Presidio County Commissioner Precinct 2 candidate questionnaires

Abel “Billy” Hernandez (D)

• Tell us about yourself. What experience will you bring to this role?

My name is Abel “Billy” Jimenez Hernandez. I worked for the county’s maintenance department and road & bridge department for 20 years and retired a year and a half ago. I am currently a council member for the City of Presidio. Since I’ve been on the council we passed a motion to fund the purchase of a new ambulance, passed a motion to let U.S. Border Patrol set up a surveillance tower on city property, passed a motion to resend a May 2020 resolution in support of the Presidio Cultural District Association, approved an application for a new police truck with funding from the Department of Homeland Security Operation Stone Garden. We also approved from the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance program for a new brush truck, passed a motion to deed over the property where my great grandfather is buried back over to the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas. I will be bringing years of experience on how local government works. 

• What are some of the primary concerns of citizens in your precinct, and how do you plan to address those concerns?
• Taxation without representation: our citizens feel like they are paying way too much tax on  property without having paved streets in some parts of town. There’s no sewer lines or trash dumpsters but they are still being charged.
• Roads in Presidio are still, for the most part, dirt roads. Eighty-five percent of the people in my precinct live inside city limits, so I would work together with the city and county to use county equipment to both grade and pave our streets –– not only county roads but city streets as well. 
• Citizens don’t want to pay taxes on a hospital in Brewster County — they want a hospital in Presidio.
• Citizens want and deserve a lot of things to change, some that are within reason. Everyone wants our local, county, state elected officials to force the construction company to come back and finish the bridge at the International Port of Entry. The railroad and Texas Pacifico Railroad and Strobel Energy Group have put in place a project that would move millions of gallons of diesel through our city streets. As a city-elected official, I have learned Presidio will not make a single dollar out of this project, so I will do whatever we can within the laws to stop it in its tracks and let the railroad keep it on the train until it reaches its final destination. 

• The county has faced a number of natural disasters over the past few years — a pandemic, winter storms, wildfires and flooding — how can the county be better prepared for future emergency events?
• The pandemic: I would encourage our citizens to get vaccinated, boosted, tested, to continue social and physical distancing and to wear masks. I also would support the PISD Police  Department and its officers in the efforts to keep our community safe from COVID-19.
• Winter storms: I would reach out to our state-elected dignitaries for them to hold the officials who control the Texas electrical grid accountable, to make sure that the electrical grid had been improved with upgrades and weatherization to where that never happens again. Presidio came within one circuit breaker of leaving every single home in Presidio without electricity. That must not ever happen again.
• Wildfires: It seems like wildfires, because of global warming, happen year round now. I’d like to see Presidio have the best volunteer fire department in the region and one day have firefighters getting paid just like first responders.
• Flooding: When it rains in North County or in the state of Chihuahua it causes flooding in Presidio. It could be raining in Valentine, Alpine, Marfa or Shafter and Presidio is under flash flood watch or warning. My answer is to hire a local engineering firm who knows what parts of town are at greater risk and have drainage lines installed to better keep the flood water pointed towards the river and build up our levees with the help of the International Water and Boundary Commission, The United State Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The county can be better prepared by sitting down with our emergency management coordinator and all our local county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and our fire department and updating our emergency management plan — the current one was last updated almost four years ago. We need to address flash flooding, tornados, wildfires, winter storms, dam and levee failure, hazmat oil and fuel spills. We would also invite the Salvation Army, The American Red Cross, Presidio ISD transportation director, public utilities director, fire department chief, police chief, county sheriff’s department, port director, USBP chief, all county commissioners and the mayors from Marfa and Presidio to sit together and come up with a strategic plan in case we have an emergency.

• What will you prioritize in terms of the county budget? How can the county’s tax dollars be best utilized?

I would make sure our tax dollars are used wisely and efficiently to better help our constituents. I would also make sure each department has what they need to better serve the public. I would make sure tax dollars are being utilized to make the county better for our constituents. 

Margarito Hernandez (D) 

• Tell us about yourself. What experience will you bring to this role?

I was born and raised in Redford, Texas, which is in Presidio County. I went to elementary school and junior high in Redford. I attended my last four years at Presidio High School. I have worked on farming, ranching and in the oil field industry. I have 23 years of experience as a Texas peace officer. I started as a certified jailer for Presidio County in 1997. In 1998 I came to Presidio as a deputy sheriff, and from 2003 I have worked as a police officer. In February 2021 I was appointed as chief of police for the City of Presidio until present time.

•  What are some of the primary concerns of citizens in your precinct, and how do you plan to address those concerns? 

Some of the primary concerns of the citizens are the water from the creeks running through their properties or by their residences. The county roads are not well maintained and especially the ones close to the residences. The water levee that separates the river and the farmland is broken, and when the river rises, the water goes into the farmland, endangering the residents. 

• The county has faced a number of natural disasters over the past few years — a pandemic, winter storms, wildfires and flooding — how can the county be better prepared for future emergency events?

I have personal experience during disasters in Presidio County. As a peace officer, I have been around different types of disasters and have the knowledge on how to respond. I have always believed that the key is communication to be able to get things done. I consider that getting along with other agencies can help in a faster response to an emergency situation.

• What will you prioritize in terms of the county budget? How can the county’s tax dollars be best utilized?

In reference to the county budget, I consider that by managing it well month by month we would stay in the right lead. Doing a job right the first time prevents from having to spend money on any sort of repairs or adjustments. I can assure you that with my personal experience and as a longtime resident of Presidio County, I have the knowledge of making the right decisions.  

I have always liked to serve my community, and will always keep doing it. I ask for your support for county commissioner.