Biography

Name: Luis Sarinana

Age: 48

Occupation: County Commissioner Precinct 1

Website:

Residence:

Relevant Experience:

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

Maintain fiscally responsible policies, reduce debt burden and maintain taxes level.

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

Yes.  I worked hard to make it a reality and it will serve greatly to an underserved area.

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

It is important to select forward-thinking board members and support their efforts to create a world-class facility.

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

The county needs to provide park amenities to a fast-growing county population.

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

The day-to-day work continues. The initial effect was demoralizing but people now understand they have to rally and move on. I am relieved to have received assurances from the FBI through my attorney, that I am no longer a target and was never a target.

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

The tax increment strategies have not worked before and it is important to move forward with great caution. Revitalization should really be on the shoulders of the private sector not government.

7. Do you think Thomason Hospital board members ought to be elected? Why

or why not?

That may be a good idea to avoid so many politics around the selection of members. It may be the solution to avoid the board being captured by special interests.

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?

Consolidation is impossible under current state law. However, there are many areas in which interlocal agreements are achieving cost savings and coordination.

9. Should the county go to a manager system?

No.  It is important to have direct accountability of elected officials.

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?

There is state legislation seeking authority for counties to have zoning and building inspection authority. It failed in the last session. More work needs to be done to avoid any further emergence of colonia areas. The good news is water connections and other road paving has been largely accomplished. The next step is flood control and waste sewer systems.