A LETTER FROM JOE

If elected, I will represent all neighborhoods in the city because I come from a community that does not have representation accountable to the residents in East and Southeast Austin.

I am running for office as a candidate from a geographic district – to prove that our neighborhood does not have the representation that it needs or deserves.

The Hispanic community has outgrown the current system of electing the entire council to at-large positions. The system also known as the “gentlemen’s agreement” allows for only one Hispanic seat on council and also determines which Hispanic will win by forcing all of the candidates for that seat to run at-large.

It’s an insult that a community at almost 40% of the Austin population is allowed only 1 seat, but for now, we would be lucky, if we could just elect the candidate of our choice for the seat given to us by the “gentlemen’s agreement.”

But, we can’t!

The last time the East Austin Hispanic neighborhood voted for someone who actually grew up in the neighborhood was when Johnny Trevino won.

Since then and up to modern times the liberal environmental community, west of Lamar, has made sure that ‘their’ choice for the Hispanic place on council gets elected by relocating their candidate to a residence in East Austin and then putting the force of their political machine behind that candidate to ensure their victory.

The list of moderate to major attempts by Hispanic/Latino candidates backed by neighborhood groups or Hispanic
organizations and Hispanic leaders to get elected is long and somewhat tragic and has proven one major point. Hispanics don’t have the representation it needs and deserves, nor does it have the representation of its own choosing because of the method of choosing candidates at-large.

Hispanics could not even get the President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce elected, Eliza May who ran against the liberal environmental group’s choice, (Mike Martinez), much less grassroots candidates, like Gavino Fernandez, Diana Casteneda, or Sam Guzman etc.

The current “Hispanic Representative” and my opponent has already moved out of the neighborhood as did Alvarez before him, but the neighborhood is left suffering under the effects of the decisions made by them as it relates to land use planning.

ABOUT JOE

Jose “Joe Q” Quintero is running for City Council, Place 2 to advocate for all neighborhoods and to ensure representation to meet the needs of the largest growing workforce and demographic group in Austin – Hispanics.

Work Experience: Jose “Joe Q” Quintero a native East Austin resident. HE attended Austin public schools and graduated of Johnston High School. Soon after, he obtained his Texas Real Estate license. Joe was employed at HAAS Publishing Company, a member of the Austin Apartment Association (AAA), Texas Apartment Association and the National Apartment Association.

Community Service:

• Former member of Brooks and Sanchez Elementary PTA
• Member of A.B. Cantu Pan American boxing team
• Member of Lowell Leberman’s Austin Texas – Semi-Pro Football Team
• Founding member of the Greater East Austin Youth League
• President of the Greater East Austin Neighborhood Association
• Member of Mayor’s Task Force on Youth
• Volunteer on Ministries Youth Outreach Programs
• Member of Citizens on Patrol in East Austin
• Volunteer in the Travis County ATCAP (Austin-Travis County Children’s Advocacy Program)
• Student at Grace Bible Institute
• Midnight Basketball Program for Youth at risk, A.B. Cantu Pan American Center
• Citizen participation on City of Austin Planning
• Commission sub-committee on rezoning