Joe Molinar, candidate for El Paso City Council District 4

Name: Joe Molinar

Age: 64

Party: Nonpartisan

Occupation: I am presently the incumbent District 4 City Representative

Relevant Experience: My tenure as the incumbent District 4 City Representative.

• 1978 – A proud Enlisted member of the United States Marine Corps
• 1985 – A proud member of the El Paso Police Department for 22+ years, retiring as a police lieutenant
• 1995 – PTA volunteer and past PTA president
• 2007 – Socorro ISD employee
• 2012 – President of the Castner Heights Neighborhood Association (CHNA)
• 2012 – Volunteer to enact Castner Range as a National Monument
• 2014 – Board member for the Northeast Business Alliance (NEBA)
• 2015 – Graduate of the City of El Paso’s 9th Neighborhood Leadership Academy (NLA)
• 2015 – Graduate of the City of El Paso’s 1st Advanced Neighborhood Leadership Academy.
• 2019 – Proud member of the VFW Post 8919 Auxiliary
• 2020 – Voted by a majority of District 4 voters as their District 4 City Representative
• 2021 – Proud member of the American Legion – Post 74
• 2021 – Appointed by Mayor Oscar Leeser as a City of El Paso Employees’ Retirement trustee (CEPERT)
• 2023 – Voted by my City Representative colleagues as the Alternate Mayor Pro Tempore
• 2023 – Appointed by Mayor Oscar Leeser as the Texas Municipal League (TML) designee
• 2023 – Appointed by Mayor Oscar Leeser to serve as a Trustee on the Financial Oversight and Audit Committee (FOAC)
• 2023 – Appointed by TML to serve as a director-at-large
• 2023 – Elected as the VFW District 10 Auxiliary Conductor
• Volunteer for the Flags Across America at the Old Glory Memorial
• Volunteer for the Flags Across America Veterans Day Parades
• Volunteer at various local school science fairs
• Volunteer cook and server for the Veterans at Breakfast

Personal: Every day is a great day. I am a dedicated public servant (U.S. Marine Corps, Texas Commissioned Peace Officer and City Representative).

Website: Molinar4elpaso.com

Joe Molinar has served as city representative for District 4 since 2021. Here are his answers to KVIA's questions regarding his candidacy.

How will you work with your colleagues on City Council to enact change for El Pasoans?

I already meet and listen to my city representative colleagues on issues affecting El Paso; however, without violating any provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA). In addition, my office holds weekly community meetings (morning and evening) to address constituent concerns. We also select guest speakers who are informative, relevant and can answer constituent concerns.

What steps do you think City Council should take to alleviate the impact of the immigration crisis on El Paso?

We need to continue enacting the emergency declarations for our city. We need to continue working with our federal, state and local (NGOs) partners to address the needs of the community.

What are your plans to ensure transparency and make sure you are accessible to constituents?

At the present time, any district 4 constituent may call me, call our office, schedule an appointment (City Hall office or a District 4 location), send an email message, etc. in order to address their concerns.

What are your thoughts on the future of the Multi-Purpose Performing Arts Center?

No, we do not need a multi-purpose performing arts center unless it is fully funded by private sponsorships which includes pre-design, design, architectural, environmental, administrative, and operations and maintenance.

How should the city improve El Paso’s roads?

We need to dedicate additional funds to streets maintenance. We need to contract more vendors for construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, striping, etc. of our streets. We need to reduce the use of the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) as a data source in making decisions in prioritizing which streets get resurfaced.

Whether it’s a high property tax rate or climbing property values, El Pasoans are struggling with skyrocketing housing costs. If elected, what will you do in the next 4 years to provide relief for homeowners?

In 2023, we passed a no new revenue tax rate for FY2024. In 2024, we passed a no new revenue tax rate for FY2025. I have been in conversations with the Central Appraisal District (CAD) who determines the appraisals on your properties. We need to continue working the state delegation to seek lowering the threshold on the taxable valuations of your house.

Why are you the best candidate for this office?

I am presently the incumbent District 4 City Representative who has the relevant experience and leadership as a City Representative and former City of El Paso employee. On January 7, 2025, when sworn into office for the second time, I will be the senior City Representative working on the dais for the citizens of El Paso.

In January of 2025, there will be a new City Council make-up – a new City Manager (appointed in September of 2024), a new Mayor for the City of El Paso, and potentially, five new City Representatives who will be charged with executing a $1.3B budget, working with almost 7000 City employees, and working for all El Pasoans.

We have increased compensation for our city employees.

We have decreased the time for police academies.

We have increased compensation for cadets in both the police and fire academies.