Presidio
Presidio is in need of civically inclined citizens. The town has been seeking letters of interest for five seats across three different boards, including the City Council, the Presidio Convention and Visitors Bureau (tourism board) and the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District board.
A City Council board member replacement has been called for since February, when Fernando Juarez resigned to run for county commissioner. The council has faced ongoing turmoil and turnover over the last three years. The council is responsible for approving the city budget, passing town ordinances, and managing municipal contracts. Presidio is anticipating the arrival of an international freight line and a geothermal plant in the industrial park. Border wall construction has raised concerns about flood risks and raised tensions on whether it would help or hurt the economy, which currently relies on Border Patrol, law enforcement and tourism.
The tourism board still has two open seats and has had a hard time finding interested candidates to promote the town. Presidio sees the fewest tourists of the tri-county area despite enviable access to Mexico and the state park. The board oversees a grant program to support local events that bring “heads into beds,” an ongoing challenge as the town hotels are overtaken by the military and short-term rental supply is limited. The tourism board is also updating promotional materials to rebrand the town’s online presence and is overseeing the renovation of a new visitor center.
The Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District board has requested that the city appoint a new member, as representatives from Presidio and Marfa each have a seat.
The current member, Fernando Juarez, has faced scrutiny over his role on the water conservation board while employed by Homeland Security Investigations and renting property to border wall contractors. The conservation district is charged with reviewing well permits to ensure that drawdown rates do not exceed the desired future conditions of precious water access.
Each candidate must submit a letter of interest to City Secretary Brenda Ornelas, be at least 18 years old, eligible to vote and a resident of the city.
