ELECTION 2020: Corpus Christi City Council Dist. 2

Vote Centers Reported: 84/84

Here are candidates running for Corpus Christi City Council Dist. 2 in this year's election. They are ordered by official ballot order that was determined by random draw by city officials. Empty bios can and will be filled when the answers to our questionnaires are sent back to us by the candidate. Minor edits have been made for clarity.

BEN MOLINA (INCUMBENT)

What is your age?

40

What is/was your profession? Are you now retired?

Small-business owner

What relevant experience can you bring to office?

As your current council member, I’ve worked on improved street-repair processes, infrastructure improvements, and quality-of-life improvements such as splash pads. I’ve also worked with animal control to create our foster program to increase live-release rates. Currently, I’m working on rebuilding Cole Park Pier, and moving forward with our Vision Zero Public-Safety Initiative. My wife of 15 years and 2 children also give me a different perspective from others. I’m forward-thinking and continuously looking for efficiencies and improvements at City Hall.

How have your life experiences prepared you for this position?

Over the last decade, prior to serving on city council, I served our community as president of Habitat for Humanity, where we focused on affordable housing for families in need; president of the Westside Business Association, where we worked towards economic development and revitalization primarily on the Westside of town; and board member of the Young Business Professionals, where we encouraged leadership development and community service in our young people. I’m a proven leader, dedicated to serving our community and making it better.

What problems would you address on your first day in office?

I’ve worked hard to build a reputation of being easily accessible and highly responsive to our community. I’ll continue working with our neighbors to clean up our neighborhoods, and continue to fix our streets and aging infrastructure. We’ve accomplished many things, but there’s still more work to be done.

What do you see as long-term issues which need to be addressed throughout your time in office?

Currently we’re working on seeking a drought-resistant water supply. We must position ourselves to continue being the regional water supplier for the Coastal Bend for the future. This process, whether we choose to move forward with desalination or another source, is vital to our future and success of our region.

What is the City of Corpus Christi doing well right now that needs to be expanded further?

Our communication has improved during the pandemic. During the budget process, we hosted virtual town halls that allowed the public to receive information and provide input on the budget. In the past, a small number of people physically attended these meetings. Because we hosted them online this year, hundreds of people were able to attend virtually, and we had a great amount of public engagement. I hope in the future that we will continue to host our meetings virtually as even as physical attendance meetings return.

SYLVIA CAMPOS

What is your age?

63

What is/was your profession? Are you now retired?

I was a medical biller for 40 years, including 10 as a self-employed medical biller. I am now retired, if you call taking care of my 96-year-old mother, along with my other siblings, retired.

What relevant experience can you bring to office?

I bring a lifetime (of) experience and background by standing up against insurance companies when I was advocating on behalf of patients’ insurance claims. We need a champion for District 2. Someone who will put people’s needs, desires over greed and profits.

How have your life experiences prepared you for this position?

I am known in my community as an activist. My introduction began with The Graffiti Wipe Out Program, collecting signatures against the Iraq War, which led to collecting signatures for the deputies to gain collective bargaining. I was the founding chair for the Progressive Populist Caucus, president of The Barrios Association, secretary for the League of Women Voters, treasurer for the ACLU, member of the Park and Recreation Board for 6 years, then 2 years in the Tree Advisory Committee. Chair for the tree-planting initiative called 12k for 2012. Chair for the Art for Social Justice through The Center for Progressive Studies and Culture. Helped collect signatures 2 years ago to bring awareness to the cuts to our libraries budget, collected signatures for NORML. I also became the national delegate for Bernie Sanders, also a member of For the Greater Good. We recently adopted the Carroll Lane Park and planted a few trees there. I have been involved in my community.

What problems would you address on your first day in office?

First, I would introduce a resolution to rescind The Residential Street Rebuild Program by going back to fixing our worst streets first, not divide by districts. This is not a political issue, this should be a citywide issue. Next, I would involve myself with The Industrial District Agreements. These agreements were meant to be temporary, not 38 years long. They get a huge water discount and are the highest users! They have served their purpose, now it is time heavy industry pay their fair share, so we can have the money to look into investing into substance abuse and mental-health facilities to address our homelessness.

What do you see as long-term issues which need to be addressed throughout your time in office?

We should be looking into making sure our bay is protected and we can do a better job in our eco tourism, which includes looking into our airport travels. We should also be incentivizing inner-city development , not creating more sprawl.

What is local government doing well right now that needs to be expanded further?

It has begun to hire city workers instead of contracting out, for example our street repairs. We are also hiring a grant writer. I believe we have missed out on funds because we have not had a full-time grant writer. We should also give city workers the right for collective bargaining.