Sheriff’s Candidates Meet At Montana Vista Forum
by Ken Molestina
EL PASO — Candidates for sheriff of El Paso County gathered at a forum held outside the city limits for the first time.
Monday night’s open forum in Montana Vista was organized on by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Deputies Association. Organizers said the forum was meant to get all of the candidates out to the areas where they will actually serve.
“We decided to bring the forum to the community we serve,” said Ed Campa, with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Association.
More than a hundred people showed up to the Montana Vista fire station to hear what the candidates had to say. Many were happy tonight’s stage for the forum was right in their backyard.
“They need to hold more because it effects the residents of the county, not just the city,” said Salvador Gomez, a resident of far east El Paso.
Marvin Miles, the only candidate not present at the forum, cited a scheduling conflict for his absence. The rest of the candidates spent the night answering questions from the public.
One of the main concerns was the handing over of the county’s jails to a private agency and the future of the current command staff at the Sheriff’s Office. Each candidate was given only two minutes two clarify their position on those issues.
“Our goal is to get the people out in the county educated so they make the right decision on the next person they elect sheriff,” said Campa.
One resident says the forum showed some indecisiveness on the part of the candidates. “I’m just disappointed tonight. They are evasive in their answers … they are not precise,” he said.
