Drug War diplomat speaks at Chamber Monday

Special meeting with the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
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William J. McGlynn
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)
U.S. Department of State
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El Paso TX 2 February 2009
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There has been a correction. David Johnson will not be speaking, The presenter will be William J. McGlynn. He is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. The meeting will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Lockhart Room of the Chamber. Deputy Secretary McGlynn will offer his thoughts and then allow for questions. The violence in Ciudad Juarez is affecting
all of us on both sides of the border.

William J. McGlynn Biography

Bill McGlynn joined INL in June, 2008. Prior to that he was Coordinator of the Foreign Policy Advisor Program in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.

Bill served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Portugal during 2001-2004. His other overseas assignments include Haiti, Gabon, the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels, and Austria. In Washington, Bill has been Executive Assistant to the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs; Advisor on Policy and Resources to the Deputy Secretary; Deputy Director for Latin American Programs in the Bureau of International Narcotics Affairs; Military and Economic Assistance Advisor in the Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs; and Country Officer for Greece. He was also an Executive Fellow at Princeton University and the Department’s Diplomat in Residence for Arizona, Utah, and Nevada.

Bill was promoted to Minister-Counselor (FE-MC) in 2005. He speaks French, German, and Portuguese. He has been married to the former Dawn Putnam since 1985.

NPT Capitol: Committee assignments

Lieutenant-Governor David Dewhurst released his list of committee assignments for the 81st session earlier today.

State Senator Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, will again serve as Vice Chairman of the Veterans Affairs & Military Installations committee, as well as retaining the Chair of the Base Realignment & Closure subcommittee. He will also have slots on the Health and Human Services, Nominations, and Transportation & Homeland Security committees.

A full list of Senate Committee assignments from the Senate website is available here

House committee assignments are still up in the air, though Speaker Straus has asked State Reps to submit their preferences over the weekend.

NPT: Reyes on the Recovery act

Some reading materials, followed by a (partly) local press release from U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes on the Recovery Act.

— Transcript of Pelosi, House Democrats News Conference on Economic Recovery Act

— WSJ: House Passes Stimulus Package

— WSJ Opinion: A 40-Year Wish List

— NY Times: House Passes Obama’s Stimulus Package

— RCP: Dems Cheer Vote, GOP Cheers Moral Victory

***

REYES VOTES FOR AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT PLAN TO CREATE JOBS AND BOOST THE ECONOMY

Reyes says legislation “represents a bold investment in the American people”

El Paso stands to receive millions of dollars for investments in roads, bridges, schools, and other infrastructure projects

Read more here

Ben Wright: NPT Capitol: Marquez’s 1st bill

Freshman state Rep. Marisa Marquez, D-El Paso, has filed her
first bill of the 2009 session. If enacted, the law would give more powers
to school districts seeking to clamp down on truancy.

The bill (HB 837) extends the period of time that a
school district can file a charge of truancy against a child.

“Current law requires a charge to be filed within ten school days of a
student’s tenth absence, or else courts must dismiss the charge. The law
would give districts more time,” said Marquez in a press release.

But the law only extends the window for which a charge can be filed from
ten days to fourteen days. Nevertheless Marquez, and EPISD Director of
Pupil Services Mark Mendoza, think the extension will make a big
difference.

“This bill will help our school district ensure that no student falls
through the cracks. We will have the proper amount of time necessary to
make sure all complaints are filed and have a shot at making it before a
judge,” said Mendoza. “This will help us to keep kids in school where they
should be.”

Legislation regarding truancy was not part of EPISD’s legislative agenda
(which can be accessed here) However EPISD’s Mendoza seemed to
be very pleased that Marquez had filed the bill.

“I am glad that Rep. Marquez has heard my calls for reform. We want to
have enough time to step in and right a troubled student’s path,” said
Mendoza.

NPT: LA Times reports Mexican journalist, jailed in El Paso, now free

“The freedom to write doesn’t exist in Mexico,” said Emilio Gutierrez Soto. “Freedom of expression doesn’t exist.”

U.S. immigration authorities surprised press-freedom activists Thursday when they released a journalist — fleeing alleged Mexican government persecution — who had been held in a Texas detention center for seven months.

Emilio Gutierrez Soto walked out of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in El Paso late in the afternoon and expressed relief that he would soon be reunited with his 15-year-old son.

Read the story here:

Mexican journalist released from U.S. custody, by James Rainey and Ari B. Bloomekatz, L.A. Times, Jan. 30, 2009

NPT: Another mayoral announcement

Carlos Rivera, a native of El Paso and a U.S. Air Force Veteran, will announce his candidacy for Mayor of El Paso on Saturday, January 31, 2009. Mr. Rivera earned his Master’s Degree from the University of Texas at Austin, a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Texas at El Paso, and is an El Paso High School graduate. He successfully completed a career in federal government service, and is currently the President of the Veterans Business Association. He is also a life-time member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 574.

From: Carlos Rivera for Mayor Campaign
What: Official Announcement of Candidacy
Date: Saturday – January 31, 2009
Time: 8:30 am
Location: El Zarape Restaurant 6369 Montana
(behind the Bingo Hall, next to K-Mart)

Ben Wright: NPT Capitol: Normus Dramaticus

This week, the folks from the Texas State Florist Association came to the Capitol. One of the things they do is organize a personality for passing lawmakers. (They say what their favorite flower is, the TSFA tell you what that means about your personality.

El Paso’s Norma Chavez took the test. Here are the flowers she chose.

According to the TSFA, this means Representative Chavez has a “dramatic” personality. I spoke with Representative Chavez, who thought the results of the test were fair. (She even said so in a dramatic way, pirouetting several times.)

NPT: Mayor Cook firing a warning shot?

Yesterday this blog noted that Gus Haddad is announcing his campaign for mayor against current Mayor John Cook. It should have been noted that Cook did something interesting on the agenda for the last City Council meeting — he threw up a list of heavy-hitters who donated to him. The item was pulled from the agenda, which raises the question of why it was there in the first place. Warning shot? Here is the agenda item, followed by the city rule referred to in the item.

From the Tuesday (Jan. 27, 2009) agenda

NOTATION OF CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION

For notation pursuant to Section 2.92.110 of the City Code; receipt of campaign contributions by Mayor John Cook: Stanley Jobe, $1,000; El Paso Sheriff’s Officers Association, $1,000: Harold and Beth Hanh, $2000; Paul Foster, $1,000; Robert and Sherry Brown, $1,000; The El Paso Association of Firefighters-Local 51, $1,000; Ike Montey, $1,000; Noel Rosenbaum, $500; Andrew and Leslie Cook, $500; Hector and Debbie Gutierrez, $500; Ainsa & Hutson, $500; James and Samantha Singelyn, $500; Delgado, Acosta, $500; Marty Martin, $500; Elaine Barron, $500; Gary and Leanne Hedrick, $500; Sam Legate, $500; Eliot Shapleigh, $500; Margarita and Gerry Licon, $500; El Paso Electric PAC, $1,000; Robert and Paulette Wingo, $750; Randy and Margo Kuykendall, $500; Bill and April Terrell, $500; Rachel and Gregory Harracksingh $500; Irene Epperson, $500; James F. Scherr, $2,000; Leonard A. Goodman, $500; J.A. Cardwell, $1,000; Henry Ellis, $500; Ginger Francis, $500; L. Fredrick Francis, $500; Adam and Dana Frank, $500; Carlos and Irma Garza, $1,000; Robert Hoy Hill, $500; Woody and Gale Hunt, $500; Michael and Sydney Jelinek, $750; Travis Johnson, $1,000; Linda Jordan, $500; C.F. Jordan III, $500; Susan Mendez, $500; Michael and Clara Miles, $500; Jim Phillips, $500; K. Alan Russell, $500; Cita Sanders, $500; William Sanders, $500; Leo Schuster, $1,000; Scott PAC, $1,250; Lou and Laura Alpern, $2,300; Moore, Nordell, Kroger, $500; Kenneth Gezelius, $500; Ann Morgan Lilly Campaign, $500. [Mayor John F. Cook, (915) 541-4145]

Section 2.92.110 of the City Code

2.92.110 Disclosure of campaign contributions.
A. If a member of the city council has received campaign contributions from a contributor totaling five hundred dollars or more subsequent to the date that the member last filed a campaign finance report pursuant to state law, such member shall disclose the receipt of such contributions to the council before any deliberation or vote of the city council regarding any matter on a meeting agenda which concerns or relates to the contributor, a business entity owned in whole or in part or operated by the contributor or which employs the contributor, or any other time that the contributor appears to address the council during the meeting.
B. This requirement shall apply to all meetings of the city council.
C. Such disclosure shall be orally made by the member and shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
D. If a member of the city council accepts a campaign contribution from a contributor of five hundred dollars or more, he shall report the amount and the donor by an item for notation on the consent agenda of a city council meeting within thirty days of the date of such contribution.
E. No action of the council which is otherwise legal shall be invalidated merely by reason of the disclosure of a campaign contribution by a member of the city council or the failure of a member to disclose a campaign contribution. (Ord. 16301 § 4, 2006)

NPT: Haddad announcing for mayor

Gus Haddad is making it official. He’s announcing for mayor at noon tomorrow (Thursday Jan. 29) at Irwin J. Lambka Park, 6600 Cloudview. Stay tuned for more and the race for mayor heats up.

NPT: Marquez in the house

Note: This item was posted Wednesday (Jan. 28). Marquez sent a news release Friday (Jan. 30) correcting the time to 9:30 a.m.

afternoon State Sen. Eliot Shapleigh hosts “Coffee with Eliot” in his office. State Rep. Marisa Marquez is taking it to the house with “Cafecito community meetings.” Here’s the news release:

Rep. Marquez to Host the first of a series of Cafecito community meetings beginning this saturday

EL PASO, TX—State Representative Marisa Marquez (D-El Paso) will hold the first of a series of cafecito community meetings on Saturday. Marquez will provide an update on the legislative session and issues relating to District 77 in central El Paso, as well as, receive vital and necessary feedback from her constituents. The meeting is open to the public and there will be a segment for questions and answers.

WHO: Open to the public
WHAT: Community meeting hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Acosta
WHERE: Residence of Mr. and Mrs. Acosta
2203 Grant Ave
WHEN: Saturday, January 31 at 10:30 AM