D. R. (Dee) Margo II
Age: 56
Website: www.deemargo.org
Residence: Westside
Occupation: CEO-JDW Insurance
Education: Vanderbilt University
Relevant Experience: El Paso resident for 31 years. Took over JDW Insurance at the age of 29 with 6 employees, grew it into El Paso’s largest privately-held insurance broker; past Chairman of Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce and UTEP School of Business Advisory Council; founding member of Regional Economic Development Corporation of El Paso (REDCo) and Paso Del Norte Group; Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, 1990-1998; participated on BRAC team for El Paso; Rotary Club of El Paso; founded Border Fund which brought $26 million to El Paso charities; Operation Noel – partnership with El Paso Times to give 16,500 coats to needy El Paso children at Christmas; numerous other civic and charitable organizations in El Paso.
What are the top three state issues for the next Legislature? Tax Reform – re-visit the margins tax for equitable fairness and impact on small businesses and needed revenues to offset property tax reductions. Education – financial resources and accountability measurements for secondary and higher education. Healthcare – funding for CHIP and review of state-determined mandates.
What are the top three El Paso issues for the next state Legislature? Texas Tech Paul Foster School of Medicine – funding for basic scientists and faculty hiring; Tuition Revenue Bonds; approval for a faculty office building and new dental school. Reassess the Margins Tax – equitable fairness and impact on small businesses; add R&D credits; exemptions for sales & use tax beyond manufacturing and R&D for high capital investment to improve El Paso’s property tax base; property tax freeze for all active duty personnel similar to ‘senior freeze’; increase homestead exemption. Higher Education – additional state research funding for UTEP, promote to Tier I University; tuition grants to offset increases for UTEP and EPCC; pool of funds for EPCC pilot projects including reducing the 15 week mandatory time frame for developmental education.
What are the top three issues for District 78 in the next state Legislature? All mentioned above, plus transportation infrastructure – expand on $1 billion plan recently approved for improved west side and northeast interchanges; complete a southern relief route. Secondary Education – with 4-year math and science requirements, we’re short of labs; consider a Theater Arts program in middle schools; consider consolidating services to save dollars. Maintain medical malpractice tort reform and improve Medicare/Medicaid physician reimbursement.
Has House Speaker Tom Craddick been a friend or foe to El Paso, both in terms of specific projects (such as the medical school) and in terms of policy and programs? I am not aware of specific policies or programs instituted by Craddick for the sole purpose of hindering El Paso.
As an elected State Representative, it will be my fiduciary duty to represent District 78 and get things done for El Paso. It is incumbent on us to determine the best method to accomplished things within the system we’re sworn to uphold. If we aren’t able to, we shouldn’t be Representatives, as we’re personally responsible for results and accountable to the voters of District 78.
How important is a good relationship with the state leadership in the executive and legislative branches? A good relationship is important in order to accomplish tasks and be credible as a representative of your district. When the state leadership sees you’re trustworthy, you will have a more prominent seat at the table during negotiations. It’s about getting results for El Paso.
What do you think the surplus should be spent on next session? The surplus should be returned to taxpayers after fulfilling state-mandated commitments.
What items have you included in your legislative agenda and what priority have you given to each? Texas Tech Medical School Funding – Dental School; Tax Reform – margins tax and property tax reductions, Education, Healthcare, Transportation.
What specific committees do you want to sit on and why? Open to any assignment benefiting District 78 and El Paso.
Joseph Moody
Age: 27
Website: www.moodyforelpaso.com
Residence: Westside
Occupation: Assistant District Attorney
Education: B.A. in History, New Mexico State University; J.D., Texas Tech School of Law
Relevant Experience: Prosecutor for the State of Texas, focusing on prosecuting DWIs, domestic violence, graffiti and other crimes. Extensive civic engagement, including work with Red Cross, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, and Special Olympics. Political activities including campaigns for Al Gore for President, Bill Richardson for Governor, Charles Stenholm for U.S. Congress, and William Moody for Texas Supreme Court.
What are the top three state issues for the next Legislature? Reduce Special Interest Influence – Right now, the Texas House spends too much time appeasing special interests and not enough on the needs of the average Texan. This hurts El Paso and every other community in the state. We can reduce the influence somewhat by reforming campaign laws. The real change will come from leaders who have courage and commitment to act on behalf of their constituents instead of special interests. Education – El Paso needs a representative who will fully fund public education, especially when too much of this state responsibility has been shifted to local property taxpayers. Additionally, there needs to be reform of the education system which doesn’t heavily rely on testing and makes our children competitive in the 21st century global economy. UTEP and Texas Tech need a champion who will bring much needed funding, especially as UTEP seeks to elevate its status as a research center, doctoral driven institution and Texas Tech continues to need support for more infrastructure, faculty, and expansion into a Dental School. Healthcare – The more local children we enroll in the state CHIP program, the more we will ease the burden on local property taxpayers. When state leaders cut kids from CHIP or make it difficult for hard working families to stay enrolled, they shift the healthcare responsibility from the state to the community, and we need a staunch advocate for our families, not the few elite who prefer tax cuts over healthcare for children.
What are the top three El Paso issues for the next state Legislature? Medical School Funding – Texas Tech needs to maintain its focus on growing and educating our own doctors. My priority will be to ensure full funding for the Texas Tech Medical School so that it continues to meet its infrastructure needs. This will ensure access to quality education and healthcare for our citizens. Property Taxes – I will work to increase the homestead exemption for the citizens of Texas so that our families can get tax relief, especially during these difficult economic times. I will also work for greater transparency at the Central Appraisal District, including a significantly easier appeal process that will be made available online. Tigua Casino – My opponent’s supporters and allies helped shut down our Casino, an economic driver for our local economy and a draw for tourists. I will work with our community and our delegation – not the special interest groups – in order to re-open this vitally important piece of our community’s ability to sustain itself.
What are the top three issues for District 78 in the next state Legislature? Ethical, community-focused, hardworking leadership is first and foremost. We cannot have a state elected leader who is beholden to big money, special interest groups, or who or has ties to figures in the public corruption scandal. Ensuring that we meet the needs related to fund BRAC-related growth. While we are all excited about the wins achieved by our federal, state and local leaders who led us through the last BRAC process, the next step is equally as difficult: how do we pay for it? It shouldn’t be funded by local taxpayers, who are already over-burdened. I will be a representative who will follow through and deal with the challenges associated with the wins. Franklin Mountains State Park currently has no visitor center, and I will work to build one there. To do so, we will first have to end the budget practice of diverting park fee revenue to other state spending.
Has House Speaker Tom Craddick been a friend or foe to El Paso, both in terms of specific projects (such as the medical school) and in terms of policy and programs? His agenda has been harmful to El Paso. His special-interest-fueled agenda has harmed El Paso -- whether it was hiding the ball on medical school funding, cutting children off of CHIP, or de-regulating college tuition. Under his leadership, the Texas House has become more partisan, less effective and deeply divided.
How important is a good relationship with the state leadership in the executive and legislative branches? It’s important, but the relationships must be built on honesty, respect and mutual goals. If it’s about special interest money and power plays, then our state representative becomes merely a puppet for Austin instead of a strong leader for El Paso. My opponent says it’s about who you know, not what you know. Of course, that is the same kind of thinking that led to the public corruption scandal.
What do you think the surplus should be spent on next session? We need to invest in public education, higher education, healthcare and infrastructure. The last thing we should do is continue to give away money in the form of huge tax breaks for corporations without providing homeowners with significant reductions in their own tax bills. There must be balance.
What items have you included in your legislative agenda and what priority have you given to each? In my first session, my legislative agenda will be focused on El Paso and, in particular, District 78. Funding for the medical school and Franklin Mountains State Park will be priorities. Cleaning up our air and reopening the Tigua Casino will be important too.
What specific committees do you want to sit on and why? I can do the most good for El Paso and District 78 by serving on the Higher Education Committee. If I am unable to serve there, I would aim for the committees on Human Services, Natural Resources or Border Affairs.
***
Voter Guide 11.2008 Online Resources
Races included in the Voter Guide 11.2008
State Representative District 75; Charlie Garza, Chente Quintanilla
State Representative District 78; Dee Margo, Joe Moody
8th Court of Appeals, Judge Place 3; Kenn Carr, Guadalupe “Lupe” Rivera
448th District Court; Christopher Antcliff, Regina Arditti
County Criminal District Court #1; Manuel Barraza, Don Minton
County Sheriff; George Stoltz, Richard Wiles
***
Click here to visit the canidates’ websites.
***
Attached as a pdf is the Voter Guide brought to you by El Paso Media Group and the El Paso Chamber of Commerce. Download your own personal copy of the Voter Guide and read it on your computer or print it out and read through it during your lunch break.
***
Click here for Early Voting locations. Early voting ends 10.31.2008.
***
For more information:
Elections Department
Phone: 915.546.2154
Fax: 915 546-2220
www.epcounty.com
