One day before the launch of early voting, hundreds of Border Interfaith and EPISO leaders assembled to challenge candidates for Mayor, City Council and the Board of Trustees for El Paso and Ysleta School Board around the issues most impacting residents’ daily lives.

Specifically, leaders asked candidates to commit to: on-time completion of specific infrastructure projects, opposition to statewide anti-immigrant legislation, and funding for Project ARRIBA to the tune of $1.5 million over five years. City candidates were also challenged to publicly support a living wage for subcontractors who work for the city government.

With the exception of one candidate, the El Paso Times reports that “nearly all the candidates answered yes on all the issues and pledged to support Border Interfaith and EPISO on their agendas.”

At the conclusion of the assembly, leaders in the audience were challenged to take note of candidate responses and communicate what they heard to at least ten voters each before the final Election Day in May.

[Photo Credit: David Burge / El Paso Times]

Grassroots Democracy on Display During EPISO Event, El Paso Times [pdf]

Future City Leaders Answer Questions About Immigration, Infrastructure, KVIA ABC 7 [pdf]

Organizaciones Religiosas se Reunen Con Candidatos Antes de las Elecciones, Entravision / Univision