Stout’s Duranguito resolution deleted during commissioners court meeting

Precinct 2 county commissioner David Stout’s proposed resolution opposing the selection of Duranguito as the site for the multipurpose downtown arena was deleted.

It was a 4-1 vote, with Stout being the only one voting against deleting the resolution.

“It was the center of El Paso’s ethnic neighborhoods,” Stout said. “All of this has been written about and corroborated by experts.”

Stout said that one of the main strategic goals for the County has been historic preservation, especially downtown.

Commissioner Vince Perez made a motion to delete the resolution because he said he doesn’t believe it’s the County’s job to take an official stance.

County Judge Veronica Escobar has said that she is against the arena being built in Duranguito, but she argued this resolution could set a bad precedent.

“I do feel, if we go down this path, we should expect — we as a county — should expect that the city will be placing resolutions on their agenda for us to go have to battle about,” Escobar said.

She said she wants to see collaboration between local governments, and this could create a contentious environment.

Stout said the County has taken stances against federal and state governments before. He argues they should do the same with local government,

“There was pressure applied to the city, and there was pressure applied to the county. But I believe that we are here to represent all of our constituents,” Stout said. “Both those that have money power and influence and those that don’t.”