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I didn’t get selected for the District 6 trustee seat for the El Paso Independent School District. It wasn’t because I didn’t bring my best, and it certainly wasn’t because I lacked the qualifications.
I lost because I insisted on being myself.
The El Paso Independent School District board wasn’t looking for accountability, directness, or a fresh perspective. They wanted someone to fall in line, nod along to their idea of what a trustee should be, and blend smoothly into their existing team.
That same team watched a $52 million deficit pile up right under their noses.
When the district’s shortfall hit the news, the official narrative blamed the former chief financial officer. But let’s be real. The trustees were sitting in those seats the entire time she was managing the district’s finances. They picked her. Worse yet, they made the catastrophic decision to appoint her as interim superintendent while she was simultaneously serving as CFO.
Last week, I stood in front of them and told the plain truth. I guess they weren’t ready to hear it.
Being a trustee requires actual time. You need the time to audit the budget, talk directly to district staff, and dig deep into complex financial reports while balancing your daily life. I told them straight out: I have the time.
Yet, Trustee Alex Cuellar suggested I would be “out of touch with maybe some of the rest of the district that he’s going to be serving” because I said my financial security would give me more time to focus on the school board.
Let’s talk about reality.
I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth. When I was 12 years old, I watched my parents lose our house. That leaves a mark that never goes away. For more than two years, my father was out of work, something I couldn’t fully wrap my young head around at the time. We ate government cheese and drank powdered milk.
To make sure I wasn’t a financial burden on my mother, a single parent grinding to raise two boys, I started delivering newspapers at 5 a.m. and adding a second route every Wednesday afternoon.
When I grew up, I served 20 years in the Army, took injuries in combat, and came out the other side still giving 110 percent to everything I tackle. Since retiring from the military, I’ve spent over 10 years leading and serving in non-profits across El Paso.
My entire adult life has been built on service, discipline, and giving back. Suggesting that I’m out of touch with the everyday struggles of working families in this city is absurd.
During the process, I brought actionable ideas to support District 6 and repair the broken lines of communication between the board and local residents, something the current team consistently fails at.
Instead, they went with Matthew Reza. He’s a nice guy, but my honest take is that he will be completely overwhelmed in this role. The learning curve is steep, and the financial mess is immediate.
The trustees are holding onto their kingdom and trying desperately not to rock the boat. But when the boat is taking on water to the tune of $52 million, keeping it steady just means you drown more slowly.
I don’t see this board earning back the trust of El Paso residents anytime soon. As for me, my moral compass remains intact, my focus stays on real service, and I’ll keep calling things as I see them.
Tom Handy is a retired Army lieutenant colonel, former president of the Veteran Business Association, vice president of Fort Bliss ROCKS, and president of Franklin High School PTSA.
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