Bio For JP1 Candidate Victor Salas

NAME:VICTOR SALAS

OFFICE YOU SEEK: JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, PCT. 1

AGE:53

OCCUPATION:ATTORNEY/PARTNER

LAW OFFICES OF SALAS & SALAS, LLP

EDUCATION: TEXAS TECH SCHOOL OF LAW, J.D., 1992

UCLA, B.A., 1988

GRADUATE OF YSLETA HIGH SCHOOL

NUMBER ONE CAMPAIGN FOCUS:

I have a passion and vision to attack the truancy problem in El Paso. My aim is to help find solutions to keep our students in school. My plan is to get personally involved–to take off the robe and get off the bench–and establish mentoring programs for at-risk students. As a student at UCLA, I belonged to a student organization where our focus was to go out to East L.A. schools to mentor students and show them that they too, could attend college if they set their minds to it and worked hard. As an elected official, I can attempt to influence the powers that be to help establish programs to alleviate truancies. I can also use my experience to tap into our human resources-UTEP and EPCC students-to establish student organizations that will reach out to and mentor our at-risk students.

WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM YOUR OPPONENT?

In addition to the legal experience that I delineate in the next question below, I possess a life experience that my opponent does not. I grew up in a working-class family in El Paso’s Lower Valley. My parents instilled the value of getting a good education, but did not have the resources to pay for that education. I worked my way through UCLA and worked my way through law school. I have since established a successful law practice with my brother and partner. I have worked for everything that I have, and nothing has ever been handed down to me. If the Justice of the Peace is considered the “People’s Court,” I certainly bring the notion of being “of the people and for the people” to the position.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE THAT QUALIFIES YOU FOR THE POSITION YOU SEEK:

I am the only candidate with over 17 years of daily court room experience. I have represented clients at the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals, the State District Courts, El Paso County Courts, Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, the State Office of Administrative Hearings, El Paso Municipal Courts and Justice of the Peace Courts. I have handled civil, criminal and administrative law matters. I am also proud to say that I have recently been appointed by the 65th State District Court to be part of a select group of attorneys that represent children who have been removed from abusive and neglectful parents. My legal experience is vast and diverse; the type of experience that is most desirable in our judges.

DESCRIBE A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE:

There are two very monumental moments in my life.

First is the collective experiences of graduating from law school and passing the bar exam. These events placed me on the path to not only establish career stability and security, but more importantly, to be in a position where I am able to help people in need on a daily basis. A good portion of my career has involved representing those that cannot afford legal representation. That has always been a very rewarding part of my job.

The second moment that changed my life was the birth of my son. He is now 6½ , and he is the love of my life. He allows me to see life through his eyes and reminds me, on a daily basis, to truly cherish all the little things in life and the time that you are allowed to spend together.

DO YOU HAVE A WEBSITE, TWITTER OR FACEBOOK ACCOUNT? No.

OTHER CONTACT INFORMATION FOR VOTERS:

1500 Montana Ave.

El Paso, Texas 79902

534-7252