Mayor Leeser, six city reps endorse Dee Margo for mayor

Businessman Dee Margo received seven huge endorsements Wednesday as Mayor Oscar Leeser and six city representatives announced they are urging El Pasoans to vote for Margo ahead of the June 10th runoff election.

Margo failed to receive 50 percent of the vote after Saturday’s election and will face David Saucedo in the runoff.

“Dee has served El Paso in many capacities. He has been a CEO, President of the El Paso ISD Board of Managers, former State Representative, and active in various local charities- these show his immense appreciation and love for this community,” Mayor Oscar Leeser said, “I am confident he will bring this same commitment to the office of Mayor.”

City Representatives Michiel Noe, Claudia Ordaz, Peter Svarzbein, Emma Acosta and Jim Tolbert also announced their endorsement of Margo.

Tolbert was not a part of the original announcement and called ABC-7 to say he was also endorsing Margo.

City Rep-elect Henry Rivera, who ousted City Representative Lily Limon, also endorsed Margo for mayor.

Acosta, who ran against Margo in Saturday’s election, said, “Dee ran a very strong campaign and will focus on the issues facing our city. I believe he can be a champion for El Paso as our next Mayor.”

“This is exactly what our city needs to see from their elected leadership: a cohesiveness that puts our community first,” Margo said.

In the wake of the endorsements, Saucedo sent ABC-7 a statement titled “Birds of Feather:”

“Mayor Lesser and Peter Svarzbein are indeed entrenched in a Texas Rangers investigation. Emma Acosta has been caught misrepresenting the truth on the circumstances of her $90,000 lifetime retirement allotment, linked to individuals convicted of bribes and corruption and defended the City Manager and Larry Romero Financial Advisor contract fiasco is now bitter about not making the run off. Claudia Ordaz is the same City Rep. who asked for preferential treatment with El Paso PD at Whataburger last summer, and has her husband County Commissioner staff write and text her statements on agenda discussion rebuttals in open session without any recourse. Henry Rivera and Dr. Noe have a right to voice their endorsement and I have nothing but respect for their position.”