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I come from a proud working-class family deeply rooted in public service. As your full-time city representative, I will work tirelessly for your family.
Our city deserves more living-wage jobs, a robust and reliable infrastructure, safer communities for every El Pasoan, and greater investment in essential services like Animal Services and Streets.
We need a city government that listens and takes action, especially when addressing inequality and equity gaps.
It’s time for us to unite to end the misuse of tax incentives, reduce the influence of big-money donors in our politics, uplift local businesses, and protect our cherished environment from overdevelopment.
Together, we must hold the bureaucrats in Austin accountable for systematically sidelining our community.
With nearly a decade of government experience and public advocacy, I have the skills to find practical solutions, navigate complex government channels, and deliver results.
Signed your friend and ally,
Wesley Lawrence
Wesley Lawrence
Candidate for El Paso City Council District 4
Responsible Government
The people of El Paso deserve a local government that truly represents them—not special interests or developers. It’s time to push for genuine, honest change while preserving everything that makes El Paso shine.
As your City Representative, I will:
Hold City Leadership Accountable
Our City Manager and City Attorney need a reminder: they work for us. While El Pasoans were still recovering, these officials received raises, advocated for wasteful spending, and made uninspired recommendations to our City Council. I’ll ensure that accountability is restored.
Be a Voice for City Employees
Our city workers and support staff deserve our support. I will advocate for fair wages, affordable health care, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, and fair longevity pay to honor their dedication and service.
Fight for Transparency
El Paso deserves a government that is open and honest. I’ll push to end the misuse of executive sessions, collaborate with local media for increased coverage of city issues, ensure easier access to voting records, and advocate for stricter regulations on developers. As your representative, I will have office hours within the district, uphold an open-door policy, and be readily available alongside my team to address your concerns.
Strengthen Animal Services
An underfunded Animal Services has had serious consequences for our community, from unregulated backyard breeding to an overflowing shelter and dangerous stray populations. I’ll work closely with the Animal Services Advisory Committee (ASAC), the Department of Veterans Affairs, nonprofits, and residents to create policies that ensure our community’s safety and well-being—for both people and pets. Our animals deserve better!
Foster Governmental Partnerships
When our city, county, and educational institutions work together, we all benefit. I’ll advocate for partnerships between the city and local educational institutions to establish a veterinary school and animal clinic. This initiative will help reduce illness among strays and alleviate the shelter's overpopulation.
As your City Representative, I will:
Advocate for a No-New-Revenue Tax Rate
We need to reimagine our city’s budget to focus on critical needs, not waste money on pet projects. Every El Pasoan deserves genuine tax relief.
Cap Property Value Increases at 3-5%
We must protect residents from rapid property value hikes that make living in our city unaffordable.
Freeze Property Taxes for Seniors
Our seniors feel the weight of rising property taxes more than anyone. It’s time to give them a well-deserved break.
Address the 60/40 Tax Base Imbalance
El Paso’s 60% residential and 40% commercial tax base needs reform. We must strive for a fairer, more equitable tax structure for every taxpayer.
Collaborate with State Representatives
We need to advocate strongly for Texas to increase investments in public education—our largest tax base—and reform the Central Appraisal District to create more fairness across the board.
Hold Developers Accountable
Developers have exploited tax incentives granted through 380 agreements, resulting in unchecked sprawl and neglected areas. If tax incentives are provided, they must be fair to taxpayers, require developers to hire local talent, pay living wages, and avoid cutting corners. I will push for rigorous monitoring to ensure these standards.
Increase Impact Fees
Developers have long avoided paying their fair share, driving up utility costs while benefiting from rapid growth. We’ll work to adjust impact fees equitably to support essential infrastructure as our city expands.
Hold Our State Government Accountable
As your City Representative, I’ll continue advocating for real tax relief and opposing false promises that undermine critical services like public education. I won’t hesitate to head to Austin to make El Paso’s needs heard, just as I did as your State Democratic Executive Committeeman.
taxes
I understand the burden placed on our community by pet projects, unchecked overdevelopment, an unfair 60/40 tax base, and a soaring tax rate. It’s time to deliver real, meaningful tax relief to the people of El Paso!
Environment& Streets
El Pasoans deserve a city that prioritizes safe, well-maintained streets. Speaking with residents of District 4, it's clear they want roads that are safe to drive on, medians that are properly maintained, and streets that don’t flood when it rains.
As your City Representative, I will:
Advocate for Greater Investments in Our Roads
It’s time to fulfill our commitment to maintaining infrastructure. Well-maintained roads attract greater business investment in our city. I will push for a better system, innovative materials, and improved public planning to enhance our roadways.
Support Accessibility
Our city must continue supporting the disabled community by ensuring accessible infrastructure. I’ll also work to foster better collaboration between Sun Metro and disability advocates to improve transportation options and invest in a more equitable transit system.
Establish Safety Corridors
I’ll work with residents to create safety corridors on heavily traveled streets, which include better-lit crosswalks and improved street lighting. I’ll also form a District task force focused on reducing traffic-related fatalities and enhancing pedestrian and driver safety.
Promote Responsible Development
Our mountains are central to El Paso’s beauty and character, and we must protect them. I will advocate for responsible growth, sustainable tiny home communities for the homeless, green infrastructure to manage flooding, and policies that help minimize our city’s carbon footprint
As your City Representative, I will:
Establish a Small Business Office
Our local government must recognize that small, locally owned businesses are the backbone of our community. During COVID-19, many small businesses were left without support. It’s time to create clear, accessible guidelines to help them succeed and prevent working-class families from being left behind.
Advocate for Increased Benefits for Working Families
El Paso should align with other parts of the state by implementing paid sick leave, parental leave, and mental health leave. When we offer businesses tax breaks, we must ensure they treat their employees fairly and support their well-being.
Redefine Public Safety
Public safety in El Paso means more than just emergency response. It includes creating walkable, accessible, and well-lit streets, robust neighborhood watch programs, and equitable response times from first responders. We must also implement a strategic program for managing stray pets, strengthening the safety and quality of life in our neighborhoods.
Invest in Public Safety
I will advocate for a new fire station to better serve families in the Future Land, Mesquite Hills, and Campo Del Sol areas. I’ll support our first responders by pushing for well-deserved pay raises, including language differential incentives, and seek public-private partnerships to improve street lighting and accessibility. Additionally, I’ll champion animal services to ensure our community’s safety.
Investing in Our City!
We need to attract businesses that invest in our local economy and in our people. This approach keeps future generations engaged, committed, and dedicated to El Paso.
Affordable Housing
The unchecked growth of for-profit short-term rentals in El Paso is driving an unsustainable housing crisis, putting low-income families, veterans, and both young and elderly members of our community at risk of homelessness.
As your City Representative, I will:
Collaborate with NGOs to Expand Affordable Housing
Everyone in our community deserves access to affordable, accessible housing, regardless of socioeconomic status. I will work closely with the council and partner with NGOs to advocate for smart growth initiatives and support the development of tiny home communities to increase affordable housing options.
Implement Rent Control
Renters are integral to our community and deserve fair treatment. COVID-19 highlighted how easily the housing market can be exploited for profit, with renters bearing the brunt of the impact. It’s time to implement rent control, capping annual rent increases at 5%, incentivizing green upgrades for rental properties, and establishing a City Renters Commission to address renter concerns. As your City Representative, I will go to Austin to advocate for real tax reform and bipartisan support for housing solutions that benefit every El Pasoan.