Adam Powell of the El Paso Times nailed it in his report on the reelection bids of Samaniego, Stout, and Coronado:
“Stout and Samaniego pushed the unpopular $340 million CO to benefit El Paso hospitals, which was eventually tossed out thanks to a petition drive in 2022. All three supported $890 million in bond initiatives last year, and, although voters ultimately only approved about $500 million, Stout has voiced support for bringing the issue back to voters in search of $105 million. All three recently voted to issue $54 million in COs for water infrastructure in the colonias.
Additionally, since first taking office in 2015, Stout has voted to raise his own salary five times in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2024. Samaniego voted alongside Stout for the last two votes and Coronado, who took office in 2022, joined the pack for the 2024 vote.
Since 2017, commissioner salaries have increased from $62,680 to $131,481 and the county judge’s salary has increased from $89,250 to $152,700 during the same period.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Adam Powell, El Paso Times