To inform readers about the candidates seeking their votes on the November ballot, the San Antonio Report asked all candidates to answer the following questions. We edited answers for clarity, not substance or grammar, and we did not fact-check responses. We restricted responses to 200 words for each question.
Read other candidates’ answers here.
Party:
Independent
Incumbent?
No.
Link to campaign website:
https://www.facebook.com/mata4congress
Age:
47
Education background/degrees earned:
Graduated from Fox Tech High, 2 years on ITT Technical, 20 years of non-profit field and hands on social services experience
Current occupation, employer, or job title:
Executive Director of the Advocates Social Services and oversee all programs including Youth and Community related
Previous elected offices held and/or sought:
Democratic Pct Chairperson Pct. 2007
Why do you feel you are the best candidate for the office you are seeking?
Based on the most important and pressing issues of District 35, and my vast hands on work experience in urgent and prevalent social problem areas, I feel that I can work with fellow Congressman on both sides of the isle and effectively address these issues. I am highly energetic and have an extreme passion for helping the most vulnerable populations while producing good and fruitful results that benefits the entire district.
What three issues do you feel are most important to voters in your district?
The most important and pressing issues are 1.) Unsafe and deplorable safety and quality of life conditions, 2.) At 72%, District 35 has and extremely low high school graduation rate and less of a college graduation rate, and 3.) Unfair economic equity with many constituents living at or below the Federal Poverty guideline. The four poorest zip codes in both Bexar County and Travis County are in Congressional District 35. The lack of interest and attention to this urgent issue contribute to the unsafe and deplorable conditions in these poor zip codes. The illiteracy rate is also very high in these communities. Communities are only as strong as their weakest link.
If elected, what would be your top priorities after taking office?
My top priority will be advocating and pushing for a COVID19 vaccination and to assure that the District 35 constituency has full access to the vaccination. My second priority is to pass legislation that will create acceptable and high quality livable and workable conditions in low income (high poverty) communities. This High Poverty legislation and initiative will focus on youth development, job readiness, workforce opportunities, job and trade skills. I will make sure that family stabilization programs are fully functional and hold programs
How has the coronavirus pandemic shaped your priorities?
The Coronavirus pandemic has brought to light the disparity in economic equality. The pandemic has also made it more obvious that low income families and individuals are extremely vulnerable. The potential for child abuse and hunger are only one of the problem areas that was brought to light due to the Coronavirus 19 pandemic. Marginalizing resources to low income (High Poverty) communities has also helped shape my priorities. In my opinion these problem areas along with drug addiction, generational poverty, Homelessness, and Youth Social issues are a pandemic themselves and need to be addressed as such.
For incumbents: What do you consider your most significant accomplishments in office? What would you change?
N/A
For non-incumbents: What, if anything, would you do differently from the current officeholder?
I will focus and put more emphasis on the issues that mostly affect Congressional District 35. With the High School graduation rate at 72% which is much lower than adjacent or neighboring congressional districts, I would start there. I will also address the issues of quality of life which entails Jobs readiness and securing jobs, trade skill education, community involvement, and initiatives that require more than one organization and program to be successful. I will make sure that procurement is fair and just, put an end to Status Que programming, and
