and how would you address it?
Joe “Chief” Molinar: The completion of the Meta data center and the Sunset Amphitheatre. Work with both of these organizations to begin the work on them. The Sunset Amphitheatre may deliver a $5.4 billion-dollar economic impact to our city over time.
Cynthia Boyar Trejo: The Northeast has been overlooked for too long, and my top priority for District 4 is economic development driven by community input to identify diverse business needs, create high-paying jobs, and enhance quality of life. Residents require access to adequate health care facilities and timely police responses, along with essential services like retail, restaurants and child care. Supporting local entrepreneurs and investing in workforce training are vital for economic growth in District 4.
The post Q&A: City Council District 4 candidates in Dec. 14 runoff election appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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