By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Candidates for the city council and for the local public school district’s board of trustees recently participated in an accountability session hosted by The Border Organization.
Sandra Fuentes, a co-chair of The Border Organization, a grassroots group whose members are drawn mainly from area churches, welcomed the audience of 80-plus to Our Lady of Guadalupe gym in south Del Rio for the event. She began by introducing the city council candidates who attended, including Virgil Armstrong, Al Arreola, Alfredo “Fred” Contreras, Alejandra “Alex” Hernandez, Mario Bosquez, Jesus Lopez Jr., Ernestina “Tina” Martinez and Arturo Rodriguez.
She noted all of the candidates were invited, but Jim DeReus and Janice Sandoval had previous commitments and Elizabeth “Liz” Elizalde had a family emergency.
Fuentes then introduced the school board candidates who attended: Jesus E. Galindo, Linda Guanajuato-Webb, Melanie Kidd, Raymond “Ray” Meza, Rebekah Luna-Chavez and Hugo Sanchez.
Irma Cardenas, a leader of the Border Organization, read the group’s focus statement.
“Today we are practicing an important aspect of what it means to be a democratic republic . . . As a democracy, we choose representatives around issues that affect our families, our neighborhoods, schools and communities,” Cardenas said.
Fuentes explained how The Border Organization membership devises questions for candidates, noting those questions arise from a series of house meetings held by members.
City candidates were asked in turn if they would support further construction of sidewalks in the San Felipe and Chihuahua neighborhoods and the creation of additional city parks, especially a children’s park on the east side of the city.
The candidates were also queried about the city’s transportation department and a reported lack of drivers and low pay for those drivers.
The candidates were also asked about establishing a grease disposal system for city restaurants and whether they would commit to meeting with The Border Organization once elected.
Candidates had 20 seconds to answer each of the questions.
School board candidates were asked about whether or not they would support opening school playing fields and gymnasiums to non-profit organizations and increased support for special education programs.
They were also questioned about their support for after-school programs like the one offered by the Val Verde Training Center and if they would support funding for the construction of benches for children waiting for their parents after school.
Finally, school board candidates were asked if they would support a pay increase for the district’s cafeteria workers and if they would commit to meeting with The Border Organization after they were elected.
Following the question-and-answer session, each candidates was given 30 seconds to address the audience.
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