Black El Paso Voice

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Politics

Renard Johnson for Mayor: Founder’s Statement

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It is no secret that the final day of a major political election brings out most voters. Today, I hope everyone who didn’t vote early, does their part in choosing who is right to assist with positive progress.

Living in El Paso as a military spouse, mother, businesswoman, community activist, and advocate for almost 30 years, I have gained clarity and understanding concerning what it takes and who it takes to lead our community forward. Understanding the intersection of resilience, dedication, and vision, this current season of change is reflective of my beliefs and where I believe that we, as a community, go from here.

Our city is not without complex issues, and because of that, it takes people who are compassionate, non-combative leaders, to help us attain a greater level of being seen as a city that invites new innovations for job creation, improved safety, and better quality of life, among other things.

Heightening my commitment to the well-being of El Paso, I have chosen roles that shape my perspective and have accompanied my heart and mind since a young age, and my heart is for El Paso. Renard Johnson embodies these qualities that our city needs now more than ever. He genuinely understands the challenges and aspirations that define El Paso and is a proven leader in business who exudes compassion when it comes to having a heart for the community.

Renard is the only candidate for mayor who stepped forward to ensure our military families, especially military spouses, are included in the progress of our city and is positioned to drive the growth we need to be an inviting city to new and expanding industries.

I’m not only convinced but assured that Renard is a leaders leader who is caring enough to understand that we, the people, are a part of the necessary group that should be included in leading our city.

Monica Tucker

  • Founder, Black El Paso Voice/The Black Roundtable
  • Community Activist, Advocate, Volunteer
  • Mother, Grandmother
  • Businesswoman
  • Military Spouse – 34+ years
  • El Pasoan – 28+ years
  • Positivity Promoter – Since birth

Minerva Torres Shelton for Sheriff: Founder’s Statement

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Everyone who knows me knows that besides Northeast El Paso, the sheriff’s department and who we have as a leader is important to me because I want our deputies to be safe, and we want the corruption to end! My opinion is unpopular, but the other candidate can’t hold a candle to Minerva regarding experience, honesty, and diplomacy. She does not have a negative agenda.

My vote is actually for Sgt. James Brown. She will provide the leadership necessary to ensure we won’t lose our service members to ignorance. Our law enforcement community deserves better, and change is needed in the sheriff’s department. Don’t let the party affiliation fool you; Minerva Torres Shelton is the experienced leader El Paso needs to revitalize the Sheriff’s Department. She has over 25 years of law enforcement training and experience, including a distinguished tenure with the FBI and serving our country in the Army in military intelligence.

Her expertise and vision make her the ONLY candidate on the ballot to address systemic issues that plague the county law enforcement division. Minerva began her law enforcement career as a patrol officer with the EPPD, where she enhanced her experience in community policing and public safety. She started her career with the FBI, as with many, after September 11, 2001. In this role, she led critical investigations into violent crimes, human trafficking, and counterterrorism.

As a Supervisory Special Agent, her experience with the Joint Terrorism Task Force and her work on human trafficking initiatives demonstrate her commitment to protecting vulnerable populations. Transparency and accountability, which are essential in the role of the sheriff to end corruption, is where her approach is focused on restoring trust in the Sheriff’s Department.

Who we elect is crucial to the safety of our deputies and the department’s operations. She has a plethora of strategies to enhance public safety while prioritizing mental health support within our jails.

Minerva Torres Shelton is not just another candidate; she is the ONLY candidate who has demonstrated passion for advocacy for fair justice. Neither a consensus nor a survey is needed to understand that we’ll risk further mistrust and mishandling if we don’t transfer leadership to a more experienced candidate. Her aim is to create a Sheriff’s Department that reflects the values of El Paso—integrity, service, and community engagement.

Hands down, she is unmatched when it comes to experience, integrity, and commitment. How do you throw safety out the window? By voting for the least experienced person.

Monica Tucker

  • Founder, Black El Paso Voice/The Black Roundtable
  • Community Activist, Advocate, Volunteer
  • Mother, Grandmother
  • Businesswoman
  • Military Spouse – 34+ years
  • El Pasoan – 28+ years
  • Positivity Promoter – Since birth

Cynthia Boyar Trejo for District 4 NE Rep: Founder’s Statement

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I’ve had the privilege of speaking and getting to know Cynthia Boyar Trejo, and it’s clear to me that she’s uniquely suited to represent Northeast El Paso. As a third-generation El Pasoan and an Andress High School graduate, Cynthia knows our community’s values and challenges firsthand.

As the founder of a nonprofit focused on underserved populations, she has over 20 years of business experience. Expanding economic growth and improving the quality of life for all Northeast residents is what she is dedicated to achieving with the help of those she will serve.

She is passionate and dedicated, as many of us are when it comes to changing the narrative about the Northeast and showcasing the potential for growth and opportunity. She is committed to community-driven solutions and ensuring the residents of Northeast El Paso have a voice because she genuinely understands the need to be heard and valued.

Solid leadership, years of executive coaching, and hands-on community work, I have no doubt she is ready to advocate for vital services, attract new businesses, and create opportunities that benefit all of El Paso.

Monica Tucker

  • Founder, Black El Paso Voice/The Black Roundtable
  • Community Activist, Advocate, Volunteer
  • Mother, Grandmother
  • Businesswoman
  • Military Spouse – 34+ years
  • El Pasoan – 28+ years
  • Positivity Promoter – Since birth

Escobar endorses Kamala Harris; other El Paso leaders react to Biden leaving presidential race

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Escobar endorses Kamala Harris; other El Paso leaders react to Biden leaving presidential race

by Robert Moore, El Paso Matters
July 21, 2024

El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, one of the national co-chairs of President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign, quickly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris after Biden ended his re-election candidacy Sunday.

“It’s time to unite & rally behind @KamalaHarris. She, too, earned 14 million votes in the primary, & will lead the fight for our freedoms against Trump’s Project 2025 that seeks (to) end our democracy,” Escobar said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter..

After several weeks of pressure from fellow Democrats following a disastrous debate performance against former President Donald Trump, Biden announced Sunday that he would no longer seek re-election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination.

Escobar and other El Paso Democratic leaders praised Biden’s presidency.

https://twitter.com/vgescobar/status/1815104458927624482

State Sen. César Blanco of El Paso, who also is a member of the Democratic National Committee and a “super delegate” at the Chicago convention, called Biden “a consequential president.”

State Sen. César Blanco

“He was effective while he was in office, and he’s got a lifelong history of public service. In many ways, I'm sad to see him leave, but that’s a personal decision that he’s made, and he’s decided to not seek the nomination,” Blanco said in an interview with El Paso Matters.

He said he wasn’t yet ready to endorse a presidential candidate.

“I’m going to hold off from making any endorsements until I get feedback from my constituents and get a sense of what they’re thinking,” Blanco said.

El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser, who attended Biden’s White House announcement in June of stronger asylum crackdowns, called Biden “a friend to El Paso.”

“From COVID vaccines when we needed them most, to critical funding as we faced a difficult and challenging humanitarian crisis in order not to put the burden on the backs of El Paso taxpayers, President Biden’s administration has steadfastly stood with our city and I will always be grateful to him and his team for their support,” Leeser said in a statement.

Biden visited El Paso once during his presidency, making his first visit as president to the U.S.-Mexico border Jan. 8, 2023.

El Paso’s eight delegates to the Democratic National Convention next month, who said earlier this month they remained solidly behind Biden, endorsed Harris Sunday afternoon.

“We are ready to make history by standing firmly behind Vice President Kamala Harris as she becomes our first female president of the United States,” the delegation said. “With her unmatched experience as a prosecutor, Harris will decisively hold Donald Trump accountable for his 34-count conviction and his egregious disregard for both the law and for democracy. We are united, energized, and committed to supporting her vision of equality, progress, and justice for all Americans.”

The elected delegates are county Democratic Chair Michael Apodaca, County Commissioner David Stout, former city Rep. Alexsandra Annello, Yvonne “Bonnie” Daniels, Alicia De Jong Davis, Javier Aaron Paz, Dr. Jack Heydemann and Craig Sterrette.

Escobar and Blanco are super delegates to the convention because of their prominent roles in the party.

El Paso County Republican Party Chair Jorge Gonzalez couldn’t immediately be reached for comment for his views on Biden’s decision.

Irene Armendizariz-Jackson, the Republican nominee challenging Escobar for El Paso's 16th Congressional District seat, echoed Trump's sentiments about Biden's announcement.

https://twitter.com/BorderIrene/status/1815119185846153424

Olivia Troye, an El Paso native who served as a homeland security aide to former Vice President Mike Pence in the Trump administration, joined Harris at an event in Michigan on Wednesday to discuss abortion rights. She said she was surprised Sunday when she heard Biden was ending his re-election bid.

Olivia Troye

“I think we're seeing someone who had to make a very hard decision, but also seeing someone who is putting the country and the greater good over anything else, which is true Joe Biden's character from what we've seen,” said Troye, who resigned her role in the Trump administration in July 2020 and endorsed Biden. “I think he's had a successful presidency. Obviously, as a Republican, I don't agree with everything that they've done, but I do think that he has done a good job as president.”

She said she hopes Democrats rally quickly around Harris, and said they need to focus on persuading middle of the road voters.

"I think they need to be focused on independent and moderate (voters). … I think they need to let people like myself, who have traditionally voted Republican but who are not supportive of Donald Trump, I think they need to do the outreach to say, you have a home," Troye said in an interview with El Paso Matters.

Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke of El Paso, who briefly ran against Biden for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, posted a brief message on X following Biden’s announcement.

https://twitter.com/BetoORourke/status/1815110519449129418

Former U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, said he was disappointed by Biden’s decision to step aside, but not surprised because of the growing wave of elected officials who were calling on him to drop out of the election.

Reyes said Biden’s endorsement of Vice President Harris makes sense, but he is going to wait and see how things go.

“The most important thing is to make sure we put forth the very best candidate to keep Donald Trump from getting back in the White House,” Reyes said. “For the moment, I’m going to keep my powder dry.”

4 p.m. Saturday, July 21: This story has been updated with comments from El Paso's elected delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

5:45 p.m. Saturday, July 21: This story has been updated with comments from former Reps. Beto O'Rourke and Silvestre Reyes of El Paso.

El Paso Matters reporter Daniel Perez contributed to this story.

This article first appeared on El Paso Matters and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Politics | Alexsandra Annello Announces Run for HD 77

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“She is a Champion of Community and Equality. It was an honor to honor her at our Black Business and Community Awards.” ~Monica Tucker

 

In the heart of El Paso, Texas, stands a woman whose commitment to her community knows no bounds. Alexsandra Annello, a pillar in the local landscape, has dedicated herself to uplifting those around her through advocacy, service, and unwavering dedication to equality.

 

Alexsandra’s journey to becoming a beacon of change in El Paso began with a foundation of resilience and empathy. After experiencing the unexpected loss of her father during her studies at Catholic University, she found solace and renewed purpose at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Here, she not only completed her college degree but also imbibed the ethos of community service that would define her career.

 

Alexsandra ignited her passion for community building after immersing herself in the arts and nonprofit sectors across Texas for a decade. However, her pivotal role in initiating the Juneteenth El Paso event, now a celebrated city occasion, solidified her reputation as an initiative-taking and inclusive leader.

 

Throughout her tenure on the El Paso City Council, Alexsandra distinguished herself as a champion for equity and justice. She spearheaded initiatives to enhance access to education, healthcare, and public spaces, recognizing these as fundamental pillars of a thriving community. Her commitment to women’s rights, evidenced by her advocacy against corporate welfare and women’s autonomy in healthcare decisions, earned her widespread admiration and respect.

 

Now, as she embarks on her campaign for State Representative, House District 77, Alexsandra continues to amplify the voices of those she serves. Her platform is rooted in the principles of education, empowerment, and economic opportunity. Adamantly opposed to policies that undermine public education, such as vouchers and book bans, she stands as a steadfast advocate for the vital role of institutions like UTEP and El Paso Community College in shaping Texas’ future workforce.

 

Beyond her political endeavors, Alexsandra remains deeply connected to her community. Whether strolling through Memorial Park with her husband Beto and their dog or finding solace in the pages of a book at her local library, she epitomizes the spirit of accessibility and approachability that defines her leadership.

 

Alexsandra Annello is an example of progress. Her dedication to community, along with her steadfast advocacy for equality and justice, serves as a reminder of the transformative power of compassionate leadership.