04/10/2017
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ENDORSING PRESERVATIONIST CANDIDATES FOR CITY OFFICE!!!
Many years ago, when we first began advocating for our history and culture, we began to realize that the issues that most concern us are controlled by politicians. Since we are unconnected with government and are not a 501c3, we are free to advocate in any way we wish. Thus, we are endorsing a slate of candidates for the May 6 general election (see image). We interviewed all of them, vetted them thoroughly, and feel confident in their abilities They are thoughtful, intelligent, common-sense preservationists who care deeply for our history, culture and people. All are absolutely opposed to the senseless destruction of Duranguito, which is a critical historical and economic asset.
DAVID SAUCEDO FOR MAYOR
David is the obvious choice for mayor. He has stood with our community of preservationists and historians from the very beginning of his campaign. He was present in City Hall when our council voted to grant itself eminent domain powers and place Duranguito on the chopping block. His public statement on his arena position is plenty clear. David has never blinked or waivered on the arena issue because, unlike Jim Tolbert and Peter Svarzbein, he is not afraid to stand up for what is right in the face of determined opposition from a handful of powerful business interests. The good news is that David has a great deal of support, including from the El Paso Police. We are convinced that he has an excellent chance of victory and that he would be a wonderful mayor.
By contrast, Emma Acosta has a deplorable record on historic preservation. She voted to demolish two Trost masterpieces: the John T. Muir Bldg. (11/13/2012) and the Union Bank & Trust Bldg. (12/18/2012), and both were replaced by empty lots. She rejected our common-sense proposal to conduct an architectural survey of downtown El Paso and the adjacent barrios (7/20/2015), humiliating the City and forcing the County to pick up the slack. Now she vocally supports erasing our most historic residential neighborhood, claiming all the while that she owes it to the voters, who are overwhelmingly opposed to her position. Dee Margo is also campaigning on an anti-Duranguito platform and has no compunction about demolishing the neighborhood in the interest of expediency. In a recent El Paso Inc report, he stated: "You can argue that the language in the bond election wasn’t clear enough, but that’s beside the point,” he said. “It’s done, and the interpretation of that language, based on the voters, is they want an arena." We beg to differ.
ALEXANDRA ANNELLO FOR DISTRICT 2
Alexsandra will be an ideal replacement for Jim Tolbert. She is a staunch preservationist and a natural leader. She has a well-organized and smart campaign and is making great strides. We are not worried that she will change her opinion about our historic neighborhoods when the winds blow the other way. Her statement on historic preservation and heritage tourism is on her campaign page.
We and our many friends had supported Jim in his recent election bid but we made a huge mistake. This is a man who voted to demolish Duranguito, used vulgarity against one of the neighborhood's leaders when council was in session, apologized to him and made up, changed his original position and apologized to the Duranguito residents, and had his photo-ops with them and their leaders. Now he has decided to destroy their neighborhood anyway. Jim threw us under the bus.
ANTONIO WILLIAMS FOR DISTRICT 3
Antonio is rock solid on our history, culture and people. There is no question about it. His eloquent statement on the arena is on his campaign page. After years of Emma Acosta, we look forward to having an advocate for District 3 who truly cares for all El Pasoans, and not merely the biggest donors. Antonio will win on the strength of his character and his positions, and on the sheer numbers who will support him.
SAM MORGAN FOR DISTRICT 4
Sam is a great supporter of our culture and history and believes firmly in preserving our precious cultural resources. We are delighted to support his candidacy, since he has distinguished himself as a leader who is eloquent, determined, and firm on his positions.
Shane Haggerty, on the other hand, refuses to state his position on the the arena location (I spoke to him myself). If he is unsure about whether we should destroy 5-10% of downtown El Paso then we cannot certainly trust him on our core issues.
LILY LIMÓN FOR DISTRICT 7
Lily is our strongest advocate on City Council. She was one of only two city council reps who supported the architectural survey in 2015, and she is the only remaining rep who openly opposes locating the sports arena in Duranguito. None of her opponents can match her record of support for historic preservation and our people.
PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TO THE ELECTION CAMPAIGNS OF THESE FIVE EXCELLENT CANDIDATES:
http://www.saucedoformayor.com/
http://www.annellofordistrict2.com
http://antonioforelpaso.com/
http://www.sammorgan.org/
http://www.lilylimon.com/
Max Grossman, Ph.D.
El Paso History Alliance