Miguel ‘Mike’ Teran, candidate for El Paso County Commissioner Precinct 2
Name: Miguel 'Mike' Teran
Party: Democratic
Occupation: Director for the El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1
Relevant Experience
I am running because the residents of Precinct 2, my friends and neighbors, deserve a County Commissioner who focuses on results, not rhetoric. For too long, our community has shouldered the burden of rising property taxes and strained budgets while basic needs in our neighborhoods—like infrastructure, paving, and water services—often take a backseat to political grandstanding.
As a practical Democrat, I believe our county government should be efficient, transparent, and focused on the "kitchen table" issues that actually impact working families in the Mission Valley and central El Paso. I was encouraged to run by neighbors and community leaders who are tired of being overlooked and want a representative who will show up, listen, and treat our tax dollars with the same respect they do their own.
Personal
For more than three decades, Miguel Teran has dedicated his professional life to building and managing major construction and public infrastructure projects across the Southwest, including projects in healthcare, education, public works, and more, many valued at over $40 million. As the owner and president of Roman Construction Project Management, Miguel has worked directly with budgets, contracts, timelines, and contractors. Miguel knows exactly how delays, cost overruns, and poor planning waste taxpayer dollars and frustrate families who are already stretched thin.
His public service began in 2004 when he was appointed to the Board of Directors of El Paso County Water Improvement District #1. Miguel has also served on the City of El Paso Plan Commission and was a member of the International Boundary Water Commission Citizens Forum. These positions gave him a front-row seat to how county government, water management, planning, and infrastructure decisions affect real neighborhoods and real people in Precinct 2 and throughout all El Paso.
Miguel is running for County Commissioner because he believes that, together, we can build a better El Paso. El Paso was just voted as one of the Top 5 places to live in the U.S., but we all have children who are leaving El Paso. Our job as leaders is to bring good paying jobs that allow our children to see a vibrant future being a part of this community. Bringing good paying jobs to El Paso creates economic conditions that will create a strong and vibrant El Paso; an environment that will entice our youth and young adults to stay and build lives in our community. Miguel will fight for the issues that matter most to
District 2 residents: economic development, property tax relief and engaging our youth. Miguel Teran is a proven project manager, experienced public servant, and lifelong advocate for smarter government. Miguel is ready to bring real economic vitality, government accountability and measurable results to El Paso County and especially the residents of Precinct 2.
What is your position on data centers?
I will apply for a strict "Net Benefit" test. I will not support massive tax abatements (Chapter 381 agreements) for data centers unless they commit to 100% water recycling/renewable technologies, so they don't drain our aquifer. If they want to be here, they must pay their fair share to support our infrastructure. We cannot subsidize industries that use our scarce resources without giving a substantial return to the taxpayer.
The second test is in regard to the building of the data center. It might bring some short-term economic impact and benefit I will not vote for any data center that does not include guarantees that those jobs are going to El Paso businesses: from design and engineering, to construction to project management, to maintenance and food service.
What would you do differently to reduce property taxes?
I will begin by proposing a freeze on valuations used to determine the property tax rate in El Paso County. Taxpayers need some relief. The property valuations have gone up by 81% over the last 10 years, while inflation over that same period has only gone up by 36%. The county cannot continue to solve its fiscal problems on the back of homeowners. It does not offer a path toward long term stability and help create an affordability problem for many young aspiring homeowners.
To the taxpayer, the bottom line is all that matters. If the dollar amount leaving their bank account increases, that is a tax increase. Claiming otherwise because the "rate" stayed the same is exactly the kind of government double-speak I am running to stop. We must be honest about the impact of our decisions on the public’s wallet.
The Chief Appraiser / CAD should remain a neutral data provider, not a policymaker. Their role is to provide the most accurate, data-driven valuations possible. They should not be involved in the budgeting process; that is the responsibility of elected officials who must weigh the needs of the county against the tax burden they are placing on the community.
What’s your position on the Deck Plaza project?
The Downtown Deck Plaza is a beautiful vision, but as a Construction Project Manager, I look at the long-term price tag, not just the rendering. Design construction needs to continue to be funded by state, federal, and private funds. I will continue to support this project and pursue the funds needed to complete the project, but only if it is not on the "taxpayer backs."
What are your plans to ensure transparency and make sure you are accessible to constituents?
Transparency is a cornerstone of my platform. Taxpayers shouldn't need a degree in finance to understand their tax bill. I will champion clear notifications that break down exactly how much an increase is due to valuation versus rate changes, ensuring the County is held accountable for every dollar collected. My key initiatives include expanding the county’s open data portal, publishing contracts, expenditures, and agendas in plain language, require timely posting of backup materials before Commissioners Court meetings, strengthening conflict-of-interest disclosures, supporting independent audits and ethics oversight and establishing clear consequences for violations of public trust.
What makes you the best candidate?
The County is not just a political body; it is a massive organization responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts, infrastructure, and payroll. I am not a career politician; I am a CEO. I have spent my career managing complex construction projects, balancing budgets, and navigating regulations to get things built. I know how to spot waste, I know how to negotiate contracts, and I know how to deliver results. El Paso doesn't need more speeches; it needs better management. That is what I bring to the table.
