Name: Irma S. Sanchez

Age: 61

Occupation: Office Manager for Ray Sanchez Bail Bonds

Website: www.electirmasanchez.com

Residence: Lower Valley

Relevant Experience:

Past Government Experience

Mayor for the city of Socorro

School Board Trustee for Socorro ISD

District Director for 16th Congressional District

City of Socorro Planning and Zoning Commission

City of Socorro Charter Commission

Central Appraisal Board

Metropolitan Planning Organization

Community Involvement

Socorro Lions Club- Past President, Past Vice President, and Secretary

San Elizario Genealogy and Historical Society- Past President

Precinct Chair 149- El Paso County Democratic Party

Volunteer for numerous political campaigns

Democratic Hall of Fame Inductee

Honored by Texas House Resolution 383 sponsored by State Representative Chente Quintanilla

Honored by Texas House Resolution 1114 sponsored by State Representative Norma Chavez

1. What do you think is the most important issue facing the county?

By far it would be the budget. The Commissioners Court has the responsibility to keep a balanced budget, keep taxes stable, and yet provide the necessary services for the entire area. What most people don’t realize is that the county is facing a severe problem with the underserved areas of the Mission Valley. For decades, the Mission Valley has been plagued with quality of life issues such as lack of water and sewer, animal control, lack of recreational areas and nutrition centers, and lighting. The big question we should all be asking ourselves is “how do we expect to attract investment to the valley, when we’ve got these problems in our backyard?” The budget cannot solely underwrite these needs; therefore as commissioners, we have the obligation to aggressively seek supplemental funding through state and federal agencies.

2. Do you support funding for the Sportspark/ Field of Dreams?

At this point the county could not afford to support funding for the Sportspark. I’d propose that a committee made up of community members from different local sports leagues and school coaches give their input on what they would like to see as a Sportspark, then, I would propose that the county follow the procurement process and seek competitive bids for privatization within a plausible timeframe in order to expedite the privatization process. It is no secret that when operated correctly, the Sportspark is a revenue-generating giant; however, as commissioners, we need to ensure that it is accessible and affordable for our community. The county has the power to demand the best return for the community, without fleecing our taxpayers.

3. What is the next step for the Thomason Children’s Hospital?

Now that the bond has been approved and the construction breakdown has been given, it is the obligation of the commissioners court to thoroughly review and monitor the bond investment plan and keep the taxpayers informed of every step taken in the plan. The commissioners court must take a proactive role in holding Thomason officials accountable for this bond money as well as the hospital project in its entirety.

4. What would you do with Ascarate Park? Should the county be in the parks business at all?

If elected, I would push for the privatization of the park. Like the Sportspark, I propose that we form a committee made up of two citizens from each commissioner’s precinct to discuss what they would like Ascarate to be comprised of. Once a final plan is presented to commissioners court, the county should seek competitive bids with those specifications. Again, by setting strict timelines, taking out the politics, and letting the procurement process take its course, the county could expedite the privatization of Ascarate, and ensure a return on investment without fleecing our taxpayers. The only way to meet these timelines is for the commissioners to be full time. At this point, due to budget constraints and much needed investments in underserved areas, the county should not be in the big park business, only invest in basic community recreation areas.

5. How does the FBI corruption investigation impact the county?

First of all, the investigation itself is a good thing. It has brought to light what has gone on for decades; however, the bad press El Paso county has received has been devastating to the community. As it is, El Paso is not highly recognized throughout the state, yet with a scandal of this magnitude, it is now known as a corrupt border town, just like in the movies. This disgusting behavior by elected officials has caused the community to lose faith in government and its processes. These elected officials forgot they took an oath to uphold the laws of this state and of this country, not an oath to break the law. They further forgot that government was created by the people, for the people, not the special interest. There is much rebuilding to do, beginning with restoring the public’s trust in county government and its processes.

6. Should the county be part of the Downtown Plan in terms of participating in the TIRZ? Why or why not?

No. I do not believe that hardworking homeowners or business owners should be heavily taxed, while others prosper with their tax dollar. I believe the property owners in Downtown should be mandated by the city to maintain their properties at a certain level and meet particular guidelines which will in turn make Downtown attractive to outside investment.

7. Do you think Thomason Hospital board members ought to be elected? Why or why not?

No. To begin with, having an election would have a significant budget impact on the county. Second, it would overly politicize the board, which would open the door to big money and cronyism, and the commissioners court would not be held accountable for the board and the decisions made.

8. Would you support complete consolidation? Short of that, how can commissioners work more closely with the city and what specific steps would you commit to?

No, I would not support complete consolidation due to the fact that the city and the county would face a multitude of issues. First of all, there would be annexation issues with small municipalities in the Lower Valley and Upper Valley. Furthermore, not all areas have the infrastructure that the city has. How would the consolidated effort provide services to these areas? For example, the Mission Valley faces many issues such as animal control, lack of potable water, sewage, flooding, streets, trash and illegal dumping and lighting. These are a few issues among many others that I believe a complete consolidation effort could not address at this point.

On the other hand, I believe that the county and the city can work together in order to provide a better quality of life for all El Paso. After all, a part of precinct 3 is part of the city, and the rest of the Mission Valley out of the city limits; therefore, as the commissioner, I would have to bring about a balance to the entire precinct. I would commit to being a full time public servant, and I would work diligently to build bridges of communication with the city in order to accomplish any goals set forth, while aggressively seeking the infrastructural needs for the rest of the mission valley outside of the city limits.

9. Should the county go to a manager system?

No. Commissioners are elected by the people. As candidates, we are applying with the voters to be hired to do a job. Once given that job, it is the obligation of the commissioner to do the will of the people. By going to a manager type system, the commissioners court will lose its accountability and responsibility to the voters and they will not be full-time representatives.

10. What role does the county have in regulating development, what more can be done and how specifically would you ensure neighborhoods in the county meet the same standards as neighborhoods in the city?

Collectively, the commissioners court would have work with state officials to seek the authority to obtain ordinance-making powers. Once that would occur, the county would then have to meet with the city and small municipalities in order to create paralleling development ordinances; then, create a combined enforcement task force to enforce these development ordinances.