PRESIDIO — Presidio County candidates for Democratic primary races gathered at the Presidio Activity Center Saturday for a forum to discuss their experience and priorities, with many focusing on how to handle the needs for public services with few resources available in the strained county budget. Since no Republicans are running in county races, winners of the March 5 Democratic primary will face no challengers in the November General Election.
About 70 people turned out for the event — sponsored by the Presidio County Democratic Party and The Big Bend Sentinel — and attendees had the opportunity to pose a few questions after moderator Trey Gerfers, Presidio Underground Water Conservation District manager, went through pre-established questions for the candidates.
The most specific questions were directed at county attorney candidates, incumbent Rod Ponton and challenger Blair Park.
Ponton, who has served 10 years as county attorney and four as district attorney, recently resigned from city attorney for Alpine, and previously resigned from positions as city attorney in Pecos and Presidio. When asked about his current roles and how he managed his time between multiple clients — including the county and those in his private practice — Ponton said he had resigned from all other public attorney positions so that he can “devote more time to Presidio County.” The resignation in Alpine came before a scheduled performance review for his role as city attorney.
A question to Ponton on his role with the county “mired” in lawsuits had Ponton responding that the question was erroneous because his advice to the commissioners court had always been on the right side of keeping the county out of lawsuits. When asked about the county’s $700,000 settlement in a lawsuit from a former county employee — Katie Sanchez, whose department was eliminated after she made an unsuccess election bid against her boss, the county treasurer, in 2018 — Ponton noted that he advised the court not to vote to eliminate her position, and commissioners went against his advice. “The commissioners wouldn’t take my advice,” he said. “I did my best to keep the county out of that lawsuit.” Attendees also questioned Ponton about controversies in another recent lawsuit against the county and the transport of hazardous materials through the City of Presidio, after which he resigned from his position as city attorney.
Park, an attorney who has a private practice in Marfa and who grew up in the county, said she is only handling real estate transactions now, which are short-term and wouldn’t tie her up in lengthy civil lawsuits for clients, so she would be able to handle her responsibilities at the county. “I can cater my private practice to suit the county attorney position and the time that’s required for that position.”
Park was asked about her experience with criminal cases since it would be her responsibility as county attorney to prosecute misdemeanor crimes. She reminded the forum of her vast experience handling a diversity of legal work –– such as oil and gas litigation, appellate briefings, and public representation — for companies and entities like ExxonMobil, Union Pacific Railroad, the City of Burleson and Mansfield ISD. But she admitted her lack of experience in criminal law. However, she said she spoke with several county officials who assured her that her broad skill set would prepare her for that role. And she said that she has significant experience in contract law, which would be important in what is a bulk of the county attorney’s duties — reviewing legal agreements.
A more detailed look at many of the candidates’ experiences and qualifications can be found in responses to our candidate questionnaire published in this issue and last week’s Big Bend Sentinel.
Attending for county commissioner races were, for Precinct 1: Ruben Armendariz and Deirdre Hisler (Samuel Sanchez was absent.); and for Precinct 3: Incumbent Jose Luiz Cabezuela, Francisco “Franky” Ortiz, and Irma Carrasco Sanchez. (Tiburcio “Butch” Acosta was absent.)
All commissioner candidates were asked the same questions. First, candidates were asked how they would improve the county’s financial situation. For Precinct 1, Armendariz –– who has served as facilities manager for Presidio ISD for nine years –– said quality infrastructure was the key to attracting new business and residents, which would increase tax revenue.
Hisler, who said she managed a $10 million budget as regional park director for Texas Parks and Wildlife, said the county is on the right track with a new contract the Appraisal District has with a homestead audit company to identify people illegally claiming more than one homestead exemption. “That will definitely be a benefit for Presidio County’s resources,” she said. Hisler said there also are opportunities to fill empty county jail space with more inmates from other counties and the county should look at instituting hotel occupancy taxes –– like local cities use to generate income for tourism and arts initiatives.
For Precinct 3, Cabezuela, a former Presidio Police Department chief, said an obvious source of new revenue has to be grants but that the court needs to look at “cutting expenses” while being “mindful and not cutting services.”
Carrasco Sanchez, a retired teacher and union worker, said the county needs to reduce expenditures, utilize grants and “attract investors.”
Ortiz, a Presidio native who runs a trucking company and co-owns a fitness business in Presidio, said he wants to stay invested in the community and make the city his permanent home. “I don’t have a political background,” he said. “But I’m willing to work my butt off and not scared to get my boots dirty, to get my hands dirty.”
Limitations on healthcare services and access to them have been a significant issue for county residents. For Precinct 1 candidates, Armendariz said, “I wanted to concentrate more on emergency care. Emergency healthcare is something we really need.” He noted the “helplessness you feel when a loved one needs emergency help.” Hisler said the county has seen improvements in all levels of care, but that the county has to be the one that steps up to provide healthcare. “If counties don’t solve this issue for us, who will?” she asked. Hisler said partnerships with universities and grants should focus on specialty services and equipment, and a current effort at regionalizing EMS services should continue forward.
Precinct 3 candidate Cabezuela, who has faced recent healthcare challenges, told the forum, “Your struggle is my struggle.” He said the county needs to stay in contact with surrounding counties to work together, share resources and seek grant funding. Carrasco Sanchez said informing the community of existing services also is important, such as using health fairs, especially for rural communities.
When asked how the county can help ensure everyone has safe, dependable water, Precinct 1 candidate Armendariz said the county has to help the smaller communities develop their water resources. Hisler said, “To be honest, I want to be a water commissioner.” She told the forum she has been plugged in with the county’s steering committee, attending its meetings to ensure the county is ready to take advantage of state money, such as the recent $12.6 million grant the county received as part of the Economically Distressed Areas Program to improve smaller water districts and Marfa’s infrastructure.
Precinct 3 candidate Cabezuela, said, “I’m looking forward to utilizing resources like the newly created Texas Water Fund,” and that he would work with his government contacts and nonprofit organizations to keep the county updated on funding. Carrasco Sanchez said she also wants to collaborate with other organizations on seeking assistance with water projects. Ortiz said one priority should be working with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to ensure water in Ruidosa and Candelaria is safe.
One area resident asked a question of Carrasco Sanchez, who used a translator to convey prepared responses through the forum since her English is limited, how she would handle working with commissioners who were conducting meetings in English. “I understand this is a challenging situation,” she said through a translator. “Not knowing the language will not stop me from doing my work.”
For the tax assessor-collector race, Presidio resident Nancy Arevalo stressed her other leadership in government as president of the Presidio Municipal Development District, former city council member and city finance director, and owner of a tax preparation business for 30 years. “One of the goals I’m really thinking about, is maybe we can get to the point of paying our property taxes online,” she told the forum.
Marfa native Norma Valenzuela outlined her 19 years of work as a deputy clerk in the county tax assessor-collector’s office and the numerous tasks the office is responsible for, all of which she said she has extensive experience in handling. “With my knowledge and experience, I know what it takes to take over this position,” she said.
You can view the entire forum online, courtesy of Precinct 4 County Commissioner David Beebe, at www.vimeo.com/davidwbeebe.
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