Paul Guerra
Paul Guerra is a member of the Socorro Independent School District school board in Texas, representing District 4. His current term ends in 2029.
Guerra ran for re-election to the Socorro Independent School District school board to represent District 4 in Texas. He won in the general election on May 3, 2025.
Elections
2025
See also: Socorro Independent School District, Texas, elections (2025)
General election
General election for Socorro Independent School District, District 4
Incumbent Paul Guerra defeated Caryn Gonzalez and Raul Villalobos in the general election for Socorro Independent School District, District 4 on May 3, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Paul Guerra (Nonpartisan) | 45.5 | 255 |
 | Caryn Gonzalez (Nonpartisan) | 33.0 | 185 | |
| Raul Villalobos (Nonpartisan) | 21.4 | 120 | ||
| Total votes: 560 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Guerra received the following endorsements.
2021
See also: Socorro Independent School District, Texas, elections (2021)
General election
General election for Socorro Independent School District, District 4
Incumbent Paul Guerra defeated Jaime Martinez in the general election for Socorro Independent School District, District 4 on May 1, 2021.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Paul Guerra (Nonpartisan) | 65.3 | 489 |
| Jaime Martinez (Nonpartisan) | 34.7 | 260 | ||
| Total votes: 749 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
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2017
Four of the seven seats on the Socorro Independent School District board of trustees in Texas were up for general election on May 6, 2017. In their bids for re-election to the board, District 2 incumbent Cynthia Najera, District 3 incumbent Angelica Rodriguez, and District 5 incumbent Gary Gandara were unopposed. Because of this, the races for those seats were canceled, and the three incumbents were re-elected to their seats by default. In the one contested race, District 4 incumbent Paul Guerra defeated challengers David Morales and Dennis Redd.[1][2][3]
Results
| Socorro Independent School District, District 4 General Election, 4-year term, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Paul Guerra Incumbent |
50.15% | 330 |
| Dennis Redd | 25.38% | 167 |
| David Morales | 24.47% | 161 |
| Total Votes | 658 | |
| Source: El Paso County Elections, "May 6, 2017 - Official Final Election Results," accessed June 6, 2017 | ||
Funding
Guerra reported $5,378.00 in contributions and $3,502.42 in expenditures to the Socorro Independent School District, which left his campaign with $1,875.58 on hand as of April 27, 2017.[4]
2013
Paul Guerra was unopposed for the District 2 seat. He was declared elected to a four-year term by the board on March 26, 2013.[5]
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Paul Guerra did not complete Ballotpedia's 2025 Candidate Connection survey.
2021
Paul Guerra did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
2017
Guerra participated in the following survey conducted by the El Paso Times. The questions provided by the El Paso Times are bolded, and Guerra's responses appear below.
What experiences in leadership do you have that qualify you to serve as a school trustee?
| “ | I am currently serving on the SISD Board of Trustees for the past seven years, I served as Board President for one term and Board Secretary for two terms and I am serving my second term as Vice-President. I have served on the Planning and Zoning Committee for the City of Socorro and the Parks and Recreation Board for the City of Socorro. Served on the SISD Scholarship Foundation, Bond Accountability Committee for SISD and served on the March of Dime and currently serve on the Make A Wish Foundation.[6] | ” |
| —Paul Guerra (April 21, 2017)[7] | ||
What is motivating you to run for a school board trustee seat?
| “ | My motivation to continue running for the board is to be a part of moving our community forward by enriching the lives of our youth and preparing them for a sound, safe and secure future. My motivation comes from sitting at every graduation at the end of May and seeing the pride and accomplishments, listening to their speeches of triumphs and obstacles that led up to those moments. My motivation comes from the joy I see at the Butler Special Olympics and all those smiling faces and teachers by their student’s side. My motivation reasons are many.[6] | ” |
| —Paul Guerra (April 21, 2017)[7] | ||
Describe the impact you expect to make on the strategic direction of the school district and how does your specific personal experience support that expectation?
| “ | SISD’s strategic directions are Safe and Supportive Learning Environment; College and Career readiness; Highly Qualified and Effective faculty and Staff; Home, School, Community Partnerships; and Accountability for All. While serving on the SISD Board, I have been instrumental in the district’s progress in strengthening security measures; expanding the dual credit program, which has saved students $6 million in college tuition; increased our early college high school programs to three, with the fourth opening next year. Also, the SISD Board has ensured we have highly qualified and effective faculty and staff by supporting professional development and providing a partnership with UTEP and EPCC to offer graduate courses conveniently and a dual credit scholarship program to cover the cost for teachers to earn their dual credit course teaching credentials. We also have supported the launched of a district mobile app, Twitter and Instagram to promote the district.[6] | ” |
| —Paul Guerra (April 21, 2017)[7] | ||
Trustees, as elected by specific district, must act and govern for the entire school district, not just advocate for the schools within their particular geography. Describe a time when you had to balance potentially conflicting priorities with multiple stakeholders, and how did you determine how to allocate resources and investment to meet the needs of all?
| “ | In the past, you would often hear people refer to 'north of the freeway versus south of the freeway.' Since I have been on the Board that statement has never come up, as a matter of fact we have always made sure that we are providing an equitable education for all students whether north or south of the freeway. For example, this is true when it came to upgrading the HVAC system at our schools and installing security cameras at all our campuses.[6] | ” |
| —Paul Guerra (April 21, 2017)[7] | ||
The role and responsibility of a trustee is governance, oversight, and setting policy. Tell us about your experience in honoring the scope of responsibility in a past role. How did you make sure you did not cross over into the tactical execution of another person’s responsibility in the organization?
| “ | We always have to follow protocol and procedures while allowing for community voices to be heard. When a teacher has an issue with their principal and they give a Board member a call, we have to make sure they follow the chain of command before the Board member may get involved. If the Board member receives any information they pass it on to the Superintendent and we ask him to look into the situation and follow up with the Board once they have done their investigation.[6] | ” |
| —Paul Guerra (April 21, 2017)[7] | ||
Attracting and retaining talented educators is critical to the success of a healthy school district. Describe your past experience as a leader supporting the broad strategy of identifying, selecting, and retaining top talent.
| “ | Since I have been on the Board, we have always given our teachers and staff a raise and have maintained competitive wages. We have many support systems in place to give teachers and staff guidance to succeed. For example, we have a new teacher induction program to support incoming educators to the district and a new teacher / mentor teacher program called Becoming a Friend for Tomorrow’s Future to give teachers continued support during their inaugural year.[6] | ” |
| —Paul Guerra (April 21, 2017)[7] | ||
Describe your experience in managing large, complex budgets.
| “ | I was involved in the 2011 bond program, a voter approved $297.4 million dollars program that brought many needed and appreciated improvements to the district. Our slogan was “Promises Made, Promises Kept,” which we delivered as the program was completed on time and under budget. We had a bond savings of $37.4 million dollars that have allowed for more improvements without burdening taxpayers.[6] | ” |
| —Paul Guerra (April 21, 2017)[7] | ||
Have you ever been arrested or charged with a crime? Have you ever had a civil judgment against you? Have you ever been in arrears on local, state or federal taxes? If so, please provide an explanation.
| “ | No, I have not been arrested or charged with a crime.[6] | ” |
| —Paul Guerra (April 21, 2017)[7] | ||
If elected, would you have any potential conflicts of interest that you are aware of that would impair your ability to serve as a school board trustee? Please explain.
| “ | No, I would not have potential conflicts of interest that may impair my ability to serve as a school Board Trustee.[6] | ” |
| —Paul Guerra (April 21, 2017)[7] | ||
What education innovations would you advocate as a trustee?
| “ | Our free early college high school programs and dual credit classes give our students great opportunities to get ahead in college and save them money. A goal in SISD is to have an early college high school program at every high school.
We are on track with three in place and a fourth to open next school year. Dual credit classes have saved our students over $6 million in college tuition last school year.[6] |
” |
| —Paul Guerra (April 21, 2017)[7] | ||
Please describe your education. Where did you get your high school diploma? What higher education degrees and certificates have you earned?
| “ | I went to Thomas Jefferson High School and received my Bachelor of Science at the University of Texas at El Paso and post graduate in Business Administration.[6] | ” |
| —Paul Guerra (April 21, 2017)[7] | ||
Do you have other remarks you would like to share about your candidacy?
| “ | As a former educator, husband of an educator and father of 13-year-old triplets, my vision for this district is limitless. I am committed 110% to providing the highest quality education for all students regardless of their social or economic status. I strongly believe that every child is a priceless commodity, and if we invest in their education, we are investing in our community and future. The most important thing I want the public to know is that I am a child advocate and I am A Voice for Education.[6] | ” |
| —Paul Guerra (April 21, 2017)[7] | ||
See also
2025 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Socorro Independent School District, District 4 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ El Paso County Elections Department, "Sample Ballot: Socorro ISD (PDF)," accessed April 12, 2017
- ↑ Socorro Independent School District, "Board of Trustees Election: May 6, 2017," accessed February 21, 2017
- ↑ El Paso County Elections, "May 6, 2017 - Uniform Election Unofficial Final Election Results," accessed May 6, 2017
- ↑ Socorro Independent School District, "Candidate/Officeholder Campaign Finance Reports," accessed May 1, 2017
- ↑ Socorro Independent School District, "MINUTES REGULAR BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING," May 21, 2013
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 El Paso Times, "Get to know the SISD District No. 4 candidates," April 21, 2017
