By Joe Olvera ©, 2011
As newly re-elected City Rep. Eddie Holguin becomes one of the senior members of the El Paso City Council, he vows to continue doing the job for which his constituents in District 6 continue putting him in office. “There are still some burning issues in my district to which I want to dedicate myself,” Holguin said. “This will be my last tour as a city representative so that I want to do right by the people who took the time and trouble to vote in the May 4 election.”
Holguin, who represents a district that includes parts of far east El Paso and the Lower Valley, was first elected in 2005. He hasn’t lost an election since. However, he still has four years to go in his final term. Is he thinking, perhaps, of going after the mayor’s job once his term ends?
“It’s too soon for me to be thinking of that,” Holguin said. “That decision is far off in the future. The main thing is for me to concentrate on those issues that are impacting on my constituents, the people I represent.” His relatively easy victory doesn’t mean that he will have four years of smooth sailing, because some of the issues he must contend with could turn out to be problematic.
“There’s the issue of whether the city should provide health care for unmarried partners of city employees, some are gay some are not. My belief is that everyone deserves universal health care, but, that’s not the way the district believes. I must represent their views. My position is to adhere to the law and that means that Judge Frank Montalvo has already ruled that we can’t provide coverage for unmarried partners of city employees. It’s sad, but, I must abide by the judge’s ruling.
“There’s another problem in Ysleta that’s causing concern, and that’s the fact that a dilapidated building is destroying the harmony of the area, especially since the city just spent millions of dollars to build a bus terminal there,” Holguin said. The building in question is located at 9043 Alameda and has already been condemned by the city. Broken windows and for rent signs cluttei the space. Owners of the property, Efren and Margarita Franco will not sell and won’t allow the city to refurbish what is considered by many to be an eyesore. However, under a new ordinance, property owners will be forced to register their buildings with the city and ensure that they are up to code. “I can’t understand why the owners of that building are so stubborn,” Holguin said.
Another issue which impacts primarily on the north side of his district is the traffic problem at the corner of Montwood and Joe Battle. Growth in the area has leaped by 23 percent in the past decade, while the area south of I-10 grew by only six percent during the same period. “Traffic congestion is causing multiple headaches for anybody who travels on those roads,” Holguin said. “Our problem is that it’s a state road and only the state can determine if it’s going to be fixed. It’s not a city road and it’s not a county road, so are hands are tied. Something will be done, I’m sure, but, perhaps not as quickly as the people want to see.
“Other issues include improving on parks in the south part of my district and improving badly constructed roads. We have already designated money to fix Pueblo Viejo Park. We will construct walking paths and make other improvements not only to that park, but, I hope to other parks as well.” Holguin who is married to Ileana Holguin, who heads the Migrant and Refugee Center, has two daughters, six-year-old Abigail Holguin, and 15-month-old Rebekah Holguin.
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