Frequently Asked Questions
By Carlos Gallinar
About Carlos
Why is Carlos running as a Democrat?
I am running as a Democrat for mayor of El Paso because there should be no ambiguity for voters to know where candidates stand and I will always be transparent about my Democratic values. I have always voted Democrat.
Read my op-ed in El Paso Matters: “Why I’m running as a Democrat for mayor of El Paso”.
What did Carlos do at La Fe and Segundo Barrio?
I came back to El Paso in 2005 after graduating from Rutgers with a Master’s in City Planning to work at La Fe Clinic. While at La Fe, I created over 100 housing units, more than any other candidate. I developed a program for young men and women who dropped out of high school to get them back to school, learn construction trades, and build leadership skills. I also managed the development of Magoffin Park Villas, the city’s first mixed-use and mixed-income community.
The reality is that Segundo Barrio is the 4th poorest zip code in the country. The neighborhood has been losing population and currently has less than 8,000 residents. More people are moving into most new subdivisions on the Eastside than all the people currently living in Segundo Barrio. Homeownership rate is at less than 11%, compared to about 65% for the rest of the city.
Since 2005, when the downtown plan was created, beside the work I was able to accomplish, nothing has changed in the community. Segundo Barrio continues to lose population, very little jobs have been created, and families still live in poverty.
What did Carlos do at the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD)?
I served as Executive Director for Facilities and Construction managing the school improvements and construction projects passed by the voters for the 2016 bond.
As part of my work, the EPISD conducted an audit of the bond program. The audit found that EPISD as a whole should have implemented better policies in reporting changes in the budgets. Because there were no policies in place, my decision to move forward with administrative protocols-which I believed were within my purview and discretion based on vague administrative policies-ensured that the projects stayed within budget and on time. And unlike the two incumbents running for mayor, my actions did not result in ethics complaints or criminal investigations.
I support any effort that brings transparency and oversight to public processes. El Paso taxpayers deserve to know how their tax dollars are being spent and every governmental entity should commit to having as robust an audit process as the EPISD. As a mayor, I will conduct a complete audit of the city’s finances and the 2012 quality of life bond, something that has not been done under Mayor Margo or former Mayor Leeser.
Finally, today the public can see their tax dollars at work. Every project is under construction and some have been completed. Citizens of El Paso are still waiting for the city’s major quality of life bond projects to break ground.
Read my formal response to the audit here.
View EPISD’s Project Status dashboard here.
Is Carlos funded by developers?
No. Our campaign is funded by every day El Pasoans. We received the most individual donations than any other candidate and from every city council district.
You can read our latest Campaign Finance Report here.
On the Issues
How will Carlos address high property taxes?
I recognize that property taxes are some of the highest in the state and country. The last two city administrations have mismanaged our tax dollars. When elected one of my first actions will be to call for a third-party comprehensive audit of the city’s finances to include every department and the quality of life bond projects. We will work to decrease taxes while still ensuring we fully fund quality of life items such as parks, libraries, museums, and recreation centers.
What is Carlos’ position on police reform?
I was the first candidate to issue a statement on the murder of George Floyd. And the first candidate to bring the community together to discuss systemic racism in El Paso.
I support reforming our police department. We need to ensure that we demilitarize our police force, eliminate use of force policies that threaten people’s lives, and allocate resources to mental health training. We need to create an equitable city budget that provides financial resources to after school programs, resources for families, parks and recreation, and community policing.
How will Carlos create jobs?
El Paso’s economy cannot just be suburban franchises and call centers. We need to diversity our job opportunities and create real economic prosperity for working families. Under my administration we will address climate change and create green jobs in solar and renewable energy. We will work with UTEP to develop a high-tech manufacturing industry so that thousands of engineers can stay in El Paso and make money. We will increase our local economy by developing Eco Tourism so that thousands come visit El Paso. We will fight for a living wage of at least $15 an hour. And we will increase our binational trade capacity with Mexico and Latin America.
Read our Climate Change Strategy for the Sun City here.
Read our Plan for El Paso’s Parks and Open Spaces here.
Where does Carlos stand on the multi-purpose center/arena?
I believe it’s time to cancel this project. The last two city administrations did not get it done and now we are wasting money and time. As Mayor I will be honest with the voters and taxpayers of El Paso about the failed bond initiative from 2012.
We also can’t give up on Downtown. As Mayor, I will work with our partners to implement the following Path Forward for El Paso’s Downtown.
Read our Path Foward for El Paso’s Downtown here.
What is Carlos’ position on the City Manager?
Under my administration, the City Manager will be replaced. However, let’s not lose sight of the fact that Mr. Gonzales was hired by Oscar Leeser. And despite a subpar management record, Dee Margo kept Mr. Gonzales. Today’s issues with Mr. Gonzales are a reflection of the two past mayors not having the leadership skills to properly manage his actions.
Will Carlos have an Open Door Policy at City Hall?
Yes. As Mayor, I will establish an open door policy and increase public participation at City Hall.
Read our Plan for Public Participation and Civic Engagement here.
About Carlos
Carlos is a native El Pasoan, the first person in his family to attend and graduate college. He has dedicated his life to improving the lives of El Pasoans. His work includes affordable housing development, community master plans, modernizing school facilities, and international philanthropic work. For the last three years Carlos has managed his own small business — Gallinar Planning & Development, LLC focusing on community development and urban planning. His goal is to improve the quality of life for all El Pasoans through a more sustainable and healthier city.
Carlos has been married for 15 years to Janine, a social worker and mental health professional. They met while volunteering at Annunciation House, an immigrant shelter and refugee advocacy center. They live in El Paso’s historic Sunset Heights neighborhood with their two young children, Olivia and Joaquin.
You can learn more about Carlos and his run for Mayor of El Paso at www.gallinarforelpaso.com.
