El Paso Times reporters interviewed 10 voters in City Council District 6 on Oct. 21-22 about issues in the race between one-term incumbent Art Fierro and four challengers. Top concerns were rising property taxes, electric bills, cost of living, street improvements, and a Meta data center complex in Northeast El Paso.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026. El Paso City Council District 6 election (El Paso)1
Who's involved
Art Fierroone-term incumbent, El Paso City Council District 6
Pedro Fernandez Jr.candidate, El Paso City Council District 6
Jesse Morenocandidate, El Paso City Council District 6
Claudia Contreras Sillercandidate, El Paso City Council District 6
Hector Alvacandidate, El Paso City Council District 6
Celia Elizondovoter, District 6
Mercedes Cardenasvoter, District 6
Art Gonzalezvoter, District 6
Victor Escobarvoter, District 6
Rebeccavoter, District 6
The facts
Art Fierro, one-term incumbent, is vying to keep his City Council seat against four political newcomers.1
Fierro's opponents are Pedro Fernandez Jr., Jesse Moreno, Claudia Contreras Siller, and Hector Alva.1
City Council District 6 covers part of the East Side and part of the Lower Valley.1
If no candidate gets more than 50% in the Nov. 3 election, the race goes to a December runoff.1
City Council seats are not affiliated with political parties and are for four-year terms.1
Fierro voted in December 2023 for an economic development agreement giving Meta Platforms tax breaks.1
Fierro voted in June 2026 to reject a plan to void the city's agreement with Meta.1
District 6 has the third-highest median annual household income at $71,596 among eight City Council districts.1
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Celia Elizondo, voter Property taxes are overwhelming, especially for families in a tight income.1
Mercedes Cardenas, voter Property taxes don't equate to what they are offering compared to other cities.1
Art Gonzalez, voter City Council needs to reevaluate the city budget and cut costs.1
Celia Elizondo, voter Meta data center will use a lot of water, which would not be good.1
Victor Escobar, voter Data center might make electric bills worse.1
Rebecca, voter Data centers have problems: water use, electricity, noise pollution.1
Where the sources disagree
Meta data center water use Voters said it will use a lot of water [1]; Meta officials said complex won't use much water because it will recirculate through closed-loop cooling system [1]
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
El Paso voters sound off on taxes, Meta data center in District 6 race
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
Harris County judge nominees Letitia Plummer and Orlando Sanchez debated city-county cooperation during a Thursday debate, with both candidates advocating for shared public services and coordinated public safety resources. Houston Mayor John Whitmire said the city and county should consolidate services to reduce costs.
Letitia Plummer, Harris County judge nominee; Orlando Sanchez, Harris County judge nominee; John Whitmire, Houston Mayor
Voters in Hays County are preparing to elect a new county judge and commissioners for Precincts 2 and 4 in November. The races feature Democrats and Republicans offering different visions on water conservation, infrastructure, public safety, and data center development.
Michelle Gutierrez Cohen, Current Hays County Commissioner for Precinct 2, running as Democratic candidate for Hays County Judge; Johnny Flores, Democratic candidate for Hays County Commissioner Precinct 2; former vice president of Hays CISD and current Hays CISD Board member; Abby Gibson, Republican candidate for Hays County Commissioner Precinct 2; president of Hays County Republican Women and 3 more
Harris County Treasurer Carla Wyatt was involved in a four-vehicle crash on September 18 on Interstate 45 that she allegedly caused. Two drivers say Wyatt had no insurance at the time, had not paid damages, and attempted to leave the scene. Her insurance had lapsed since July, according to her Republican opponent Marc Cowart.
$$10,000 for medical bills
Carla Wyatt, Harris County Treasurer; Amanda Byford, Driver involved in crash; Diamantina Uribe, Driver involved in crash and 1 more
Williamson County Commissioners Court approved a contract with engineering firm Freese and Nichols on Oct. 20 to develop a regional water infrastructure plan addressing the county's growing water needs, treatment, and distribution options.
$County officials said the study could help reduce the tax burden for county residents by securing state and federal funding for water projects and helping water providers save money on costs.
Williamson County Commissioners Court, approved the contract; Steven Snell, County Judge; Valerie Covey, Precinct 3 Commissioner and 2 more
The estate of Peggy Sue Mitchell filed a notice of claim against the City of Tool under the Texas Tort Claims Act, alleging that Officer Ochoa failed to protect her during a fatal stabbing at her home on April 24, 2026. The officer was released from the police department on October 7, 2026.
Peggy Sue Mitchell, deceased, victim of stabbing; Officer Ochoa, City of Tool Police Department officer; Robert Walker, City of Tool Police Chief and 2 more
A barbecue fundraiser was held in Van Zandt County to benefit families affected by two tragic incidents that occurred during the week. Community members, including those who knew the victims and others wanting to help, gathered for the event.
A local man, organizer of the barbecue fundraiser; Van Zandt County community members, participants in the fundraiser
Baltimore's mayor's office reversed course on sending an indicted city employee to a business conference in Texas. The Board of Estimates had approved spending $2,751 for Kara DiPietro to attend on Wednesday, one day after her federal indictment was announced. The mayor's office said Friday she will not attend and the city will be reimbursed.
$$2,751 for taxpayer-funded conference trip cost
Kara DiPietro, senior official in the Department of General Services' Fleet Management division, accused of defrauding pandemic relief program; Mayor Brandon Scott's administration, city government that reversed the trip approval; Tracy King, representative of the mayor's office and 1 more
Ramón Ayala Jr., son of Norteño music icon Ramón Ayala Sr., turned himself in to Hidalgo police on Friday and was arraigned on a sexual assault charge. He was released on $2,000 bond. The charge stems from an August 2025 offense and is part of a civil lawsuit filed in February by former band and crew members.
$$2,000 for bond
Ramón Ayala Jr., person arrested and arraigned on sexual assault charge; Tony Buzbee, Houston attorney representing alleged victim and filing civil lawsuits; Ramón Ayala Sr., founder of Ramón Ayala y Sus Bravos del Norte; father of Ayala Jr.