Dec 19, 2024 Story by: Editor
Renard Johnson has secured his place in history as the next mayor of El Paso.
After early voting results were announced on Saturday, Dec. 14, City Representative Brian Kennedy, Johnson’s opponent in the runoff election, acknowledged that the vote margin was “insurmountable” and conceded the race.
Johnson’s victory in the early voting phase reflects a strong desire for change among El Paso voters. Looking ahead, he has already outlined his priorities as he prepares to lead City Hall.
“First priority is uniting everyone because we’re going to be a new team,” Johnson stated during his election night gathering at the Paso del Norte Hotel. “You’re going to have a new mayor, you’re going to have five new (El Paso) City Council representatives, and that brings a lot of excitement too because it brings a lot of new energy, a lot of new vision, a lot of new leadership.”
He added, “So, I’m excited to see where they want to go and the directions they want to go and putting that all together and moving El Paso forward.”
Low Voter Turnout
The runoff election saw a notably low voter turnout, with only 8% of eligible voters participating. Around 25,000 ballots were cast during the nine-day early voting period, and another 9,500 votes were recorded on Election Day, according to the El Paso County Elections Department.
Early results on election night showed Johnson with a strong lead, securing 57% of the vote compared to Kennedy’s 43%. This trend persisted throughout the evening, with unofficial final tallies showing Johnson ending the night with 56% of the vote, leaving Kennedy with 44%.
Kennedy, addressing supporters at his watch party held at Hallelujah! BBQ, expressed his hopes for Johnson’s tenure. “We want him to have the most wonderful four-year term that he can have because the city needs it,” Kennedy said. “Do not allow this to lessen your commitment to this city; it is incredibly important in a very tough time that is about to hit El Paso that we continue to move forward, we hold our government accountable, but we back our government and keep moving forward.”
Johnson’s Vision for El Paso
During his campaign, Johnson emphasized economic development as the cornerstone of his agenda. He proposed that by focusing on growth, El Paso could achieve lower taxes, better-paying jobs, improved infrastructure, and expanded opportunities in the years ahead.
While Johnson was unavailable for interviews the morning after the election, his platform highlights ambitious projects like the proposed Downtown I-10 Deck Plaza and strengthening the aerospace and healthcare sectors in the region. However, the timeline for these plans to translate into tangible savings for taxpayers remains uncertain.
With voter-approved bonds coming into effect and Johnson’s resistance to a no-new revenue city budget, property taxes are likely to increase in the near future.
Kennedy addressed this fiscal challenge in his farewell speech. “I’m just looking forward to moving forward with a new City Council that will be in there, a new mayor, and I can’t wait for my tax cut next year,” he remarked. Image Source: El Paso Times
