Meet the candidates: US Rep. District 23
The contest in Texas' U.S. Rep. District 23 includes at least two candidates with military backgrounds that shaped their lives.
Incumbent Rep. Tony Gonzales, a former master chief petty officer in the Navy, is facing two challengers: John Lira, a Democrat, and Frank Lopez Jr., an independent.
As a high school senior, Lira enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served as an intelligence analyst and spent time on the battlefield. Lopez did not respond to the El Paso Times' candidate questionnaire.
Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms. They are paid $174,000 annually and have full-coverage health insurance. They also have taxpayer money for staffing and district offices. Members can be selected to serve on select House committees, which oversee important federal functions.
The District 23 member of Congress deals with a number of key national and local issues such as access to health care, pandemic recovery, national security, Social Security and drug and human trafficking.
Aside from those topics, we asked the candidates about inflation, assault weapons, access to health care for women, climate change and immigration reform. Equally, important we asked the candidates a critical question about government transparency. In a nutshell, how will they remain open and accountable to voters.
The candidates' responses are being published largely as they were submitted.
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Tony Gonzales - R, Incumbent
Please describe your personal and professional background.
At 2 months old, my father abandoned me. My mother remarried a very abusive man and that was the environment I grew up in as a young child. One night it was so bad that my mother woke me and my brother up in the middle of the night and hurried us into a taxi. Those taxi lights meant freedom. I had no idea where we were going but it wasn’t there and that’s all that mattered. We spent some time in a battered women’s shelter and shortly after I went to live withmy grandparents 40 miles outside Uvalde in Camp Wood, Texas. As a teenager I moved back to San Antonio, but nothing had really changed in that home environment so I got out of there. I’ve been on my own ever since I was 15 years old. It was tough going to high school while working 3 jobs just to pay the bills, but I’ve never been afraid of hard work.
I ended up leaving high school early to join the Navy. I didn’t even know how to swim, but the Navy recruiter told me they had a program where I could enlist and finish my high school education so that’s what I did. I spent the next 20 years in the Navy on missions around the world, including five years in Iraq and Afghanistan. I retired from the Navy as a Master Chief – a feat that less than 1% of enlisted sailors achieve.
Shortly after I got out of the Navy I went to work as a fellow in Senator Marco Rubio’s officewhere I helped craft the VA Accountability Act .
In 2019, I had a routine surgery go horribly wrong. I flatlined. I spent the next 23 days in thehospital, but by the grace of God I was able to go home to my wife and kids. This was areminder of just how precious life is and I’m grateful for every day I have on this earth.
How do you earn a living? Do you plan to continue if elected?
I serve TX-23 full-time and it is the honor of my lifetime to do so. Since being elected, I have visited all 29 counties multiple times and have traveled over 100,000 miles across the district.
Please describe your education. Where did you get your high school diploma? What higher education degrees and certificates have you earned from where?
Prior to completing my high school education in the Navy, I attended Edison High School in San Antonio. I earned a graduate certificate from Georgetown University, a Master’s in International Relations from American Public University and am pursuing my Ph.D. in International Development with an emphasis on Security Studies and International Politics at the University of Southern Mississippi.
What experiences in leadership do you have that qualify you for this position?
I know what it’s like to be abandoned. For far too long, this district has been abandoned by Washington. That is no longer the case. I have secured $100 million in community project funding for TX-23. This doesn’t happen without knowing how to develop a plan and execute. That is exactly what I did as a Master Chief Petty Officer leading sailors in the Navy.
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. I work for TX-23 and I will always fight to make sure the people of this district have a voiceat the table.
John Lira - D
Please describe your personal and professional background.
I was raised in a working-class household in San Antonio, TX. My parents worked every hour of overtime their employer allowed. We were far from rich but only a paycheck away from being broke.
My senior year of high school I made the most consequential decision of my life when I enlisted into the U.S Marine Corps. This planted a seed of service and launched a career that has spanned foreign battlefields and some of the highest levels of federal government.
The Marines trained me to be an intelligence analyst and I used my G.I. Bill to transition into a policy analyst so I could continue serving my country.
I have been trusted to lead in combat, help manage national veteran transition programs, and develop national policies for the President and Congress.
These experiences have taught me how to weigh and analyze critical decisions carefully and the importance of relationships and communication.
I am also a father and husband. My daughter is a senior in high school and my wife is a professor in higher education. I am a disabled veteran who uses the Department for Veterans Affairs services and I am a proud Texan who wants to see our neighbors and communities thrive.
How do you earn a living? Do you plan to continue if elected?
I have been a full-time candidate since entering this race in May 2021. I rely on my disability compensation and some rental income for now.
Please describe your education. Where did you get your high school diploma? What higher education degrees and certificates have you earned from where?
I graduated from East Central High School in Adkins, Texas, about 15 miles outside of San Antonio. I went on to serve the U.S. Marine Corps where I was trained in satellite communications and later as an intelligence analyst.
I used my G.I. Bill to build my skills as an intelligence analyst and earned an Associate’s Degree in Paralegal studies from San Antonio College and a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Political Science from the Honors College at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
I earned a Master’s of Science degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. In 2015, I earned a certificate in business administration from Georgetown University.
What experiences in leadership do you have that qualify you for this position?
Leadership requires an instinct toward action and the ability to motivate people to a common cause. My leadership training began on day one of Marine Corps boot camp. Over eleven years of military service, I achieved the rank of Sergeant and have led Marines in battle. As an Intelligence analyst, my job was to provide military leaders with information that would inform and improve their decision making.
After returning to Texas from my second tour to Iraq, I wanted to continue serving my country and decided to use my G.I. Bill to build a skillset that would be valuable to decision makers in the federal government who were responsible for making decisions about war and the care of veterans.
In the federal government, I continued to advise senior leaders and helped manage national veterans transition programs at AmeriCorps and the U.S. Small Business Administration. I was later trusted to develop and author policy proposals and legislation for the President and Congress on a National Commission and on Capitol Hill.
In the Marines, I gained the desire to lead at the forefront in the most challenging environments and to leave no one behind. My experience in problem-solving and relationship building sets me apart from the other candidates. I have worked with military Generals, Members of Congress, executives, Mayor's, and the public.
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, I have never been arrested or charged with a crime. Nor have I ever had a civil judgment against me. Additionally, I have never been arrears on local, state or federal texas.
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.
I have no such conflicts of interests that would impair my ability to serve.
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Issue related questions
Tony Gonzales - R, Incumbent
Why are you running for this office?
I served 20 years in the Navy and I love to fight. This district deserves a representative with a servant’s heart who will fight tooth and nail, who will show up in good times and bad, and deliver with action not just talk. That is exactly what I have done in my first term and that is what I will continue to do.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
TX-23’s story is my story. I grew up in both the urban area of San Antonio but also the rural towns of Camp Wood and Devine. This district has been abandoned by Washington. I know that feeling and it drives me every day to show up and make sure TX-23’s voice is heard.
Any candidate running for any office can talk a big game, but talk is cheap. I’ve acted and I’ve delivered. I delivered over $100 million in community project funding to communities all across TX-23 – big and small. We have a lot of active duty military and a lot of veterans here. I know what they’re going through and helped secured investments to improve TX-23 military installations and also make sure veterans get every single resource they’ve earned.
I’m the only candidate in the race who is willing to buck his party in the interest of TX-23. In the aftermath of the tragedy in Uvalde, I worked across the aisle to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Yes I received opposition from members of my own party, but what mattered most was delivering for the people of TX-23.
I’m the only candidate in this race that has a plan to secure the border and fix our broken legal immigration system.
I’m the only candidate in this race who has shown up time and again to all 29 counties.
What are your top three priorities?
(1) Secure the border(2) Get our economy back on track(3) Bring our federal taxpayer dollars home to TX-23
Inflation is a top issue with voters. How would you address the issue of families struggling with housing, health care and food?
Inflation is hurting millions of Texans, particularly the poor and the middle class. They are seeing their real wages decline, while their savings and retirement accounts get crushed.
This is especially true in many low-income communities across TX-23. Through my position on the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee, I have secured billions for initiatives such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant program and HOME Investment Partnerships to create affordable housing for low-income families.
We need to rein in the reckless spending that has been the main catalyst for inflation.
We also need to end the attacks on the Texas oil and gas industries. Texas has the best fossil fuel workers in the world and if the government gets out of their way then they will lead the way as prices come down at the pump and utility bills fall.
Another component is doing away with the provision in the Inflation Reduction Act that makes it more expensive to manufacture goods in the United States – this is bad for jobs and for prices. Furthermore, we need to ease particular regulations that are making it more expensive for producers and job creators to do what they do best.
The other component of this is to create economic opportunity right here in TX-23. I have done that in my first term by helping secure funding for medical facilities, higher education, and infrastructure.
Finally, military installations in El Paso, Del Rio, and San Antonio are vital to the quality of life in TX-23. I have fought hard to strengthen these institutions.
Should assault weapons be banned?
After the tragedy in Uvalde, I was on the ground day after day doing whatever I could to bring healing to the community.
I emerged from those experiences and conversations with a resolve to get something done.
That’s why I worked across the aisle to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Congress needs to focus on what has a chance of getting through the House, the Senate, and signed into law by the President.
What’s your best idea for providing health coverage for more Americans?
Investing in rural health centers and telehealth services is vital to expanding access to care. I have secured funding in Congress to do both.
This district is home to a large number of veterans. I helped secure $150 million in funding to construct a new VA healthcare center in El Paso County.
We also need to place a greater emphasis on mental health. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act included billions in funding for mental health and I am focused on bringing those dollars home to Texas.
What, if anything, should Congress do regarding health care for women now that the Supreme Court has struck down Roe v. Wade?
The Supreme Court decision sent the issue of abortion back to the states. It is up to the voters in each individual state on how they want to handle the issue moving forward.
Many of the proposed solutions to migrant influxes at the Southwest border require congressional action. (a) What solutions do you propose to fix the nation's immigration system? (b) What will you do, specifically, to work with the other party to achieve compromise?
I have authored multiple pieces of legislation to address the crisis at our southern border. This includes joining with Democrat Henry Cuellear (TX-28) to introduce the Bipartisan Border
Solutions Act in the House, which has a companion bill in the Senate introduced by Senator Cornyn and Senator Sinema of Arizona.
One of the first places we should start is with adding more technology. The horrific incident in which over 50 migrants were found dead in the back of a truck in San Antonio – that was in TX-23. Technology could have prevented this tragic loss of life.
We also need to add more immigration judges so asylum cases can be adjudicated in days rather than years. Migrants who do not qualify for asylum should be returned to their country of origin. Furthermore, we have to get Border Patrol agents out of the processing centers and back into the field where they can focus on securing the border instead of doing paperwork.
I speak with farmers, ranchers, and business owners across TX-23 constantly. So many are in need of workers. Congress must come together in a bipartisan way to allow for an increase in work visas.
I am the only candidate in this race with plans to fix the problems at our southern border.
Because of that I am endorsed by the National Border Patrol Council.
What actions, if any, should Congress take to address the impacts of climate change in the Southwest and Texas, including extreme heat, forest fires and flash floods?
The recent drought in West Texas has made things tough on farmers and ranchers. In my first term in Congress, I have worked tirelessly to ensure our agriculture community has what it needs to be successful. It’s why I’m endorsed by the Texas Farm Bureau AGFUND as well as the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association PAC.
Through my position on the House Appropriations committee, I have secured millions of dollars for carbon management/storage and carbon dioxide removal initiatives through the Department of Energy. I have also helped secure key funding for rural water and wastewater management through the Environmental Protection Agency. I also helped secure funding for a $1.2 billion initiative through the Department of Transportation to engage in a Carbon Reduction and Congestion Management Program. I helped secure funding for the Island Main Lateral ConcreteLining Project in El Paso as well as the Riverside Canal Concrete Lining Project in El Paso.
Both of these investments would direct more water to agricultural land.
Congress can help ensure local governments are prepared when natural disasters hit their communities. One way to do this is by passing my legislation the Providing Our Law Enforcement with Adequate Resources for Response Act. This bill would make it easier for cities to purchase equipment, like all-terrain vehicles, at a significant discount to assist indisaster recovery.
What does transparent government mean to you? Will you be personally accessible to answer questions while in office?
A transparent government is one in which citizens have confidence that the government is working on their behalf.I work for the people of TX-23. Serving them is the honor of my lifetime.
Being accessible to my constituents is a top priority. I have traveled more than 100,000 miles throughout this district since being elected listening to constituents, answering their questions, and explaining my votes. It is something I am proud to have done and something that will always remain important to me.
John Lira - D
Why are you running for this office?
I am running because our current Representative is not rising to the challenge to be the leader we need in this important district. I am ready to build partnerships and unify our district around smart and health growth in our communities.
I am running because I feel our Constitutional Democracy is at risk of being hijacked by a party that will govern with anger, assertiveness, and aggression. I am running to move our country and our people forward and to challenge those who want to move us backward. Much is at stake and must support real patriots who will stand up for our Democracy. I am ready to protect our Democracy.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
While other candidates have served in the federal government, none have helped manage national programs, written national policies and legislation, or engaged with the public as I have. I am prepared to take immediate action on day one.
I am the best candidate because I value relationships and have taken the time and put forth the effort to build relationships throughout the district. I have met with county judges, Mayor's, commissioners, and council members about the needs of the community.
Texas-23 is big and showing up matters. I have proven through my Boots on the Ground Tour that I will show up and be accessible to all communities in this vast district.
I am the best candidate because I will prioritize our district over partisan politics. My agenda will focus on expanding rural healthcare and economies, stabilizing our border, and making our communities safer from gun violence.
What are your top three priorities?
My 3 top priorities include reducing inflation and the rising costs of goods and energy for families. I also want to lead on immigration, asylum, and border reform legislation that promotes bipartisan solutions to the multitude of issues at play at our southern border with Mexico. Finally, I will prioritize increasing access to medical professionals and facilities in rural communities. Too many town in Texas-23 are in healthcare deserts. I would like the first bill thatI introduce to be a gun safety bill for the parents of Uvalde.
Inflation is a top issue with voters. How would you address the issue of families struggling with housing, health care and food?
We need to bring manufacturing back to America and reinvigorate the American farmer. This will strengthen our supply chains and reduce costs across the board. We need a diverse and robust energy policy that reduces the cost of oil which drives up the cost of everything. We must revive our workforce and ensure critical Jon's are being filled. In Texas-23 there is a labor shortage that can be solved by opening up more temporary work visa permits. Congress must extend the emergency Medicare coverage provided during COVID-19.
Should assault weapons be banned?
I support Americans' 2nd Amendment to bear arms and I believe we must do all we can to prevent people who intend to harm themselves or others from attaining one over the counter.
I understand Texas' unique history with firearms and the existence of a gun culture that precedes Texas' joining of the union. But, for a long period of time, Texas had some of the strictest gun laws in the country.
Allowing anyone to buy a semiautomatic, high velocity, high capacity weapon means allowing everyone to overpower and overwhelm our law enforcement officers who we have charged to protect society.
These weapons were designed so U.S. troops could fire more accurately and at a faster rate than the enemy in battle.
If an assault weapons ban bill came to a vote, I would strongly consider voting for it. At the minimum, AR-15’s should not be sold to children below the age of 21 and adults who do not have enhanced background checks, training, and licensing.
What’s your best idea for providing health coverage for more Americans?
A universal public health insurance option that allows individuals to opt out if they want to be covered by private insurance. Additionally, the Texas Legislature's passing of Medicare expansion would have a tremendous impact on healthcare coverage in Texas.
What, if anything, should Congress do regarding health care for women now that the Supreme Courthas struck down Roe v. Wade?
Congress can vote to codify Roe v Wade into federal law and give women the choice to make their own health care decisions. In Congress, I would support the Women's Health Protection Act that protects women's privacy and reproductive freedom.
Many of the proposed solutions to migrant influxes at the Southwest border require congressional action. (a) What solutions do you propose to fix the nation’s immigration system?
Our Nation's asylum laws are outdated and must be amended to address the realities of today. While I will never understand what makes a parent take this perilous journey with their children, it shows that the United States is still a beacon of opportunity and inspiration for foreigners.
Our legal pathways to immigration are broken and accessible to many immigrants. Less legal options for legal immigration leads to more illegal migration which is a lose-lose for all in the long run.
Congress must invest in orderly and streamlined asylum hearing processes that can quickly determine if the individuals or families qualify for asylum. We need more refugee processing centers, including exploring the option of in-country processing centers, and supporting our U.S. Border Patrol agents in the field.
Migrants should be part of our economic recovery. Asylum-seekers that do not qualify should be allowed to apply for an H-2A temporary work visa to assist with filling critical labor shortages that could help kickstart our rural economies.
We should invest in our ports of entry to allow for increases in the flow of commerce between Mexico and the U.S., while having more advanced tools to combat narcotics and human trafficking.
All these important issues must be addressed immediately. It is up to Congress to act and I will lead at the forefront of these important negotiations.
(b) What will you do, specifically, to work with the other party to achieve compromise
● Invest in refugee processing centers so border patrol can be deployed to the field rather than in processing centers.● Expand temporary work visas for migrant labor in much needed industries like ranching and farming. Migrants should be helping rebuild rural America.● Invest in border security including anti-drug and human smuggling assets.● Ensure those who do not qualify are immediately returned to their country of origin or allowed to apply for a temporary work visa.● Ensure Mexico is included in the conversation and part of the solution.
What actions, if any, should Congress take to address the impacts of climate change in the Southwest and Texas, including extreme heat, forest fires and flash floods?
Southwest Texas is getting hotter and drier every year. Our vast landscape makes us home to a very unique environment which propels our energy and agriculture industries. I support investments that make vulnerable communities and industries more resilient and capable of withstanding extreme conditions.
Addressing climate change in southwest Texas means advancing our oil, wind, and solar energy processes so they are safer, cleaner, and more efficient. It also means protecting and preserving our local natural resources to ensure our farms and ranches are sustainable.
I want Texas-23 to lead the nation in energy production. I support continued investment in renewable energy and to fund more intensive carbon capture programs.
I believe we are responsible for leaving a healthier planet to our children and grandchildren and I will support legislation in Congress that does just that.
What does transparent government mean to you? Will you be personally accessible to answer questions while in office?
Transparency means making understanding the government simple for people to understand.
U.S. Representatives should inform people in DC about what's happening in the district and inform people in the district what's going on in DC. Transparency means communicating with constituents on my votes and how they will affect our communities. Transparency means accessibility and accountability. Most importantly, transparency means showing up and being present for the people you represent.
Once elected, I will hold in-person, public town hall meetings throughout the 23rd district, unlike our current congressman. I will share statements after important votes so the people of Texas-23 understand why I voted how I did. I will employ district staff from our communities to provide excellent constituent services for their neighbors. Transparency comes with clear lines of communication and strong relationships. I will continue to work to build upon the relationships I have throughout the vast district.
Frank Lopez Jr. - I
Frank Lopez Jr. did not respond to the El Paso Times questionnaire.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Texas Congressional District 23: Meet the candidates
