District 2 Race: Political newcomer responds to incumbent’s critique

Early voting is underway and ABC-7 is taking a look at the District 2 runoff between incumbent Jim Tolbert and challenger Alexsandra Annello.

ABC-7 spoke with both candidates Wednesday in what was the closest of all the City Council races in the May 6 general election.

The newcomer Annello managed to get 1,135 votes, but fell short of the 50-percent needed to avoid a runoff.

Meanwhile, Tolbert received 1,038 votes, less than a hundred behind Annello, or three percent less.

The runoff battle in District 2 turned negative after Tolbert sent out a mailer pointing to Annello’s potential inexperience.

The mailer states that the 33 year-old Annello was still a student — she has since graduated from college — and had lived in the district for just 11 months.

Tolbert pointed out he was born in District 2 and graduated from Austin High School. Annello was born and raised in Boston and moved to El Paso five years ago and did work for 14 years before going back to school.

While Tolbert says building the arena in Duranguito has already been decided, Annello is against building the arena there and believes most of District 2 doesn’t want it there either.

ABC-7 asked both to address the experience issue.

“People are now realizing she’s only lived in the district for a little over 11 months,” Tolbert said. “The time that she’s been in El Paso, three or four years, she’s never voted. She has no record of community service here in District 2 in the City of El Paso.”

Annello added: “I’m proud of the fact I was able to go to school as an adult. Some people don’t get that chance at all and I think for Mr. Tolbert, to dismiss me because of that, is unfair to me and unfair to people who do go to college as adults, especially women who have families and who work and make it a point to get their degree.”

The runoff election is set for June 10. Early voting continues through Tuesday.