Submitted Comments to the Texas House Special Committee on Redistricting

Members of the Texas House Select Committee on Redistricting -

Last week, I voiced my concerns to this committee about the potential threat to our democratic values and constitution. The plan to redraw the congressional lines without any court order is, in my view, a power grab that serves the interests of a single individual: Donald Trump. This maneuver, devoid of any legal or moral justification, will inflict severe harm on the most vulnerable members of our society, particularly those in Congressional District 16.

This map will not only hurt El Paso County Veterans, but also our entire community. Since 1903, our congressional district has contained most of El Paso County, especially Fort Bliss, Biggs Airfield, and Beamont Hospital. The proposed redistricting plan could disrupt the support and services these veterans rely on, potentially leading to a decline in their well-being. While I am not a veteran myself, our community is considered the veteran capital of the United States. The negative impact of this map on our community cannot be overstated.

Recently, my counterpart, the Chair of the El Paso Republican Party, and I appeared on our local news on a special segment called ABC 7 Extra. While we disagreed on several items, one thing I will agree with him on: we need to get the politicians out of redistricting. He also mentioned that it was unfair that Tony Gonzalez had a district over 500 miles long and would not be able to represent it well. And I agree! There is no reason that important facilities like our airport, Fort Bliss, and Beaumont hospital should be represented by someone so far away who has little connection to this community.

You can view this interview here: https://kvia.com/for/2025/07/25/abc-7-xtra-sunday-texas-redistricting-battle/

Our veterans deserve the promises our nation guaranteed after their service, and removing Congressional District 16 outside of the Fort Bliss and Beaumont Hospital footprint will be a great disservice to them and El Paso. El Paso veterans deserve a member of Congress in their backyard to assist with constituency services and issues, not one who lives 500 miles away. They also deserve a member of Congress who will vote and support their issues, not one who tends to cut services.

To the members of this committee, I ask for two things:

1) Stand up to this dictator's power grab. You know it's wrong, you quietly said it was wrong behind closed doors, and you know this is not how our nation works.

2) Keep Congressional District 16 with the current map, which includes our community airport, Fort Bliss, and Beaumont, the way it is. The current map allows for a close-knit representation of our community, with a member of Congress who is familiar with our unique needs and challenges. There is no reason someone from 500 miles away should be representing this area when El Paso has always represented it. Maintaining the current map is crucial for ensuring continuity and stability in our representation.