A trio of political newcomers and two individuals who came up short in previous attempts to win office are candidates in El Paso’s Nov. 5 election to replace outgoing city Rep. Isabel Salcido, who is vacating her District 5 seat to run for mayor.
The race includes Amanda Cunningham, 39, a social services worker and consultant; Ivan Niño, 33, chief of staff for Salcido; Tamara Lantigua Davis, 56, who is self-employed; Felix J. Muñoz, 58, who retired from the federal Bureau of Prisons; and Sean “Kowalski” Orr, 21, a security guard supervisor.
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 candidate who wins the seat will serve out the remainder of Salcido’s unexpired term, which ends in January 2027. City representatives are paid $63,038 a year.
District 5 represents most of the Upper Eastside east of Joe Battle Boulevard roughly north of Montwood Drive.
Traffic congestion and the deteriorating condition of roads have emerged as some of the top concerns for District 5 residents. Candidates are in agreement that street repairs and addressing traffic issues, particularly around Montwood Drive and other major thoroughfares, must be prioritized.
Most of the candidates also share the belief that expanding youth programs and facilities is essential for the rapidly growing population, especially in an area with multiple high schools.
However, views among the candidates diverge on how to handle larger, citywide projects, such as the proposed Downtown arena and the long-standing struggle over property taxes. While some candidates see the arena as a necessary boost to the city’s economy and a potential venue for major events, others argue that taxpayer dollars should be allocated more toward infrastructure improvements.
Here’s more on the candidate’s background and some of their goals.
Amanda Cunningham
Cunningham, a 39-year-old social worker and consultant, has a background in nonprofit project management and social services. With a master’s degree in nonprofit project management and some doctoral coursework in public policy, Cunningham said she wants to alleviate some of the strains that District 5 residents experience as a result of the area’s rapid growth. Cunningham said her lack of political experience can be a strength, allowing her to approach issues with a different perspective.
“I have a fresh set of eyes,” Cunningham said. “I love helping people. As a social worker working in a school system, I see that I can make a bigger difference working on policy. A lot of times while helping people, what we run into is bumping heads. There’s a better way to help people. It’s through the policies, not just that they’re implemented but that they are enforced.”
Originally from Indiana, Cunningham’s career spans approximately 20 years, during which she worked with children in special education and mental health, with a goal of preventing young people from entering the criminal justice system. She said her work as a social worker, coupled with her experience in grant writing, positions her to advocate for federal funding to address local issues, especially concerning infrastructure, traffic and property taxes.
Cunningham said her vision for El Paso is improving quality of life through strategic use of federal grants, lowering property taxes and enhancing infrastructure without burdening residents. She emphasizes the importance of tackling district-specific problems such as traffic congestion, illegal dumping and waste management, and is particularly concerned about rising property taxes.
As a mother of four, Cunningham said she has a vested interest in the community, balancing her campaign with her roles in family, ministry and education.
Learn more: How are my property taxes calculated? 7 things to know about the complicated process
“We have to lower taxes,” she said, adding that she only has so much information at her disposal on how to accomplish the task before entering the seat. She said property taxes are impacting home buying and renting.
Her stance on the proposed Downtown arena is that now is not the time for such a project due to its potential to increase the city’s debt without generating sufficient revenue. Instead, she advocates revisiting the plan when the financial situation is more favorable for the city’s residents, she said.
Cunningham said her approach to governance would focus on collaboration between city officials and the city manager, believing in a balance of power that keeps personal biases in check and ensures policies are enacted with the public’s best interests at heart.
“We’re supposed to be here to help the people, not hurt the people,” she said.
Felix J. Muñoz
Muñoz, a retired federal law enforcement officer and Army veteran, is running for the District 5 seat with a focus on fiscal transparency and local accountability. Born in California but raised in El Paso, Muñoz served in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, where he rose through the ranks to administrative lieutenant. The Bowie High School graduate said he wants to curb rising property taxes, prioritize infrastructure and ensure public funds are used responsibly.
Muñoz, 58, ran for the District 5 seat in 2022. He said the experience strengthened his resolve to advocate for the district’s residents, many of whom, like his own family, have felt the strain of increased taxes and the burden of rising interest rates.
Muñoz’s platform calls for transparency in city finances. If elected, he said he would aim to hold independent audits to track how public funds are spent, particularly the $237 million from the 2022 public safety bond, which he said has not been sufficiently accounted for.
“It’s our money, and the people are tired of it,” Muñoz said, emphasizing the need for a more responsible approach to managing public infrastructure and safety improvements.
The city’s internal auditor’s office regularly audits city departments under its annual audit plan, which is approved by council.
Muñoz’s policy priorities also extend to improving the district’s street conditions, addressing safety concerns related to roads and sidewalks with overgrowth and trash left behind through illegal dumping.
“There’s weeds everywhere,” Muñoz said. “There’s joggers and guys in handicapped chairs, they have to go around the weeds on the sidewalk and get on the street. Our city concentrates on the main highways. But, heavily trafficked streets? They forget about them.”
He proposes utilizing community service programs to manage these challenges without straining the budget. Additionally, Muñoz said he would hold frequent community meetings to ensure that their voices are heard and reflected in decisions at City Hall.
In his stance on the Downtown arena bond, Muñoz firmly is in favor of revoking it, stating that El Paso already has sufficient venues such as the Don Haskins Center and Southwest University Park. Instead, he advocates for focusing on easing traffic congestion and opening new roads to accommodate District 5’s rapid growth.
Ivan Niño
Niño, the chief of staff for Salcido, is running under a platform centered on safer streets, affordability, and community development. Born and raised in District 5, Niño said he has deep ties to the area, having attended school there and working for his family’s Downtown jewelry store. His journey into public service began in 2019 as a deputy in the tax assessor-collector’s office. He unsuccessfully ran in the March 2020 primary for the tax assessor collector currently held by Ruben P. Gonzalez.
Niño said his vision for the future of El Paso focuses on infrastructure improvements, particularly in addressing the district’s rapid growth and outdated master plans. He emphasizes the need for strategic partnerships with other governmental entities, such as the Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Texas Department of Transportation, to address traffic and road safety in District 5, including the Montwood Drive expansion and the extension of John Hayes Drive.
The city on Oct. 15 is hosting a community meeting on the $16.7 million Montwood extension approved by voters in the 2022 bond election, though no specific start time for the project has been set.
Niño also advocates for greater housing affordability and strong job creation in the city.
He also emphasizes skill development and youth programs as key to ensuring that residents can build wealth and afford homes in the future.
“Our students dealt with the pandemic, they were disassociated for such a long time,” Niño said. “They’re lacking the soft skills. Some of these students don’t know how to apply for jobs.”
The city government generally doesn’t operate these types of programs, which are often provided by schools or other organizations.
Additionally, Niño said he would work to expand senior services, noting that District 5 lacks a dedicated senior center and expressing his commitment to enhancing quality of life for all residents. He adds that he hopes to work with government entities to ensure positive futures for El Paso’s young people.
The Beast Urban Park, which opened in 2021 in District 5 as part of the 2012 quality of life bond, features a multigenerational community center, which includes a space for seniors.
Niño said he possesses intimate knowledge of District 5’s challenges and, if elected, his established relationships with stakeholders will allow him to hit the ground running. He emphasizes the importance of transparency, data-driven decision-making, and fostering collaboration between city officials and the community.
Niño concedes that voters may have questions about his ties to Salcido, who recently faced scrutiny for loaning her mayoral campaign $100,000 even as she faces a court judgment of more than $200,000 over an unpaid debt in Harris County.
“I work for the office, yes, she is my boss, and her personal life is her personal life,” Niño said. “That’s why it’s important for me to engage and communicate with people. I have my own voice and I’m always willing to have a conversation with people. I completely understand where some people might have questions. At the end of the day, I’m my own person, my own candidate.”
Sean “Kowalski” Orr
Orr, a 21-year-old security supervisor, said that despite his youth, he brings several years of experience in political volunteering, starting with his time assisting the Libertarian Party during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has since worked on social media campaigns for candidates and served as a state delegate for the Democratic Party in El Paso.
Orr’s platform is driven by concerns over rising property taxes, illegal dumping and the support of small businesses. He said he is particularly focused on ensuring that El Paso remains affordable for longtime residents, especially in light of inflation and rising living costs.
Orr said he wants to take on traffic issues in the district, particularly the completion of Montwood Drive. He envisions a faster and more streamlined approach to road repair and expansionIf elected, he hopes to strengthen collaboration between the El Paso Police Department, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and constables to tackle what he says are rising crime rates, which he attributes in part to the lack of youth supervision during the pandemic.
“We’ve seen a lot of my neighbors. They’re military and they don’t focus on property taxes, the issue they focus on is crime,” Orr said, claiming incorrectly that crime has risen compared to a decade ago.
El Paso has seen one of the nation’s largest declines in crime since the 1990s, according to FBI data. The number of serious crimes reported to police in El Paso declined by 25% between 2013 and 2023, the FBI reports show.
Orr said his background in security work and his community involvement fuel his ambition for change and would host frequent community meetings.
He said part of that collaboration involves coming to terms with the will of the voters when it comes to the Downtown arena.
“If the voters decide they want to keep the arena, then we would have to listen to the voters,” Orr said. “But, I would work with City Council to find a way to make it more financially stable and beneficial so that we can find wasteful spending and decide what we can actually accomplish for the arena..”
Tamara Lantigua Davis
Davis, a self-employed entrepreneur, was born in rural North Carolina and raised by her grandparents before moving to El Paso several years ago. Davis admitted to an initial bout of culture shock upon arriving in El Paso. Since then, she has come to love the city.
Her platform focuses on alleviating the traffic congestion in the district, particularly the delays caused by the unfinished Montwood Drive. Davis said she is committed to addressing the district’s growing transportation issues, advocating for a comprehensive plan to open more roads and reduce commute times.
“We’re suffering with traffic so bad, it’s unbearable,” she said. “It doesn’t matter which way you go, if you take another route, it’s the same thing. My main concern is getting Montwood opened up and figure out how to get this traffic under control. I don’t think there was a good plan put in place when they developed the roads here.”
Davis also emphasizes the need for youth programs and proposes the creation of a youth center that would offer various activities, including sports, tutoring, and safe spaces for socialization.
The city’s Beast Urban Park in the district includes a recreation center, classrooms and computer rooms, basketball courts, sports fields and the Oasis Water Park.
Davis believes her outsider status offers fresh perspective and energy and she sees herself as a “mother hen” for the community.. She said her experience as a military spouse and her familiarity with resources for veterans further inform her desire to connect veterans in District 5 with the benefits they might not know they are entitled to, including property tax exemptions.
“I don’t feel like I need to be a native of El Paso to hold a seat here. I know I can do the job,” Davis said. “I see the things that need to be done. You know what you can do, you know what you’re capable of doing, and you’re passionate about it. That’s where I am. I want to get my hands on it. I love my district. It is my home now. I just feel like I can really improve it. It’s good to have new blood, diversity. It doesn’t always have to be someone that is from the area that may be able to bring about a change.”
Davis said she would advocate for strong collaboration between city representatives, emphasizing the importance of working together to address citywide issues.
“One of the things that I’m known for is my ability to gather people,” Davis said. “I’m known for that in my church, in my friend groups. I feel that is one of my gifts that I can use to bring people together in District 5. I would like to see all the city reps be able to collaborate together. There may be something that one can do that may help me and vice versa. We have to make sure we stay focused on the reason we’re running for this position. It shouldn’t be for title, it shouldn’t be for money, it should be to address the concerns of their district.”
Early voting is Oct. 21 through Nov 1. Election Day is Nov 5. If no candidate wins the majority votes, the two candidates with the most votes will advance to a runoff election Dec. 14.
The post Who’s running to represent Far Eastside’s District 5 on El Paso City Council appeared first on El Paso Matters.
Read: Read More