State Rep. Marisa Marquez has potential challenger on her "radar"

State Rep. Marisa Marquez has just been reelected but she is already bracing for a potential challenger in two years.

And she says her possible opponent may be too close for comfort. 

Robert Grijalva, the chief of staff for state Rep. Chente Quintanilla, said he has been considering a bid for state office for the past six years. Grijalva would not confirm that he was contemplating a bid for Marquez’s seat in 2012 but he also would not dismiss claims that he may seek the office.

“I will look at the landscape after the session,” Grijalva said. “I’ve told the people that asked me that we will talk seriously then and I will let them know whether it seems like a viable option for me or not. That’s the first step.”

Grijalva said he has not started any type of process to run for office. He said his aspirations are no different this year than they have been in the past but that does not mean he will choose to challenge Marquez in two years.

He said several factors would determine whether he seeks public office. In fact, he said the redistricting session may place he and Marquez in different districts.

But Marquez said Grijalva has not denied that he is considering a run for the office in her private conversations with him and she is already being asked about his potential candidacy both in El Paso and Austin.

“In our conversations he pretty much said he is considering it,” Marquez said.

Marquez said she is focused on the budget, redistricting and passing legislation to benefit El Paso in the session that starts in January but she added that she will also keep Grijalva on her radar during that time.

“There is going to be privileged conversations, emails, correspondence between our delegation and certainly a candidate should not be in those circles,” she said. “I think it really sets a bad precedent to have somebody within those privileged circles later announce candidacy.”

She acknowledged that there may be tension in the delegation even if Grijalva decides not to seek state office.

“It’s certainly a possibility that he doesn’t do it but its been made public and it's going to put members in a difficult position,” she said. “It may put lobbyists in a difficult position.”

Grijalva said he hopes to avoid any tension.

“Having this rumor pop up at this time was the worst thing that could happen because I don’t want to be at the center of the kind of divisiveness in the session amongst the members,” Grijalva said.

 

Comments

[Jorge Ramirez]

Ay.

I was back in El Paso for Thanksgiving visiting my family, and I heard that Robert stopped wearing his Bluetooth.

He is still a culero. He's trying to pull a Norma by being the on government chichi advancing their own personal goals.

[David Ochoa]

I can't believe Marisa fell for this so quickly. NOTE: Ms Marquez please stay focused on the reason we elected you in the first place! Do your job the best you & your team can & the future will take care of itself. No le pongas atencion ala bola de tontos. Gracias.