Ricardo Samaniego, candidate for El Paso County Judge
Name: Ricardo A. Samaniego
Party: Democratic
Occupation: El Paso County judge
Relevant Experience
As El Paso County Judge, my most relevant experience is my proven track record leading our community through two full terms in office. Since assuming office on January Since 2019, I have presided over the Commissioners Court, managing the county budget and driving critical initiatives in mental health, infrastructure, and economic development. My deep understanding of regional governance, combined with established partnerships with local, state, and cross-border officials, ensures I can continue providing stable, effective leadership to complete our unfinished business—including major tech and healthcare advancements for El Paso.
Personal
Raised in a household with a long legacy of public service, I hold a bachelor’s degree in sociology, a master’s degree in educational psychology from UTEP, a master’s degree in bilingual bicultural education from NMSU, and a master’s degree in international economics and public policy from the University of Notre Dame. As a former college instructor and clinical therapist, I know firsthand that education is a powerful tool for upward mobility. Every day as your county judge, I draw on these experiences to advocate for policies that strengthen our schools, support household stability, and ensure that every family in our border community has the opportunity to thrive.
If you are elected, what are your priorities for El Paso?
As El Paso County Judge, my top priorities are to leverage my private-sector business experience to drive sustainable economic growth, ensure strict fiscal responsibility, and protect our community’s quality of life. I will aggressively fight against state and federal unfunded mandates that shift financial burdens onto our local budget and drive up your property taxes. My administration will continue to focus on creating high-quality jobs, supporting small businesses through efficient county practices, and balancing the budget while maintaining vital public safety and emergency preparedness. I remain deeply committed to leading El Paso with transparency, collaboration, and a clear vision that fiercely protects our local taxpayers and keeps our community thriving.
What are your plans to ensure transparency and make sure you are accessible to constituents?
My commitment to El Paso County is built on trust, which is why my plans focus on proactive communication and direct accessibility. First, we will ensure that all Commissioners Court meetings, county budgets, and vendor contracts remain live-streamed, fully digitized, and easily auditable online. Second, I am maintaining our structured constituent office hours and continuing our established practice of keeping the public fully informed on county initiatives through local media partners. True accountability means being fiercely transparent about public funds, county business, and policy decisions, while respecting that an individual's personal life should remain private. By drawing a clear, respectful boundary between private family life and public duty, we maintain absolute transparency where it belongs: in keeping county government directly accountable to the people we serve.
What makes you the best candidate?
As El Paso County Judge, my proven record of stable leadership and deep local roots makes me the best candidate. My educational foundation—with degrees from UTEP, NMSU, and Notre Dame—and private-sector industrial project management experience equip me to manage complex budgets effectively. I am actively fighting for taxpayers by pushing back against Austin’s unfunded mandates, ensuring local residents aren't forced to foot the bill for state services. Conversely, my opponent is fully aligned with the state’s Republican agenda, which routinely passes down severe unfunded mandates that ultimately force local property taxes upward. My "Four Pillars" vision focuses on healthcare, aerospace, manufacturing, and agriculture, securing federal funds for vital flood infrastructure and rural broadband without overburdening property owners. While my opponent's state-aligned platform threatens to drive local tax increases, I deliver forward-thinking investments that protect your wallet and move all of El Paso County forward together.
