Special to the 830 Times
Sandra Fuentes
Co-Chair/The Border Organization
The Border Organization (TBO) held an “accountability session” Thursday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m., with candidates running for County Commissioner Precincts 2 and 4. Though all candidates were invited to attend, only the Precinct 2 candidate, Juan Carlos Vazquez, the incumbent; and Gustavo “Gus” Flores, the Precinct 4 incumbent, and one of his opponents, Alfredo “Fred” Carranza Jr., were in attendance.
Precinct 2 commissioner candidate Rose Coronado Castro declined to attend and Precinct 4 commissioner candidate Juan Francisco Dehoyos had said he would attend, but was a “no-show.”
Marcela Gonzalez, the chairperson, called the meeting to order promptly at 7 p.m., and asked the Reverend Ruben Chairez of the Primera Iglesia Bautista to open the meeting with an invocation. Immediately following a recognition of the candidates who did attend, TBO leaders Carlos Coronado, Erica Castillo and Irma Cardenas asked candidates to respond “yes” or “no” to a number of questions related to issues in the community:
- To immediately send animal control once a week to Cienegas Terrace.
- To commit to meet with a TBO delegation within 30 days of taking office to identify and clean up vacant lots.
- To build a playground in Cienegas.
- To meet with a TBO delegation within 30 days of taking office to identify 20 places where streetlights can be set up in Cienegas Terrace.
- To introduce an item on the agenda of the county commissioners’ court to make Foster Road a county road, improve and begin the process of bring water and sewer to Moreno Valley.
- To commit to maintain the county’s investment at the present level or increasing the investment to the women’s shelter, and to meet with TBO to discuss the possibility of creating a children’s shelter to complement the women’s shelter.
A final “yes” or “no” accountability question was asked of the candidates: “If elected, will you meet with TBO leaders to discuss these and others issues in the community?”
All candidates answered yes.
All candidates answered “yes” to each of the issues. There were 50 TBO delegates present at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Gymnasium for the assembly. Seats were spaced widely apart, and participants wore masks for safety. The meeting was conducted primarily in Spanish, and Cindy Vazquez provided translations of the various presentations.
The chairperson reminded the delegates present that early voting began Feb. 14 for the Democratic and Republican primaries, and that their responsibility was not only to vote, but to inform as many voters as possible how the candidates responded and which candidates chose not to attend. The meeting was adjourned before 8 p.m.
