This is not meant disrespectfully toward the El Paso County Republican Party, but … man, is it weak! If one goes to the El Paso County Democratic Party Website it's pretty easy to find out who is running for offices, fund-raisers, and other information. Meanwhile, over at the Republican Party Website, apparently, there are no local events and no local candidates.
No wonder the Republicans who run this town give their money to Democrats.
Anyway, here are some of the fund-raisers noted on the Democratic Party calendar last week:
-- Tuesday, Carlos Carrasco, who is running for County Criminal Court No. 3
-- Wednesday, Carlos Leon, who is running for El Paso County Sheriff
-- Wednesday, James M. Callan, who is running for the 488th District Court, a new position
-- Wednesday, Marisa Marquez, running for state Rep. Paul Moreno's District 77 seat
-- Thursday, Yahara Lisa Gutierrez, running for Judge Alfredo Chavez's 65th District Court
-- Thursday, Jesus Herrera, running for County Criminal Court No. 4.
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Teresa Montoya of Montoya PR is a consultant for Asarco. A sharp reader mentioned, and it's been heard on Paul Strelzin's radio show on 1650 AM, that she also is a consultant for the El Paso Independent School District, which has a claim in bankruptcy court against Asarco.
It's true. Montoya has a contract worth up to $70,000. [episd agenda item]
In response to a question regarding the contract, school district spokesman Luis Villalobos issued this statement:
"Montoya PR is a leading public relations firm representing a diverse client base on a local, regional, and national basis. Montoya PR has a vast amount of experience and expertise in the education field.
"The District is implementing tough, strategic changes and we sought a public relations firm that was an expert in the community to help gather input and communicate our message to the community. Montoya PR is uniquely qualified because they also specialize in image and reputation management and crisis management and damage control. They understand the importance of getting our message out and they are helping us with media opportunities and other mission-critical projects.
"Montoya PR was hired as part of the District’s request for qualifications. Montoya PR came highly recommended by community and business leaders and they have helped us tremendously with getting our message out both internally and externally. Montoya PR has not done any work or been involved in any way on behalf of The District related to their representation of Asarco. "
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The Housing Authority of the City of El Paso is on the move. First, it's getting closer to hiring a new executive director. Last week, if you'll recall, the board hired an assistant executive director, so that's all taken care of. This was on the heels of a reorganization. Most recently, the board decided not to hire a public relations company. It's going to consider the item again later this month. Why on earth would HACEP, facing a lawsuit from its former CEO (the title before the reorganization), need to spend up to $100,000 on a media campaign? Oh yeah ....
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The fight for -- and against -- the Children's Hospital is going hot and heavy. This week, "Moms for a Children's Hospital" takes place. It's at 11 a.m. Wednesday in front of Thomason Hospital. The host will be Anne Semmer Grieshop, "one of the great leaders within the International Children's Hospital Foundation," states an e-mail sent by El Paso County Commissioner Veronica Escobar, a formidable campaigner and the tip of one of the Children's Hospital spears.
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Speaking of fund-raisers ... Seen at city Rep. Melina Castro's on Wednesday (Oct. 10): County Judge's chief of staff Jaime Perez; County Commissioner Luis Sarinana; car maven and rumored mayoral candidate Oscar Leeser; equal opportunity political supporter Stanley Jobe; developer Doug Schwartz; city Reps. Alexandro Lozano, Eddie Holguin and Rachel Quintana; political consultants Moises Bujanda and Fernando Parra; and Fernando Chacon (a lawyer with the same name just was named to the Civil Service Commission by Holguin).
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Previous Inner Loops
-- 10.5.07: Money, and lots of it. Noriega, Watts, Cornyn, Shapleigh, Pickett, Hahn, Brown, Kennedy, Huerta and a cast of about 1,000 members of the El Paso "hot core" of political animals and political prey. And who was at Rick Perry's fund-raiser? The Inner Loop keeps circling.
-- 9.28.07: Regional Congressional politics, but where's the big guy? Meanwhile, we see and hear Kennedy, O'Rourke, Elizondo, HACEP, a handful of judges, and a crowded house in the sheriff's race, with a new entry ready to announce. The Inner Loop, where the rubber hits the road to the best of all possible El Pasos.
-- 9.21.07: This week, we take you inside the tinfoil hat, featuring a cast of thousands: Lee Trevino, The Strelz, Asarco and Quintana, a Shapleigh sitdown, Reyes, Leon, Wiles, fundraisers and more. The Inner Loop avoids traffic by circling around the urban gridlock of El Paso politics.
-- 9.14.07: Getting loopy this week with Richardson, Esparza, Shapleigh, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, Tenet, Parra, Aguilar and Moreno, just to name a few. Is there a voter rollback in Ysleta? How about candidates for district courts? Read on for questions, answers and mass confusion.
-- 9.7.07: Theresa Caballero and Jaime Esparza, plus other campaign contributions. Margo and Haggerty, Tilghman and Reyes, Rosenbaum and Quintana, Samaniego, Cobos, Perez, Friends of the El Paso School District, Hunt, Hicks and Pickett, Marquez and Moreno, and so on. To paraphrase a comic genius, El Paso, we have met the enemy, and they is us.
-- 8.24.07: Pushing the polls has begun, the city is facing "one tough lawyer" (but not that one) in the Elizondo case, a city appointment dilemma (hint: Holguin wins on one, but will the mayor get his Jobe?), and Shapleigh, Chavez, the Republicans and more. By the way, where'd Ann Lilly get off to?
-- 8.17.07: It's election season, and here are a few dates to keep. Also, some fund-raiser updates, a TIRZ tidbit, some FBI fallout, a lawsuit over construction at the UTEP Garden Inn, Glass Beach and more.
-- 8.10.07: Moreno’s challengers emerging, and a few other answers about candidates for Chavez’s judge seat and Teran’s county seat. Also, an intriguing City Council board appointment, a high-level Hunt resignation, a major Margo move, and more morsels for you political junkies.
-- 8.3.07: Notes and quotes about Reyes, Perez, Teran, Moreno, Lozano and more. Plus tidbits about CF Jordan, the Children’s Hospital, and finance reports. A new NPT feature.
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