Two longtime politicians seeking El Paso's open state District 77 representative seat

Two longtime El Paso politicians will go toe-to-toe after rising to the top in the race to replace respected state Rep. Lina Ortega on Super Tuesday.

Former El Paso County Commissioner Vince Perez and former state Rep. Norma Chavez will face off in a runoff election Tuesday, May 28. With no Republican contenders in the race, the winner of the Democratic Party nomination in the House District 77 race will take a seat in the Texas Legislature.

Perez led Super Tuesday with 3,698 votes, 38.6%, but Chavez was close behind with 3,132 votes, 31.7%. The two bested former city Rep. Alexsandra Annello and businessman Homer Reza to advance to the runoff.

While Perez said the relatively short campaign between Super Tuesday and the upcoming runoff has given him more time to hear directly from voters, his focus remains on Chavez heading into Election Day.

"With just a week to go to Election Day, Ms. Chavez still hasn't proposed a single policy or legislative proposal on property taxes and education," he wrote in a text. "She likes to use slogans and buzzwords on these topics but for all she brags about her experience, she doesn't understand the issues well enough to come up with any original ideas."

"I think the voters of (House District 77) are ready for forward-thinking leadership," Perez added, "instead of Ms. Chavez's scandal-prone brand of politics that's constantly mired in controversy."

Chavez did not provide comment.

Only voters who live in District 77 can vote in this race. There are other countywide races on the ballot.

The El Paso Times sent questionnaires to the candidates in contested races in the March 2024 primary election. Following are the answers to the questionnaire submitted by Perez and Chavez.

The candidates' responses are being published largely as they were submitted. Additional information can be found at elpasotimes.com.

More: Norma Chavez, Vince Perez shift focus to Texas House District 77 runoff after Texas primary

Vincent "Vince" Perez

Age: 42

Please describe your personal and professional background.

I was born and raised in El Paso’s Mission Valley. I am a proud graduate of El Paso public schools. I received my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Government from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. After receiving my graduate degree, I entered public service as a congressional staffer for El Paso’s congressional office where I served as Communications Director. At 29, I decided to challenge a longtime incumbent on the Commissioners Court who had the highest number of absences and missed votes. During the campaign, he was arrested on federal drug trafficking charges. I served as County Commissioner from 2013 - 2020. In 2016, I was selected as the National County Leader of the Year by American City & County Magazine for my leadership in local government reforms.

How do you earn a living? Do you plan to continue if elected?

Since 2021, I’ve worked as a public and governmental affairs consultant. If elected, I would continue to work in this field when the legislature is not in session.

Please describe your education. Where did you get your high school diploma? What higher education degrees and certificates have you earned from where?

I am proud to have the highest level of education in the race for HD77. I received my graduate and undergraduate degrees in government from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. As an undergraduate, I had the privilege of studying under Secretary Madeline Albright (Former Secretary of State under President Clinton), Anthony Lake (Former National Security Advisor to President Clinton), and Ambassador Donald McHenry (U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. under President Carter). I am a proud graduate of El Paso public schools, having graduated from Bel Air High School, Ranchland Middle School, and Sageland Microsociety Elementary.

What experiences in leadership do you have that qualify you for this position?

I am the only candidate with more than 15 years of experience in federal and state government, as well as small business. In addition to serving as County Commissioner, I also served as Chairman of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Board twice – which oversees all federal and state funding for transportation in our region (from 2014-2015 and 2019-present), Chairman of the Central Appraisal District (January 2020-December 2020; Vice Chair, Secretary & Member 2014-January 2020), a member of the Texas Transportation Commission’s Border Trade Advisory Committee, and a founding member of the El Paso County Justice Leadership Coordinating Council.

Have you ever been arrested or charged with a crime? Have you ever had a civil judgment against you? Have you ever been in arrears on local, state or federal taxes? If so, please provide an explanation.

No

If elected, would you have any potential conflicts of interest that you are aware of that would impair your ability to serve? Please explain what they are and how you would avoid the conflict. 

No

What does transparent government mean to you? Will you be personally accessible to answer questions while in office?

I believe a citizen’s access to information and governmental transparency is not only essential to good governance, it can lead to transformative reforms that can make our institutions more accountable and efficient. When citizens are empowered with meaningful information that is easily accessible and, equally as important, easy to understand and interpret, institutions are more effective.

An excellent example of this is the judicial metrics initiative that I first proposed in 2015. Today, citizens have access to data that measures the performance of all our criminal courts, and judges are now held more accountable for things like case backlogs and excessive jury duty cancellations. It took nearly two years for various departments to aggregate, interpret, and present the data to the public and the commissioners court in a way that was useful to the average person. As a result, courts are performing much more efficiently, and the public has access to more information about the judiciary and their elected judges than ever before. This is a reform I intend to push for state-wide.

As an elected official, I made myself as available as possible to the public and to the media. Thousands of residents and all local reporters have access to my personal cell number, and I make myself available at all hours and on weekends.

Issue related questions

Why are you running for this office?

I’m running to give the people of House District 77 a strong, ethical, and effective voice in their state government. From 2003 – 2012 there were 32 public officials in El Paso who were arrested for bribery, fraud, embezzlement, and other crimes that broke the public’s trust. I felt strongly it was time for a new generation of leadership to step up for El Paso. There are so many funding inequities at the state, and the Texas border region has historically received less investment than other parts of the state. I feel it is imperative to elect leaders who will stand up and fight to bring these inequities to light and fight to address them. As County Commissioner, I demonstrated that I can tackle highly complex problems, and devise solutions to address them. I brought positive national attention to El Paso when I was named County Leader of the Year by City and County Magazine and from state agencies who were involved in helping to reform El Paso’s local criminal justice system. This is a major departure from the negative headlines and the public shame that was brought by many elected leaders from 2003 – 2012 and I intend to provide the same type of tenacious leadership in our state capitol.

Why are you the best candidate for this office?

When voters look at the totality of each candidate’s personal background, educational attainment, and governmental and professional experience I’m confident I am the best and most qualified choice to serve our community. I believe effectively telling El Paso’s story in Austin is best done by those with deep roots in our community, those who have the experience of sitting in our public school classrooms, and those with a track-record of serving our community ethically and effectively. As Commissioner, I was always mindful that I was a direct reflection of my community and the people who entrusted me to represent them. I was never the subject of an ethics complaint or investigation, nor have I ever been sanctioned, something my opponent can’t say. I served my constituents honorably, honestly, and with integrity.

What do you feel are the largest challenges facing District 77? What would you do to address those challenges?

I am the only candidate in this race who has proposed solutions to the most pressing issues:

Property Tax Reform for Border Communities in Texas: My opponent had this job for 14 years and never authored a single property tax relief bill and needs to be held accountable for that failure. As State Rep, I intend to author legislation that would stop penalizing property taxpayers along the border with higher property tax rates than non-border communities. It’s simply unfair that places like El Paso have to impose a higher tax rate on residents for the exact same state-required services that are offered throughout Texas, but at a lower cost to property taxpayers in wealthier areas. I would write a bill that requires local governments throughout Texas, such as counties, to calculate and report how much of your property tax bill is being spent on state-required services like healthcare, public defense, and state courts. Once the state has a report showing that residents in El Paso are forced to pay say 10 - 20% more in taxes to deliver the same state-required service, I would then author legislation that would provide relief for residents in higher taxed areas.

Education – First, Texas significantly underfunds public education when compared to other states that do much better than Texas in educating kids. The state must increase the amount of per-pupil spending to better fund our school and to provide teachers with nationally-competitive pay. Only 18% of El Paso eighth graders go on to complete a college degree within 10 years. It’s the second worst outcome in Texas and must change if El Paso is ever going to reach its full potential. To improve college readiness in El Paso, I believe we need to eliminate the vast majority of standardized testing that does nothing to prepare kids for college. We should replace it with measurements that make more sense for college preparedness.

Studies show that students who successfully complete Algebra I in the 8^th grade are more successful in high school and better prepared for college. All El Paso eighth graders should be required to take Algebra I and our schools should be prepared and equipped to help students reach this level by the eighth grade.

I also believe that enrolling more high school students in dual credit courses can also improve both college readiness and graduation rates. If students complete at least 9 to 12 hours of college credit while in high school, they are 80% more likely to graduate from college. The state should help increase dual credit courses in high schools by paying for the graduate education of teachers seeking dual credit certification, and schools should be measured in how successful they are getting students to take dual credit courses, and getting teachers certified to teach these courses.

How do you plan to get things done in the Texas House amid a Republican majority?

From my 14 years in federal and local government, I have found that the representatives who are most effective are those who most prepared with facts, data, and evidence to support their legislative proposals and who can earn the respect of others, regardless of fierce political and policy differences. I think over time, those representatives develop a reputation that earns the respect of colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I have a record for advancing reforms at the county amid significant opposition, because I did my homework. If you’re going to be a legislator who is taken seriously, you need to be able to speak with authority on the issues you care about. In comparison, my opponent was notorious for engaging in petty fights with her colleagues in Austin and for a number of embarrassing scandals that have undermined her reputation and her ability to represent El Paso. El Paso needs a fresh voice in Austin.

What can Democratic lawmakers do to address the chaos currently unfolding at the border?

Texans are spending an exorbitant amount on an issue that ultimately is the federal government’s responsibility and none of the Republicans seem to care or ask the question, “What are Texas taxpayers getting for the $10 billion spent on this issue?” There needs to be accountability for the funding being spent. Is it making neighborhoods safer? There hasn’t been any drops in crime in Texas. Is it reducing the flow of migrants at the border? It’s not doing that either. With the passage of SB4, what the legislature and the governor have done is open the floodgates to our misdemeanor and felony courts. As a former county commissioner, I intend to make the case that flooding our courts with non-violent immigration cases is going to make Texas less-safe and it’s going to delay real criminal cases that pose a greater risk to the community.

What legislation would you like to see passed specifically to benefit the residents of District 77?

I am the only candidate in this race who has offered specific legislative proposals on property taxes, education reform, and health care. It’s one thing to say you want to lower property taxes, it’s another to say what you plan to do about it. As I previously mentioned, I intend to author legislation that will require an examination of the cost to local property taxpayers of providing state-required services where local property taxpayers are paying pay higher rates than other parts of Texas. It’s fundamentally unfair and needs to be addressed. Local property tax dollars are used to fund healthcare for those who can’t afford it, as well as public defense for those who can’t afford a defense attorney. But because border communities from El Paso to Brownsville have lower property tax bases than non-border areas in Texas, border residents are paying a higher property tax rate to fund services these state-required services. But as we saw with education funding in Texas, the courts determined that property tax system didn’t equally fund education. Why would it be any different with any other state-required service like health care and public defense? I intend to author legislation first require an examination into how much more border property tax payers are paying than other parts of Texas, then examine possible solutions to help reduce the property tax burden.

I also plan to author legislation to have the state pay for the graduate degrees for teachers who are earning their certification to teach dual-credit courses, and also author legislation to provide compensation to teachers-in-training who are going through their state-required residency, but do not get compensated.

I also plan to author legislation to help reduce the barriers for highly-qualified foreign doctors to practice in Texas, particularly along the border.

How will you push back against the state’s broad restrictions regarding women’s reproductive health?

Women who are denied an abortion are 75% more likely to end up in poverty, more likely to suffer from serious mental health issues such as depression, thoughts of suicide, and women who are in abusive relationships are more likely to stay in that relationship when they are denied an abortion.

The expansion of Medicaid is more critical now than ever and would provide much-needed health insurance to over 1 million Texans. The legislature also needs to invest in mental health services, the border region is particularly underserved with a critical shortage of mental health professionals.

What compromises can be made on school funding without reverting to a school voucher plan?

The state must prioritize increases in teacher pay and the basic allotment (per-pupil funding) for our public schools. It’s fundamentally unfair that teachers and our public schools had to suffer because vouchers were soundly defeated. Vouchers must continue to be strongly opposed as they will ultimately erode public school funding and also cause further segregation in our schools, where 54% of students are Latino.

Norma Chavez

Age: 63

Please describe your personal and professional background.

I was born and raised in El Paso, attended public schools, and experienced a familiar higher education journey like many El Pasoans who start college and don’t quite get through the first round. I attended Angelo State University after high school, transferred to the University of Texas at Austin, and took classes at the University of Texas at El Paso before dropping out for a long while. While serving in the Texas legislature, I discovered that I lacked only 30 hours to complete a bachelor's degree. I eventually, enrolled and graduated as an older student from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts – Government major/Business minor.I have an inactive real estate license, served as a realtor for 16 years, and was a member of our family-owned gas station, NCN Texaco. When the Federal Clean Air Act Amendments passed, it created overreaching rules for emission testing facilities. I testified to the EPA and worked 3 sessions as a citizen advocate to help pass the Texas Clean Air Act. This instituted a common-sense approach to clean air. This issue launched me into Texas politics and the Texas Legislature.

I served in the Texas Legislature for 14 years as a state representative for House District 76 and served on some of the most powerful committees in the legislature. I served as a Chair of a standing committee in the House-Border and International Affairs Committee, Vice Chair of 3 committees Calendars, Human Services, and Rules and Resolutions, served on Appropriations, Higher Education and Finance committees to name a few.

I am also a small businesswoman. Texico Communications (sole proprietor) is a communications and consulting business. I am an Airbnb Superhost (sole proprietor). I own 2 homes.

I am single, and a caregiver of my beloved parents. I help care for our two-family dogs “Cantinflas” a rescue and “Rags” our senior dog. I am a God-Dogmother to Winston.How do you earn a living? Do you plan to continue if elected?

I receive a monthly state pension and earn income from my consulting business, and my short-term-rental in Austin. I plan to continue building my consulting and short-term rental businesses.                                                                                                       

Please describe your education. Where did you get your high school diploma? What higher education degrees and certificates have you earned from where?

I attended public schools in the EPISD school district, I went to Hillside Elementary, Ross Jr. High (now Coach Wally Hartley), and graduated from Burges High School.

I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in government/business minor from the University of Texas at Austin. (See above for more detail). I was recognized for my organizing and leadership skills and participated in various leadership groups/organizations training before and after serving in elected office. This includes:

The Industrial Areas Foundation's (IAF) 2-week training in Los Angeles, California, and two-year Urban and Education Leadership training

Texas United Farm Workers of America 2-year Grape Boycott public action organizer, leadership development, grassroots politics

Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, Leadership Studies

American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) National Democratic Party Delegate to Japan, International Leadership Studies

Center for Public Policy Alternatives, leadership, and public policy studies

Flemming Fellows Leadership Institute, leadership, and public policy studies

National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Institute (NALEO) leadership workshops, leadership, and public policy studies.

What experiences in leadership do you have that qualify you for this position?

Seniority matters in this election. If re-elected to the Texas House, I will retain my seniority.

This means I will return as an 8th-term member, and I will be in the top 30 out of 150 members in the Texas House of Representatives providing influence and legislative experience for El Paso because of my institutional knowledge of the legislative process. This is a rare opportunity for El Paso.

I served in the Texas House of Representatives for 14 years and served on some of the most powerful committees in the Texas Legislature. I was elected in January 1997, and I am the first Mexican American Latina elected to the Texas Legislature from El Paso.

I understand the power of experience and seniority. As I continued to serve El Paso, I served in increasingly influential roles, including as Chair of the House Border and International Affairs Committee and Vice Chair of three standing House committees – Rules and Resolutions, Human Services, and Calendars.As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I became intricately familiar with the budget-writing process. During my 14-year tenure as a state representative, I authored and passed 140 bills, amendments, appropriation riders, and constitutional amendments. I also became adept at killing bills harmful to my constituents’ interests and the State of Texas.

My legislative career was marked by achievements in the areas of accountability and transparency in government; the arts and Mexican-American culture; bank lending practices; creating courts at law; economic development; education; financial responsibility; financial assistance for economically distressed areas; gaming; health care and medical research; immigration; pension solvency; public safety; skills development for workers; senior citizen care; transportation; veterans affairs; and voting and civil rights, among others.

Have you ever been arrested or charged with a crime? Have you ever had a civil judgment against you? Have you ever been in arrears on local, state or federal taxes? If so, please provide an explanation.

No.

If elected, would you have any potential conflicts of interest that you are aware of that would impair your ability to serve? Please explain what they are and how you would avoid the conflict. 

No conflicts that I am aware of.

What does transparent government mean to you? Will you be personally accessible to answer questions while in office?

Meaningful transparency means greater accountability. Public tax dollars belong to the citizens, and we should have the uninhibited right to question what and how Texas tax dollars are spent. Sunshine laws should be respected and protected, ensuring that the public has quick and easy access to public information.  I have always been known as being accessible.

Issue related questions

Why are you running for this office?

As a caregiver for my elderly parents, I have witnessed the obstacles that the elderly face to qualify for services available to them. As a member of my father’s Korean War Veterans Association Chapter 249, I have witnessed and helped some El Paso Korean War Veterans with their status and recognition of being a veteran because their files were burned in the 1973 fire in St. Louis, Missouri at the National Archives and Records Administration. I have felt the financial hit as a property taxpayer, and believe we need to work on property tax alternatives. I am concerned with the bottleneck traffic at the Bridge of the Americas (BOTA) and downtown bridges. I helped to secure the $48 million for the medical school, passed the study bill for a law school along the border, and can pick up right where I left off to take steps to get a law school in El Paso.

Why are you the best candidate for this office?

Seniority matters in this race for House District 77. I do not need training wheels. I have the legislative experience, institutional knowledge, and capacity to provide influence and power for El Paso as I return as an 8^th term member, and in the top 30 out of 150 members in the Texas House of Representatives. I am older, wiser, and experienced in lawmaking. I have learned from my mistakes and during my tenure not once did I cost the taxpayers one dime. This open seat provides a rare opportunity for House District 77 and El Paso.

What do you feel are the largest challenges facing District 77? What would you do to address those challenges?

We lost a lot of experience with the retirements of Joe Pickett and Lina Ortega. Due to the 2020 census, we lost a Texas House seat going from 5 House Members to 4. Seniority impacts the political game. I will utilize my legislative skills to benefit the largest challenges. My priorities are “Taxpayer first – more tax reform needs to occur because Proposition 4 didn’t go far enough. I will fight for the little guy against non-voter approval of Certificates of Obligation (CO's). I will fight for taxpayers by working to find new sources of revenue for public education. I will fight for better health and human services for our veterans and seniors. And I will work to secure more funding for local law enforcement. I hope to add value to our current legislative delegation.

How do you plan to get things done in the Texas House amid a Republican majority?

That has been most frustrating to watch. I served when Republican President Bush was Governor Bush. I served when conservative rural Democrat Pete Laney was the powerful Speaker of the House and when the powerful and astute Bob Bullock was Lt. Governor. Republicans and Democrats crossed the aisle to work for the good of all Texans. That dynamic has changed. It is difficult to watch. As an activist/organizer legislator, I hope to gain the trust of other legislators based on my merit as a legislator and not the initial that is posted after my name.

What can Democratic lawmakers do to address the chaos currently unfolding at the border?

Border lawmakers need to tell our story. Although a federal issue, I will advocate for the swearing-in of more immigration judges along the border to address the backlog and the processing of migrants. I will work to assist the agencies and non-profit organizations helping with the surges.

What legislation would you like to see passed specifically to benefit the residents of the District 77?  

The Texas Tech medical school, the University of Texas at El Paso, and two community college campuses are in HD77. I passed a study bill for a law school in the Texas/Mexico. It is the right time to push forward. Voters in HD 77 want tax relief. Voters do not want the bottlenecks we have at the Bridge of the Americas, nor do they want the traffic jams of Austin. These are some examples. My platform can be accessed at normaforelpaso.com

How will you push back against the state's broad restrictions regarding women reproductive health?

I am pro-mother, baby, and family. That is why a woman must be provided with regulated and safe women’s reproductive services. The reality of the alternative is frightening. I sincerely believe that wealthy women will have the right to a safe “hood-wink” abortion, in the privacy of a doctor's office and for a hefty price. I also believe that poor, working class and middle-class women may find themselves in desperate circumstances and will seek illegal, unsanitary, and behind-closed-doors alternatives. History has already taught us the results of that option.

What compromises can be made on school funding without reverting to a school voucher plan? 

I oppose school vouchers. They take away public dollars from public schools.  We must add additional funding revenue streams by investing in the public school system. Public education funding should be the priority of the state and more must be done to ensure that Texas students have the opportunity to succeed, that teachers are paid adequately for their profession, and that facilities are equal across the state.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: District 77 candidates Perez and Chavez answer questions on issues