When Ricardo Samaniego ran for County Judge in 2018, I was one of his top three supporters and raised well over $15,000 for his campaign. Samaniego even came to my home to seek advice on how to beat his opponent John Cook, the former Mayor of El Paso. (See attached photo from February 19, 2018)
You see, Samaniego ran on a platform of fiscal restraint and promised to hold the line on spending. I became convinced that his business acumen and self-proclaimed passion for the history and culture of El Paso would make him an ideal County Judge.
My friends and I worked very hard to help elect him. He won the runoff against Cook on May 22, 2018 by only 244 votes, and that was definitely thanks to us!
In fact, Cook told the El Paso Inc (May 28, 2018) that I was the primary reason he was defeated. I had nicknamed Cook “Demolition Man” because of his support for demolishing two Trost buildings downtown as well as City Hall, and the public was outraged. It was just enough to tilt the election against him.
In the first few years after his victory, Samaniego already began to show signs of wavering. He increasingly supported expensive projects and soon was seeking the support of Paul Foster, Woody Hunt, and their friends.
By the time the Covid-19 crisis had passed, Samaniego was firmly in the camp of the Oligarchs. He began to support large bond issues and massive deficit-spending as well as major salary increases for himself and his friends on the Commissioners Court.
He never came to me or my friends to ask for support for his reelection because he did not need or want it. He had all the money he required from his contributors in Coronado and the Upper Valley because he was totally committed to doing their bidding.
His support for the Debt Plaza and of making the County its de facto owner was the final straw, and now I oppose him with ever fiber of my being.
LEARNING FROM THE PAST
Samaniego was not the only candidate I backed who violated his campaign promises and sold himself to the elites. There were many others and I found myself getting burned repeatedly.
Over time, I learned that political leaders like Brian Kennedy and Iliana Holguin, who keep their promises and vote correctly, are very rare in El Paso.
In the current election cycle, I have so far endorsed only two candidates: Minerva Torres Shelton for County Judge and Dr. Sam Armijo of City District 1. I am far more careful than I used to be and vet candidates extremely thoroughly. If I have the slightest fear they might betray the taxpayers in the future, I will not support them.
Samaniego is a liar and a knave, just like Renard Johnson and so many other worthless politicians who somehow get elected to local office.
Do I regret my support for Samaniego? Absolutely. He backstabbed the taxpayers and crapped all over his former friends.
Would Cook have made a better County Judge? That is an open question but I am 100% certain he would have been more honest.
I have lived in El Paso for 17 years, owned a home on the Westside and paid taxes on it for 16 years, and am raising my little daughter here, so I am doing my part to make my community a better place.
I will continue standing with my fellow taxpayers and providing information on the candidates to the voting public with the hope that I will never get it wrong again.
Max Grossman, Chief Instigator, El Paso Taxpayer Revolt