Pints and Politics event hosts conversation with county judge candidates

Tuesday afternoon county judge candidates John Cook and Ricardo Samaniego went head to head in a debate … well sort of.

The event called Pints and Politics held conversations between the two candidates that didn’t necessarily cover hot button issues for the county.

The event — at least as far as politics is concerned — was very relaxed. It focused more on the candidates as people rather than their stances on certain issues.

In a rather unusual venue for politics, atop the fifth floor of the Indigo Hotel, poolside coupled with some drinks, candidates Cook and Samaniego nearly sat side by side.

“The idea behind the series was to have conversations so people can get a better understanding about the individual, but in particular we talk about the moment they decided to become interested in politics,”
said Richard Pineda, director of the University of Texas at El Paso Center for Communication.

Pineda was the moderator for the event.

“We talk a little bit about their early life. We talk about the moment they become interested in politics and ultimately what they learned in politics that they didn’t know before,” Pineda said.

The talk started with where the candidates grew up.

Samaniego lived near the Jefferson area with nine siblings.

“I had the opportunity to grow up with a lot of brothers and a lot of friendship and I think this is going to be really important. Inclusiveness is going to be one of the most important things we’ll see going forward in El Paso,” Samaniego said.

Cook hails from Bronx, New York, and attended a seminary. He said he left because they didn’t let him listen to the Beatles.

The candidates were also asked about higher education.

Cook said a university isn’t for everyone.

“Not everybody is supposed to go to college, but everyone needs to get continuing education,” Cook said.

Cook said he didn’t push his kids to go to college although some did.

“What I taught them really was about hard work and dedication and striving toward a goal and achieving that goal,” Cook said.

The candidates were also asked about challenges and lessons learned through their career achievements.

“You do not go and do things without involving the community. Even when you think it’s something great, even if you think it’s going to be exceptional for them,” Samaniego said.

Both candidates have a long list of jobs and experiences but some of the lesser known are Cook started up a factory that made egg rolls.

Samaniego once worked for beer company Carta Blanca.