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Opinion: Renard Johnson is the clear choice to be El Paso’s next mayor [1]

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Date: 2024-11-25

By Joyce Wilson

El Pasoans voted for change on Nov. 5. As a result, we have a great opportunity for new leadership in the City Council and a brighter future. But our work is not done.

Former El Paso City Manager Joyce Wilson. (Photo courtesy Borderzine)

Many city government seats are headed to a runoff election on Dec. 14, including who will be our next mayor. It’s even more important we turn out again to make sure we elect better leaders for our future.

No incumbent deserves reelection, including the current representative vying for mayor.

There is one clear choice for mayor and that is Renard Johnson, an El Paso native who built his own business while in college at UTEP and remained true to our city even though he expanded his operations across the country.

Even with an international presence, his headquarters and hub remain here in El Paso. He employs hundreds of people and gives time and money to worthy causes. He will work for us, not himself. And he’ll be able to reach out to bring in sorely needed resources and investments to El Paso that his opponent cannot.

Brian Kennedy has done nothing for El Paso – certainly not in his brief two years on City Council where he couldn’t even complete his first term.

Kennedy’s District 1 is a hot mess with terrible roads, and trash and weeds higher than the shrubs along medians and curbs. He cost taxpayers millions of dollars in settlements with former employees and reduced employee morale to an all-time low.

Before being elected to City Council, he milked the county for nearly $3 million of taxpayers’ money with a ridiculous and unusual 20-year contract. And he did nothing to improve the County Coliseum and fairgrounds or expand entertainment and tourism opportunities, despite using hotel occupancy tax to finance his contract.

He killed the arena project with no viable option. Thanks to him we’re stuck with the same old, outdated venues with no hopes for anything better.

Early voting starts Dec. 2. Your vote for mayor and City Council will shape our future.

Make sure it counts. It’s time to retire Max Grossman and his do-nothing minions. Vote for progress, competence and a positive future.

Joyce Wilson served as El Paso’s first city manager from 2004 to 2013 and is now retired.

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[1] Url: http://elpasomatters.org/2024/11/25/opinion-joyce-wilson-support-renard-johnson-el-paso-mayor-dec-14-runoff/

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