Meet the candidates: Texas Senate District 29

State Sen. César J. Blanco, D-El Paso, is seeking to return to the Texas state Senate. He is facing Derek L. Zubeldia, an El Paso Republican.

District 29 includes five far West Texas counties, including four along the U.S.-Mexico border. El Paso is the major population hub of the district.

As a state senator, the winner will represent the district's interests at the state capitol in Austin. Senators vote on key public policy legislation around public schools, key industries and taxes. They also approve the state budget. Members also serve on select committees that shape public policy between legislative sessions.

Senators are paid $600 per month, or $7,200 per year. They receive a per diem of $221 when the Legislature is in session. This is a four-year-term.

The El Paso Times sent questionnaires to the candidates in contested races in the Nov. 8, 2022, general election. Following are the answers to the questionnaire submitted by candidates for state Sen. District 29.

The candidates' responses are being published largely as they were submitted.

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César J. Blanco - D, Incumbent

Please describe your personal and professional background.

As the State Senator for District 29, I proudly represent the people of Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties in the Texas Senate and I look forward to representing our district's newly added counties- Reeves, Pecos, and Brewster counties.

I was raised in El Paso and after high school, I continued my family’s tradition of military service in the U.S. Navy. I graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso and continued my public service by working for three Members of Congress representing El Paso and West Texas.

I was first elected in 2014 to the Texas House of Representatives, where I served until being elected to the Texas Senate in 2020.

I am active in the community as a member of the American Legion, El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Rio Grande Council of Governments, Project Bravo, and the Medical Center of Americas. I am also a member of the Democratic National Committee, Aspen-Rodel Fellowship Program and New Deal Leaders. I live in El Paso with my wife Lili and our dog Jefe.

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

Small business owner and Consultant. Yes, unlike the U.S. Congress, the Texas Legislature is a part-time citizen legislature and Legislators maintain their usual jobs to earn a living.

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 El Paso public schools and graduated from Eastwood High School. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in History from the University of Texas at El Paso.

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

I believe my U.S. military service, my time from caseworker to Chief of Staff for U.S. Members of Congress representing El Paso and West Texas, my six years in the Texas House of Representatives, and two years in the Texas Senate uniquely qualify me for this position.

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.

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Issue related questions

Why are you running for this office?

In my first session in the State Senate, we delivered big for El Paso in Far West Texas. We passed property tax relief, funding for broadband, better health coverage for new moms, a gun safety and school safety bill, the Vanessa Guillen Act, and expanded telemedicine. We also secured critical funding to help our community bounce back from the pandemic, including grants for tourism and local businesses impacted by the pandemic, we replenished the Unemployment Compensation Fund, we bolstered our healthcare infrastructure, and made investments to ensure no active or retired teacher faces an increase in health care premiums due to the pandemic. I also secured critical funding for our local higher education institutions, including $112.3 million for construction and infrastructure improvements at UTEP and Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso.

For me, serving in the Legislature is not just about what we do at the State Capitol, it's also about what we do when we are back home in the community. That's why I have made it a priority for my office to go above and beyond and organize regular service events for my constituents and community. From having responsive constituent services to hosting back to school fairs with free backpacks and school supplies for children, Thanksgiving Turkey giveaways for families in need, citizenship workshops, Toys for Tots during Christmas, free tax preparation for low-income families, box fan giveaways to local senior citizens, and others.

I'm running for re-election to, first and foremost, serve my community and continue building a brighter future for El Paso and Far West Texas.

Why are you the best candidate for this office?

I have the experience and track record of delivering reals results for El Paso and Far West Texas in the Texas Legislature. I believe I am the best candidate for this office because I will always put people over politics to get things done for my community.

What are your top three priorities?

(1) Delivering economic security to working families.

(2) Improve access and affordability to healthcare closer to home.

(3) Keeping our kids safe in school and giving them a world-class education.

Property taxes continue to be a challenge for Texans. How would you address this issue?

(1) By increasing the state's share of public education to over 50%, we can drive down local school district property taxes;

(2) Increase the homestead exemption, including adjusting for inflation;

(3) Guarantee a minimum flat-dollar exemption to provide more relief to lower- and middle-income households;

(4) Lowering the homestead cap value from 10% to the rate of inflation, whichever is lower; and

(4) Reform appraisal process.

Immigration is a federal issue, but migrant influxes pose challenges for the city locally. What is your vision for the state’s role in meeting immigration challenges?

The state should not be in the business of enforcing federal immigration laws. Texas needs the federal government to pass comprehensive immigration reform and address border security. Texas should provide support to local governments and local law enforcement impacted by migration waves, including providing and assisting with humanitarian aid. Texas should also update and modernize our ports of entry to enhance security, improve cross-border traffic, and reduce wait times. If Texas continues to prioritize border security spending, the state needs to ensure there is transparency, accountability, and that taxpayer dollars are used effectively.

Should local government, working with FEMA, develop Migrant Welcoming Centers?

Yes, especially if there is no expense to local taxpayers or if our local governments are getting reimbursed.

What can Texas leaders do to reduce the number of mass shootings?

(1) Raise the age to purchase assault rifles to 21; (2) Expand background checks; (3) Enact red-flag laws (extreme risk protective orders); (4) Ban straw purchases; (5) Close loopholes (6) Pass recommendations from the 2019 Texas Safety Action Report; (7) Regulate high-capacity magazines; (8) Require a mandatory cooling off period for gun purchases, (9) Adequately invest in mental health; and (10) Hold social media platforms accountable.

What’s your best idea for expanding health care for Texans?

We need to take a multi-prong approach to best expand health care to Texans. We need to:

(1) Expand Medicaid to provide health coverage to millions of Texans and support our safety-net hospitals;

(2) Expand maternal and post-partum Medicaid coverage for new moms;

(3) Bolster our healthcare workforce by investing in local health programs at UTEP, TTUHSCEP, SRSU, and EPCC;

(4) Provide support to local Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and bolster EMT workforce;

(5) Expand and invest in Graduate Medical Education (GME)

(6) Incentivize physicians and nurses to practice in medically underserved areas and health-profession shortage areas.

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

I firmly believe in open and transparent government and a citizen’s right to participate in their government.

As a Legislator, I have welcomed calls from the media and agree to as many interview requests as I can, and provide background when requested. I also proactively and regularly communicate with the press through press releases, statements, and social media tags and posts.

I have supported and helped pass numerous bills to make the government more open and transparent.

I have also authored legislation to improve environmental public notices by requiring notices be sent in appropriate alternative languages to affected households so more citizens can participate in their government and have their voices heard.

Derek L. Zubeldia - R

Derek L. Zubeldia did not respond to the El Paso Times questionnaire.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Texas Senate District 29 candidates: César Blanco, Derek Zubeldia