The county commissioner is one of five members of the El Paso County Commissioners Court, which makes policy-making and budget decisions for county government. The commissioners serve four-year terms and are paid $133,466 a year.

Who’s running for this seat?

Sergio Coronado.

Sergio Coronado, 66, an attorney, is the incumbent

Annette Griego

Annette Griego, 50, is a nurse practitioner

Candidate Questionnaires

Candidates were asked to limit their responses to 100 words. Responses have been edited to fit the word count and for grammar.

What are your top countywide priorities if you were to be elected to this office and how would you work to achieve them?

Sergio Coronado: Continued relationship development, our county government works in conjunction with several governmental agencies. Maintaining these relationships help identify how to best benefit the numerous communities in the county and ensure we are effectively using our combined resources. Public Safety will continue to be a countywide priority. Working with the Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Service Districts and doing our best to provide them with the needed resources. My approach toward our county budget incorporates proper planning and an investment strategy that factors for growth and inflation.

Annette Griego: My top countywide priorities are fiscal responsibility, public safety, and accountable government. As a small business owner in health care and real estate, I understand how taxes and debt impact families and local businesses. I will focus on responsible budgeting, strong support for roads and emergency services, and transparent decision making so county government serves the people, not itself, and uses tax dollars wisely.

What are your top priorities for your precinct if you were to be elected to this office and how would you work to achieve them?

Sergio Coronado: Does this benefit or improve the quality of life for the people within precinct 4? I advocated for an aggressive increase in water infrastructure projects for Precinct 4. I will continue to advocate for more investments in building reliable water infrastructure. Working with the Texas Water Development Board, we hope to secure and expand our funding potential for more water projects. County park development is the most popular topic at my community meetings and events. We ensure our economic development policy is effective by incorporating our local municipalities and inviting our local businesses to discuss how we can best assist them.

Annette Griego: My top priorities for Precinct 4 are basic infrastructure, public safety, and responsible growth. This includes improving roads, drainage, and lighting, supporting fire and emergency services, and ensuring development does not outpace services. I will work with residents, county staff, and first responders to prioritize needs, use tax dollars wisely, and deliver solutions that directly improve quality of life in Precinct 4.

How would you balance the need to fund local services with concerns about tax burdens on residents while ensuring approved bond projects are completed within budget?

Sergio Coronado: The truth is, over half of our county budget spending is dictated to us by the State of Texas. The state requires the county to provide specific services but does not provide funding to cover the cost of these directed mandates. We balance what we are required to provide with infrastructure needs and quality-of-life improvements. Regarding the 2024 bond projects, our residents want investments made to improve our county parks. Voters were very clear about that, and I agree with them. The county will continue the regular bond project updates during the commissioners court. Our message to the project managers has been clear: on-budget and on-time completion of the projects.

Annette Griego: I would balance these needs through careful budgeting, prioritizing core services, and strong oversight of bond projects. This means reviewing spending line by line, avoiding unnecessary debt, and focusing on essential infrastructure rather than costly vanity projects, like the downtown deck plaza. I would require clear timelines, cost controls, and accountability for contractors so voter approved projects are completed on time and within budget without placing additional tax burdens on residents.

What’s your plan to attract investment and good-paying jobs to El Paso County while ensuring the growth benefits residents across all communities?

Sergio Coronado: Attracting investment and “good-paying jobs” requires strong community partnerships and communication. Commissioners Court, thanks to our Economic Development Department, is presented with opportunities to partner with prospective businesses. In order to qualify for our county incentives, the interested party would be required to hire a specific number of jobs that have salary requirements attached. We encourage the interested company to provide upward mobility opportunities. That can include training, certifications, or educational opportunities. I am focusing our economic development strategy to include our small and micro businesses. We are collaborating with our local municipalities, the Town of Anthony and the Village of Vinton, in our policy development. 

Annette Griego: My plan is to support smart, responsible growth that attracts investment while protecting residents. This includes supporting infrastructure, workforce development, and small businesses, and ensuring incentives are tied to local hiring and fair wages. Growth should strengthen neighborhoods across El Paso County, not just select areas. I will work to ensure economic development benefits working families, respects community needs, and uses public resources responsibly.

What beliefs and values lead you to run as a Democrat?

Sergio Coronado: My belief system is grounded on public education, universal health care and a fair system of taxation. I believe the federal government should be limited but it must provide protections from both overreach from public and private entities. Fair wages and taking care of workers is essential to equal opportunities and a path to upward mobility. People who have a full-time job and work hard should not have to depend on government assistance. But, when that happens, people need a hand up. I believe in economic development and investment in infrastructure. Fostering more commercial investment in El Paso is critical to relieve homeowners from paying more of the tax burden.

Annette Griego: I am running as a Democrat because I believe government should work for people, not special interests. My values include fairness, fiscal responsibility, access to health care and strong public services. As a nurse practitioner and small business owner, I believe in practical solutions, accountability, and investing in our communities while respecting taxpayers. I pledge not to accept money from special interests and to always put the needs of El Paso County residents first.

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