The race for Webb County Treasurer moves into high gear for the November **, 2002 general election as former Laredo City Council member Joe Guerra faces off with retired Webb County employee Delia Perales. Both candidates are native Laredoans and both are graduates of Martin High School.
Joe Guerra graduated from St. Mary's University in San Antonio in 1957 with a degree in biology and chemistry. He and his wife of 42 years, Josie Flores Guerra, have eight children -- Joe, Jr., Rebecca, Maya, Alfredo, Alfonso, Carlos, Monica, and Eugie. They also have eight grandchildren.
Guerra served on the Laredo City Council from 1994 to 2002, representing District VI. He is a former small business owner and now an investment portfolio manager.
Delia Perales has 10 years experience in administration in the Webb County Judge's office and 22 years experience in the Webb County auditor's office in personnel and accounting. She retired to run for the position of treasurer.
She is the single mother of four sons -- Robert, Rene, Rolando, and John -- and the grandmother of seven.

Tell me something that clearly distinguishes you from your opponent for Webb County Treasurer.
Joe Guerra: With my experience in the private sector, I have 41-plus years in being in business for myself. I can bring the knowledge and experience of not only preparing budgets and other financial documents but I also have experience in dealing with customers and employees at staff and administrative levels. I have experience in working with banks and other financial institutions along with suppliers, vendors, and other providers of goods and services. I also have had the experience of having to meet a payroll each week while balancing cash flow without raising prices, getting through difficult times in business by cutting expenses. I have served as an elected official, most recently from 1994 though 2002, as a Laredo City Council member. As a public servant, I did all possible to keep tax rates from increasing by implementing sound, prudent fiscal policies.

Delia Perales: I will bring a wealth of experience to the office of County Treasurer. I have the experience in actually putting numbers together. I worked 10 years in the County Judge's Office under two administrations and 22 years in the Webb County Auditor's Office under four administrations. One of my functions was compiling and balancing the now $90 million budget for the county judge. Besides implementing the salaries for all employees (approx. 1,500), I was the immediate assistant to the Auditor's Chief Accountant (CPA) and was instrumental in the preparation and balancing of the yearly financial report in which the county of Webb has received a Certificate of Achievement for excellence in financial reporting for the past 10 years. This is presented by the Government Finance Offices Association of the United Stares and Canada. I was the winner of the April 9 run-off election and after lengthy interviews regarding my experience I was endorsed by the Laredo Morning Times, Laredo Police Association, and the Laredo Firefighters Association. If elected, no one will have to teach me, I know the job and I will put the pencil to work immediately.

What skills would you bring to the job of Webb County Treasurer?
Guerra: While serving a City Council member I also served on the Audit Committee and gained a great deal of experience in finance by having done so. The audit committee is involved in studying and scrutinizing the comprehensive annual financial report of the city along with the city's internal and external auditors and the finance director in order to present to City Council a comprehensive and balanced report for their approval. Along with two other council members who served on this committee, I was able to acquire a wealth of experience, which I intend to bring to the position of Webb County Treasurer.

Perales: I have taken numerous classes in computers. The best skill that I carry is that I know the existing computer programs for Webb County. I obtained a three-month training by the certified Public Accountant Firm of Gonzalez and Farias on a complete package of the computer system. I know the system and can make many enhancements that are badly needed.

What lifetime experiences best qualify you for the job of Webb County Treasurer?
Guerra: I think my life's expriences in business and as an elected public servant well qualify me for the job of treasurer. I have studied numerous courses through years in the field of accounting, in the fields of money management and banking, and in monetary investment. My private sector experiences as a head of household, taxpayer, property owner, and business owner coupled with my auditing and budget experience in the public sector make me the best choice for treasurer.

Perales: My lifetime experience was in the Auditor's Office where I learned budgets. I was the first employee in the Auditor's Office to implement a "Budget Book" in 1982, which is the first one recorded at the County Clerk's Office. My experience in working with computers has become very valuable.

How will you keep politics from playing a role in the execution of your job as Treasurer?
Guerra: The fact that I don't run with the crowd plus that I am a proven non-controversial public servant keeps politics in the distance. I think I am known to be a dedicated public servant who is beholden to no one. These things would allow me to keep politics away from the position of Webb County Treasurer.

Perales: I have been running this campaign since day one on my own, based on my 22 years' experience. I intend to make a decisions based on my own conscience and in the best interest of the people of Webb County.

What could be done as County Treasurer to ease the burden on the beleagured taxpayers of Webb County? How would you implement such a plan?
Guerra: First of all the budget surplus that presently exists in the Webb County Treasury belongs to the taxpayers and not necessarily to the County of Webb. Instead of having to raise taxes year after year, I would be more in favor of returning the money to its rightful owners, the taxpayers of Webb County. This can be accomplished with more efficient business-like practices in the different county departments. Of course, all this would have to happen with the concurrence of the county judge and commissioners.

Perales: I believe I that the Commissioners Court should keeping a tight and strict budget, and also freeze expenditures at the last quarter of the fiscal year by approving emergency purchases only. Not filling in an open position during the last three months would have a saving in money. Also to work in obtaining projects that will generate revenue by this keeping, the current tax rate more stable.

Are you satisfied with the status quo or do you think Webb County could run more efficiently?
Guerra: No, I am not satisfied with the status quo because I have always believed that the government should be a servant to the people and not the other way around. Public servants should pay close attention the comments and suggestions of the taxpayers and act accordingly when possible and not pay lip service to their requests.

Perales: I believe at the present time the county is running pretty smooth. The county has an "A" rating with a good fund balance, which gives us a good interest rate. The debt service for the county is presently approximately $90 million. However, I am a great believer that there is always room for improvement and it is healthy to bring new ideas for the county and more special skills by different people.

What about the practice of sidebills? What would you do to avoid this inequitable practice that hurts vendors and discourages them from doing business with Webb County?
Guerra: I intend to put a stop to this practice when I take office by working closely with the purchasing director to make sure that all items and services that the county purchases are authorized and payed for within at least 30 days from the date of purchase. I will make it a policy to encourage vendors, especially local vendors, to participate in the bidding process with the county so that we can have a mutually profitable business relationship.

Perales: I don't believe there should be any sidebills at all. The matter should be resolved right there and then and run them along with all current payments. I plan to have a position control in the accounts payable programs as to when a vendor is paid we will have an immediate report showing how many more payments are due to this particular vendor so that we may act immediately on the problem. I will recommend that the Treasurer's Office, Auditor's Office, and the Purchasing Department hold special seminars with all supervisors in every office to keep them abreast of how to prepare the complete paperwork for payments. I have visited several vendors during my campaign and have promised them that I personally will look into this important matter. We must realize that the vendors also have their own bills to pay.

Why do you suppose the underserved areas of Webb County have been left to their own devices, areas like El Cenizo and Río Bravo? What economic aid plan would you recommend to the Commissioners Court to help those areas with fire, police, and emergency services?
Guerra: The underserved areas of Webb County are not just El Cenizo and Río Bravo. There are other areas not receiving adequate services such as garbage collection, health services, and emergency services. One only needs to drive out through these areas to see standing ponds of water that breed mosquitoes and other infectious insects. In these two areas I plan to work closely with the City of Laredo through interlocal agreements to improve the quality of life and conditions such as public health and garbage disposal. I will also suggest to the Webb county commissioners and county judge to seek grants from the state and federal government so that these areas can have adequate fire, police, and emergency services. In the area of water and waste water I will continue to request that the commissioners court continue to work closely with the different state and federal agencies so that these areas can be adequately served with safe drinking water and an adequate waste water disposal system.

Perales: Since the areas of El Cenizo and Rio Bravo are incorporated communities they generate their own tax dollars. However, in situations of hardship the City and County could collaborate in maybe funding them on a third party basis to assist them. The County has been instrumental in helping these communities out on an emergency basis with refuse trucks, dump trucks, and other items.