County Judge candidates weigh in on proposed downtown arena
Early voting kicked off Monday morning and the two Democratic candidates in the runoff for county judge hit the streets to get votes.
John Cook and Ricardo Samaniego are vying for the seat.
“We need to focus on the basics of what a county commissioner court is tasked with doing,” Cook said. “That is building and operating a court house, building and operating a jail, building roads and building bridges.” Cook told ABC-7 that the county needs to collaborate and coordinate better with the city government.
Samaniego said he wants to focus on generating income, reviewing property tax and generating annual income. “I am very excited about representing history here in El Paso and preserving it and also so it generates economic development.”
A major divide between the two candidates is the future of the Multipurpose Performing Arts and Entertainment Center in the Duranguito neighborhood.
“I think that the location works,” Cook said. “The current recommended site has significant benefits. It would work in harmony with the existing convention center to attract conventions that our current facility cannot accomodate.”
“I don’t have a dog in that fight, to be honest,” Cook said. “I will say all these advocates that are advocating for Duranguito, where were they when the people were living in substandard tenement apartments.”
His opponent, Samaniego, didn’t give a firm answer on his opinion. “It is going to get settled in the courts,” he said. “The only way [to build it somewhere else] is to avoid that fight that is there, which may last forever. We have other options.”
However, he said he is focused on preserving the history of El Paso. “There are other places for the arena and I think what the people are doing now is they are drawing a line in the sand.”
The latest on the multipurpose center is tied up in the courts, but in January the city released a proclamation stating: “The City of El Paso is building the Multipurpose Performing Arts and Entertainment Center.”
Early voting will be from Monday, May 14, 2018 through Friday, May 18, 2018.
Election day will be Tuesday, May 22, 2018 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
