City Rep. Cassandra Hernandez ready to move past controversy in El Paso mayor's race

District 3 city Rep. Cassandra Hernandez, who is about to term out on the City Council, is the first well-known political figure to enter the El Paso mayoral race.

Hernandez announced her campaign for mayor late Wednesday, Jan. 31, only days after El Paso businessman Renard Johnson became the first candidate to enter the race.

If her mayoral campaign fails, Hernandez's days at City Hall as an elected official are over.

Unlike Johnson, a first-time political candidate with longtime experience in the business sector, Hernandez is rounding out her second four-year term as a member of the El Paso City Council and has a list of achievements to lean on.

Similarly, however, she has at least a few political hurdles to overcome.

An internal audit last year described Hernandez's use of a city-issued gas card as "excessive" after it was shown that she racked up roughly $6,700 in charges. The audit led to an Ethics Review Commission investigation and, ultimately, a reprimand against Hernandez for violating the city Ethics Code.

During the review, Hernandez voluntarily paid the gas money back.

After that, Hernandez faced a citizen-led recall campaign that eventually lost steam and failed to garner enough petition signatures to advance.

While Hernandez said she's willing to engage with voters who might be wary of her earlier controversies, she hopes they'll judge her more on her record as a committed public servant and a tireless community advocate.

"I pledge to canvas neighborhoods and personally connect with voters, ensuring that every concern is heard and addressed," she wrote in an email. "My request to the voters is to assess my candidacy based on the breadth of my qualifications, the depth of my experience, and the entirety of my record of service."

'Record of service'

Long before she joined the City Council, Hernandez was learning the ropes of leadership through a myriad of avenues — from earning a bachelor's degree in political science at UTEP and leading her neighborhood association to heading up policy and programs for the El Paso Chamber and working in two former city representatives' offices.

"In public service, my experience as support staff for former city Reps. Susie Byrd (District 2) and Steve Ortega (District 7) has provided me with a deep understanding of our city's needs," she said. "Presently, I stand as the sole candidate who has had the privilege of working with or representing City Council district offices encompassing over half of El Paso's constituents."

While all of that earlier experience led her to where she is, it's her work representing District 3 that Hernandez is most proud of, specifically advocating for higher senior citizens and disability homestead exemptions to offset the cost of growing property taxes.

And though she voted in favor of raising taxes six years in a row, Hernandez contends those tax hikes were necessary.

"I have conscientiously voted both for reducing (no-new revenue tax rate in 2023) and increasing the tax rate, always with the well-being of El Pasoans at heart," she said. "Increases were not arbitrary but a response to specific, urgent needs: pandemic-related emergencies, and the implementation of voter-approved bond programs from 2012, 2019 and 2022."

She also touted her work "securing substantial funding for crucial infrastructure improvements," such as earmarking funds for the reconstruction of Buffalo Soldier Street, the development of a shared walking path at McRae Boulevard and the creation of several neighborhood parks.

Beyond that, she said she's had a keen eye on public safety, street improvements and climate action planning.

Her run for mayor, she said, is a continuation of that record of service and a desire to create a better El Paso.

"My decision to run for mayor of El Paso is deeply personal and driven by my responsibility to our city's future, a future where my five young children and all the young residents of El Paso can thrive, find opportunities, and be proud of their hometown," Hernandez said. "My pledge is to ensure that every child, including mine, grows up in a city that is safe, supportive, and brimming with opportunities."

"I am determined to lead a community where safety is paramount, family values are upheld, and businesses flourish, creating an environment of security and abundant possibilities."

Setting priorities

Where economic development tops her opponent's list of priorities if elected mayor, Hernandez has her eye on tackling the growing threat of climate change, which led to unprecedented heat levels last year.

Hernandez said her Heat Mitigation Readiness Response Pilot Program would "proactively address the escalating urban heat challenges and promote a sustainable, livable environment for all residents."

"The program will leverage a comprehensive approach, focusing on enhancing urban greenery, implementing street pavement cooling efforts, and organizing community-centered cooling activities in tandem with the city's first resilient and sustainability office," she said.

She also wants to ensure that voter-approved bond projects are rolled out quickly, including the controversial multi-purpose arena.

"I am equally focused on enhancing our city's connectivity through the construction of new roadways and the rehabilitation of existing ones, both in residential areas and major thoroughfares," Hernandez said. "Moreover, I am keen to advance the construction of the downtown multi-purpose center, the Mexican American Cultural Center, and the El Paso Children's Museum. These projects are vital cultural and educational assets that will enrich our city's fabric."

Additionally, she hopes to tend to El Paso's financial health by working to increase the city's bond rating and boost non-property tax revenue streams, largely through an expanded grant matching program.

"In a historic shift, our city has recently seen federal and state grants surpass property tax revenues, a clear indicator of the vast potential for sustainable funding available to us," Hernandez said. "It's imperative that El Paso capitalizes on this unprecedented influx of federal investments."

"We need a mayor with a proven track record in navigating the complex landscape of state and federal grants," she added, "someone who understands the intricacies of economic development investments and is adept at leveraging other sustainable financial resources."

Like her opponent, however, Hernandez was unwilling to commit to only supporting a budget with a "no-new revenue" tax rate.

"The issue of property taxes in El Paso is multifaceted and demands a nuanced, informed approach," she said. "My priority is to strike a balance between providing essential city services and fostering growth while also working diligently to alleviate the tax burden on our residents."

Being a mother of five, Hernandez said her family is not shielded from the burden of rising property tax bills, but sometimes tough decisions have to be made.

"When considering tax adjustments, I do so with a profound awareness of their impact on all our lives, including my own family's," she said. "It's about responsible governance where every dollar is weighed against its real impact on our residents' lives."

"As your mayor, I would not make empty promises," Hernandez continued. "Instead, I am committed to developing and executing a clear, strategic plan aimed at growing our overall commercial tax base and expanding economic development opportunities."

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: How would city Rep. Cassandra Hernandez lead El Paso as mayor?