El Paso City Representative District 8 · Nov 3, 2026
Chris Canales
Candidate for City Representative District 8 (incumbent)
Chris Canales, the incumbent, is running for El Paso City Representative District 8 in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Arturo Alluin, Laura Ochoa-Todd, Johnny J. Gonzalez and Matthew Guzman.
Deadline to register to vote · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
TodayDistrict 8 city representative since January 2023; professional soccer referee. Previously worked in natural resources management and green-sector consulting; degree in sustainable development from Columbia University.
- Campaign website
- cityrepchriscanales.com
Where Chris Canales stands: positions on the record
Property taxes1 sourced position
Voted yes on the ordinance adopting a property tax rate of 79.8 cents per $100, which the minutes describe as a 6.76% increase in the tax rate (passed 6-2, Aug. 2026).
Council voteCity Council minutes, Aug. 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026
City budget2 sourced positions
Voted yes on the final FY2027 budget motion, which cut $6,495,971 from the proposed budget (passed 6-2, Aug. 2026).
Council voteCity Council minutes, Aug. 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026
Moved to approve the FY2027 budget as proposed by the city manager; the motion failed 3-5 (Aug. 2026).
Council voteCity Council minutes, Aug. 18, 2026 · Aug 18, 2026
Meta data center2 sourced positions
Voted yes on directing the city manager and city attorney to begin negotiations to end the Chapter 380 incentive agreement with Wurldwide LLC and Meta Platforms (failed 3-5, June 2026).
Council voteCity Council minutes, June 9, 2026 · Jun 9, 2026
Voted yes on directing the city manager and city attorney to draft a legally enforceable community agreement with Meta covering water and electric safeguards, ratepayer protection and local hiring (passed 8-0, June 2026).
Council voteCity Council minutes, June 23, 2026 · Jun 23, 2026
Data centers2 sourced positions
Moved the policy that future hyperscale data centers should not be recruited or offered city incentives (passed 8-0, May 2026).
Council voteCity Council minutes, May 26, 2026 · May 26, 2026
answer to the El Paso Times candidate questionnaire
Does not want the city to consider hyperscale AI data center projects at all; says he voted for the Data Center Policy Framework.
“I do not want the City entertaining those projects at all.”
Own statementEl Paso Times candidate questionnaire · Sep 15, 2026
Deck Plaza2 sourced positions
Moved to approve a non-binding memorandum of understanding among the city, the county and the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation (passed 7-1, April 2026).
Council voteCity Council minutes, April 14, 2026 · Apr 14, 2026
answer to the El Paso Times candidate questionnaire
Does not support moving forward with the Deck Plaza under present circumstances or asking taxpayers to cover its funding gap.
“I do not support moving forward with the proposed Downtown Deck Plaza under present circumstances”
Own statementEl Paso Times candidate questionnaire · Sep 15, 2026
Economic incentives1 sourced position
answer to the El Paso Times candidate questionnaire
Supports incentives only with a clear public benefit, strict performance requirements and clawbacks.
“Yes, but very selectively.”
Own statementEl Paso Times candidate questionnaire · Sep 15, 2026
License plate cameras1 sourced position
Moved the item directing removal of all Flock Safety license plate reader cameras on city property within 60 days (passed 8-0, Sept. 2026).
Council voteCity Council minutes, Sept. 15, 2026 · Sep 15, 2026
What Chris Canales said vs. how Chris Canales voted
Data centers
In their words
Does not want the city to consider hyperscale AI data center projects at all; says he voted for the Data Center Policy Framework.
Sep 15, 2026 ·answer to the El Paso Times candidate questionnaire ·El Paso Times candidate questionnaire · Sep 15, 2026
On the record
Moved the policy that future hyperscale data centers should not be recruited or offered city incentives (passed 8-0, May 2026).
May 26, 2026 ·City Council minutes, May 26, 2026 · May 26, 2026
Also running for City Representative District 8
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