Donald Margo

Donald Margo

Prior offices

Texas House of Representatives District 78

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Mayor of El Paso

Successor: Oscar Leeser

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Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last election

December 12, 2020

Education

High school

Huntsville High School

Bachelor's

Vanderbilt University

Personal

Profession

Insurance Executive

Contact

Personal website

Donald Margo (also known as Dee) was the Mayor of El Paso in Texas. Margo assumed office on June 27, 2017. Margo left office on January 5, 2021.

Margo ran for re-election for Mayor of El Paso in Texas. Margo lost in the general runoff election on December 12, 2020.

Margo was previously a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing the 78th District from 2011 to 2013. He defeated incumbent Joe Moody (D) for the seat in the 2010 election. Moody then won the seat against Margo in 2012.

He was also a 2008 Republican candidate for the 78th state House District seat and a 2006 Republican candidate for the 29th District seat in the Texas State Senate.

Biography

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Margo earned a B.A. in history and economics from Vanderbilt University.

At the time of his 2017 run for office, Margo was the owner of Margo Partners. His professional experience includes work as the owner of the insurance firm John D. Williams Company. He has also served as the president of the El Paso Independent School District Board of Managers, a member of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Oversight Committee, a civilian aide to the secretary of the U.S. Army, the founder of Operation Noel, and the chair of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce and the Young Presidents Organization International Board.

Elections

2020

See also: Mayoral election in El Paso, Texas (2020)

General runoff election

General runoff election for Mayor of El Paso

Oscar Leeser defeated incumbent Donald Margo in the general runoff election for Mayor of El Paso on December 12, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Oscar Leeser (Nonpartisan)	79.5	43,182
		Donald Margo (Nonpartisan)	20.5	11,108

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 54,290
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for Mayor of El Paso

The following candidates ran in the general election for Mayor of El Paso on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Oscar Leeser (Nonpartisan)	42.6	92,700
✔		Donald Margo (Nonpartisan)	24.6	53,606
		Veronica Carbajal (Nonpartisan)	21.7	47,299
	Submit photo	Carlos Gallinar (Nonpartisan)	7.4	16,197
	Submit photo	Dean Martinez (Nonpartisan)	1.9	4,233
	Submit photo	Calvin Zielsdorf (Nonpartisan)	1.6	3,449

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 217,484
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2017

See also: Municipal elections in El Paso, Texas (2017)

The city of El Paso, Texas, held a general election for mayor and city council on May 6, 2017. Runoff elections for mayor and city council and a special election for city council were held on June 10, 2017. The filing deadline for the May election was February 17 and the filing deadline for the June special election was May 1, 2017.

Mayor Oscar Leeser did not run for re-election in 2017. His seat and the city council seats in District 2, 3, 4, and 7 were up for regular election. The June special election, which advanced to a runoff on July 15, filled the vacancy created by the resignation of District 8 Councilwoman Cortney Niland. Donald Margo defeated David Saucedo in the runoff election for mayor of El Paso.

Mayor of El Paso, Runoff Election, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Donald Margo	57.00%	17,154
David Saucedo	43.00%	12,941
Total Votes		30,095
Source: El Paso County Elections, "Official Final Election Results," accessed June 29, 2017

The following candidates ran in the general election for mayor of El Paso.

Mayor of El Paso, General Election, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Donald Margo	45.31%	14,918
David Saucedo	23.95%	7,885
Emma Acosta	15.92%	5,240
Elisa Morales	5.60%	1,845
William Cager Jr.	4.22%	1,388
Jaime Perez	2.89%	952
Charles Stapler	1.25%	412
Jorge Artalejo	0.85%	281
Total Votes		32,921
Source: El Paso County Elections, "Official Final Election Results," accessed May 23, 2017

Click [show] on the right for information about other elections in which this candidate ran.

2012 See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2012 Margo ran for re-election in the 2012 election for Texas House of Representatives, District 78. Margo ran unopposed in the May 29 primary election and was defeated by Joe Moody (D) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012. Texas House of Representatives, District 78, General Election, 2012 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Joe Moody 53.8% 22,650      Republican Dee Margo Incumbent 46.2% 19,430 Total Votes 42,080 2010 See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2010 Margo won election to Texas House of Representatives District 78 in 2010. He defeated Jay Kleberg and L. Rene Diaz in the March 2 Republican primary. He then defeated incumbent Democratic candidate Joseph Moody in the November 2 general election. Texas House of Representatives, District 78, General Election, 2010 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Republican Dee Margo 52.4% 15,337      Democratic Joe Moody Incumbent 47.6% 13,927 Total Votes 29,264 2008 On November 4, 2008, Margo lost election to the Texas House of Representatives from Texas' 78th District, to opponent Joseph Moody. Moody received 26,176 votes in the election while Margo received 22,918 votes, and Collins (L) received 1,706 votes. Moody raised $708,548 for his campaign; Margo raised $1,073,457. Texas House of Representatives, District 78, General Election, 2008 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Joe Moody 51.5% 26,176      Republican Dee Margo 45.1% 22,918      Libertarian Bill Collins 3.4% 1,706 Total Votes 50,800 2006 On Nov. 7, 2006, Margo lost election to the 29th District Seat in the Texas State Senate, to incumbent Eliot Shapleigh (D). Shapleigh raised $844,589 for his campaign while Margo raised $1,008,811. Texas State Senate, District 29, General Election, 2006 Party Candidate Vote % Votes      Democratic Eliot Shapleigh Incumbent 58.8% 51,531      Republican Dee Margo 41.2% 36,127 Total Votes 87,658

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Donald Margo did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2017

Margo's campaign website highlighted the following issue:

“	EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN Disparities in pay based on gender should not be an issue in the year 2017 and the City of El Paso should set the example for our region. I support equal pay for equal work and feel very strongly that each and every job made available at the City should be open to the person that is best qualified. We all have innate qualities and talents that make us stand out in particular areas and this should be harvested for the best fit. An underlying factor of creating more parity in the work place between genders is education. Education is fundamental to equal pay for equal work and I will continue to support education as the Mayor of El Paso.	”
—Dee Margo's campaign website, (2017)

CityBeat Magazine asked the 2017 mayoral candidates what their first priority would be if they were elected. Margo said the following:

“

El Paso is on the cusp of tremendous growth and I want to provide strong leadership to city council, so we can have a successful governing body who holds management accountable. I believe the Mayor should be an ambassador for jobs so we can continue with the momentum of job creation. As CEO of JDW insurance, I grew the company from six to seventy employees in 30 years, and I have successfully worked with the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce and REDCo (now Borderplex Alliance) to recruit companies to our community. Education is also key to our success, and we must work with our school districts to ensure our students are prepared to succeed in the workforce. We also need a better grasp of our tax dollars and how they are spent. I am committed to strengthening city oversight and board accountability in many of our partner institutions, to ensure we get the most of our tax dollars. I focus on results."

”

2012

Margo's campaign website highlighted the following issues:

“

TAXES Dee Margo is committed to fiscally conservative policies and will work tirelessly to keep taxes and state spending low. If additional state spending is deemed necessary, such funds should come from the existing surplus or from reduced spending in other areas – not tax increases. He believes low taxes are invariably the best means – in both the long and short term – to create jobs and stimulate the economy. Property Taxes Dee will work to cut property taxes for all Texans. Such reductions will help everyone: homeowners, renters, and businesses. Property Taxes are already too high, and growing. El Paso residential property owners are 60% of our tax base. Only two states in the nation rely more on property taxes than we do. This hurts investment and discourages development. Dee supports placing a lower cap on annual increases in property tax appraisals. The current 10 percent cap can allow an appraisal to double in only eight short years. This “appraisal creep” in Texas is rising far faster than population growth or salary increases. Dee believes we need a rational and consistent appraisal system and local Appraisers should be elected officials, accountable to taxpayers. State Income Tax A state income tax is not the answer for Texas, as some in the Legislature propose. Texas is one of only seven states without a state income tax, and the overwhelming evidence shows that the states without are doing far better economically than the states with. Dee Margo is vigorously opposed to a state income tax, which would reduce the money in your pocket, lead to increased government spending, and hurt the Texas economy. Sales Taxes Dee believes our economic strength comes from our state’s reliance on sales taxes, which fairly tax citizens at all income levels and allow for growth and investment. He supports the current sales tax exemption on food and medicine, and is opposed to any effort to expand sales taxes to include these product categories in the future. HEALTH CARE Dee believes the well being of our families, especially our children, should be a given and not a variable. Primary health care is one path to self-determination and improving our community’s economic independence and global competitiveness. Dee has met with many physicians and administrators from the Paul Foster Texas Tech Medical School, the University Medical Center of El Paso, doctors treating El Pasoans on a daily basis, and with health care leaders around the state. Dee has relied on these discussions and his over 30 years of experience to develop a comprehensive health care plan for all El Pasoans. Medical Malpractice Liability Dee Margo believes that Texas should continue to protect its physicians and health care professionals from frivolous lawsuits, and he will file and support legislation that continues lawsuit reform, including annual evaluations of Texas’ medical malpractice liability insurance costs. By keeping costs under control and reducing frivolous lawsuits, more Texans will be covered by health insurance who would otherwise be uninsured. Streamlining Physician and Health Care Licensing Dee Margo will support legislation that eliminates bureaucratic delays in order to enable physicians and health care professionals that have existing credentials and/or are transferring their credentials to receive their professional licenses within a reasonable period of time. Dental School at the Four-Year Texas Tech Medical School Dee Margo believes Texas should support and fund the expansion of the Texas Tech Medical School in El Paso, and enable the dental school to partner with the other institutions, such as the El Paso Community College, on the campus of the Medical Center of the Americas. Dee will work to get the necessary resources to complete the third building at the Texas Tech Medical Health Sciences Center, in addition to addressing the future needs of the dental and pharmacy schools, and the nursing school that’s already been established. Medical Center of the Americas Dee Margo will ensure Texas continues its investment in the Medical Center of the Americas (MCA). Dee believes we have to enable this campus, which is comprised of numerous facilities, to fully develop into the 21st century epicenter for health research, delivery of health services, health education, and economic development for not only the El Paso region, but for the entirety of the Americas. The MCA is currently comprised of, but not limited to: R.E. Thomason Hospital; Texas Tech Health Science Center-Four Year Medical School; Psychiatric Center; Office of the Medical Examiner and Forensic Laboratory; Texas Department of Human Services; West Texas Regional Poison Center; Maxine L. Silva Magnet High School of Health Care Professions; and El Paso City/County Health Administration. Centers of Excellence at the Four-Year Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine Dee Margo will make sure Texas continues its funding for the four-year medical school at Texas Tech’s El Paso campus, and enable the four-year medical school to establish centers of excellence for exponential expansion of the capital investment and the creation of jobs at the medical school’s campus. The medical school’s centers of excellence should focus on: research and expertise in Hispanic health care issues; a joint venture with William Beaumont Army Medical Center for advanced research and treatment of the Army’s service personnel and their dependents; and the establishment of globally competitive research facilities on infectious diseases and other diseases such as diabetes. Hispanic Health Issues Dee Margo will work to ensure that the Medical Center of the Americas receives adequate funding to be the leader in researching and addressing health issues particular to Hispanics. The MCA, as a center of excellence and innovation focused on Hispanic health issues, will create jobs, increase the capital investment in our community, and provide specialty health care for our region and beyond. Community Partners Dee Margo will support and help pass legislation that will encourage partnerships with the MCA and other regional institutions including: UTEP College of Health Sciences (School of Nursing) and Rehabilitation Sciences; El Paso Community College School of Nursing; VA Health Care System; University of Houston School of Public Health; Universidad Autónoma de Juarez, Facultad de Medicina; and New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Dee Margo will support legislation that will reduce barriers to CHIP and Medicaid enrollment, increase public outreach, and ensure that CHIP has greater transparency for taxpayers, legislators, and consumers. Furthermore, taxpayers must have the confidence that CHIP has instituted the highest financial controls to ensure that CHIP performs to the highest standards possible for the people it serves. Affordable Health Insurance for Business Dee Margo will work to help create a less regulated market, and expand waivers for insurance carriers to develop flexible health plans for small employers. Furthermore, Dee believes we need to continue amending the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool and/or provide other opportunities to allow small employers to purchase health insurance through a pool. Financial Aid Incentives for Students Enrolled in Health Care Programs at Texas Institutions of Higher Education Dee Margo believes our state should create scholarships and work-study partnerships for students at public colleges and universities who obtain their degrees in medical professions and agree to work in historically underserved areas and populations of Texas for a specific period of time. Economic Incentives for Health Care Industry Dee Margo believes Texas should create a recruitment and retention program that would reduce interest rates for student loans for health care professionals who relocate and invest a specific period of time in historically underserved areas of the state. STATE SPENDING Dee Margo is committed to reining in out-of-control state spending. He is a proponent of a smaller, more efficient government. He believes state leaders are responsible for setting clear priorities to decide where money should be spent. This includes evaluating the missions, benefits, and successes of current programs to determine whether continued expenditures are warranted. Dee seeks to revise state expenditure limits so that our government bureaucracy does not automatically grow as the state experiences economic prosperity. Our current expenditures needlessly outpace both population growth and inflation. Dee will fight for greater transparency and line item specificity in state budgets. He believes taxpayers deserve to see exactly where their money is going, and supports the recently-passed legislation to make state expenditures available online. Dee believes the growth of state and local spending needs to be limited to population growth plus inflation, and voters should approve any expenditure above the appropriations limit. The government should protect the taxpayers who shoulder the burden of funding government. EDUCATION Dee Margo will demand local control of schools and make sure our children are learning at grade level and prepared to succeed in life. The Texas education system costs over $10,000 annually per student. Our education spending outpaces enrollment and inflation, and we must begin holding schools accountable for where and how money is spent. Dee will work hard to see more dollars reach the classroom, focused on student instruction rather than general and administrative costs. He will fight for policies that produce greater student achievement in the crucial areas of math, reading, and science. He will build up state curriculums and strengthen standards that effectively prepare students for college. Dee will work toward an education system that leaves no child behind. He will work to ensure that all students who qualify for early childhood education (Pre-K) have access to it. He will strive to improve performance among students whose second language is English, and will support new and expanded high school dropout prevention programs, and greater parental involvement. Dee will work toward finding ways to compensate teachers based on performance and allow for more differentiated pay with an emphasis on results. ENVIRONMENT Dee Margo will work hard to protect our natural resources, encourage conservation, and ensure Texas remains a friendly state for sportsmen. He is committed to protecting our water supply, pushing for more electricity from renewable sources, and offering local incentives for pollution reduction and clean energy. ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION Dee Margo will reduce illegal immigration by working closely with local and federal law enforcement to stop drugs and human traffickers from illegally crossing our borders. While the federal government bears ultimate responsibility for border security, effective reforms will never be possible without the full support and cooperation of state and local entities. Illegal immigration affects all Americans, but it is a particularly relevant issue for those who live in border cities such as El Paso. Dee understands the important role the Mexican border plays in the Texas economy. He will work to protect the substantial international trade resulting from imports and exports across the Rio Grande – while ensuring this vital source of commerce remains legal and safe. He will encourage the federal government to pursue immigration policies that give equal treatment to visitors from Mexico and Canada. He will seek full parity in the granting of visas for those who wish to lawfully enter the United States from either of our neighboring countries. Ending illegal immigration will benefit all El Pasoans by enhancing public safety, reducing the cost of health care, and cutting the cost of public education. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND BORDER CONTROL We must continue to apply pressure to the Federal Government to assist Mexico in their border drug war to make sure there is no spill over into our community. According to FBI statistics, El Paso is the second safest city in the Nation and the El Paso Police Department must be properly equipped and funded in order to maintain the safety of El Paso residents. We must continue to protect our borders due to growing concern regarding Middle Eastern Terrorists using Mexico as a gateway to the U.S. Maintaining troops at Fort Bliss assists in the protection of our border.

”

Committee assignments

2011-2012

Dee Margo served on the following Texas House of Representatives committees:

• Appropriations Committee
• Land & Resource Management Committee
• Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V, Select Committee

Campaign finance summary

Ballotpedia currently provides campaign finance data for all federal- and state-level candidates from 2020 and later. We are continuously working to expand our data to include prior elections. That information will be published here as we acquire it. If you would like to help us provide this data, please consider donating to Ballotpedia.

Noteworthy events

Events and activity following the death of George Floyd

See also: Events following the death of George Floyd and responses in select cities from May 29-31, 2020

Margo was mayor of El Paso during the weekend of May 29-31, 2020, when events and activity took place in cities across the U.S. following the death of George Floyd. Events in El Paso, Texas, began on Sunday, May 31, 2020, at the El Paso Police Department headquarters. No curfews were issued. The national guard was not deployed.

To read more about the death of George Floyd and subsequent events, click [show] to the right.

On May 25, 2020, Minneapolis police officers arrested Floyd, a Black man, after receiving a call that he had made a purchase with a counterfeit $20 bill. Floyd died after Derek Chauvin, a White officer, arrived at the scene and pressed his knee onto Floyd's neck as Floyd laid face-down on the street in handcuffs. Both the Hennepin County Medical Examiner and an independent autopsy conducted by Floyd's family ruled Floyd's death as a homicide stemming from the incident. The medical examiner's report, prepared by Dr. Michael Baden and Dr. Allecia Wilson, said that it was "not a legal determination of culpability or intent, and should not be used to usurp the judicial process." On April 20, 2021, Chauvin was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in relation to Floyd's death. Floyd's death was filmed and shared widely, leading to activity regarding racism, civil rights, and police use of force. The first events took place in Minneapolis-St. Paul on May 26. An event in Chicago organized by Chance the Rapper and Rev. Michael Pfleger took place the same day, making it the first major city outside of Minneapolis to host an event in response to Floyd's death.

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Oscar Leeser	Mayor of El Paso 2017 - 2021	Succeeded by Oscar Leeser
Preceded by Joseph Moody (D)	Texas House of Representatives District 78 2011-2013	Succeeded by Joseph Moody (D)