“I’ve been a blue collar worker all my life. This is the people’s court, and I want to serve,” said retired master firefighter and paramedic Juan Paz Jr., candidate in a field of four running for Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 1.
“This is my neighborhood. I grew up here and I know the people who live here,” he said as we spoke in the KC Restaurant behind the Knights of Columbus building on Houston Street.
“I went to Leyendecker Elementary and L.J. Christen, and graduated from Martin High School. As a firefighter I served at Station Four on Houston Street and at Station Three on San Bernardo,” he said.
Paz’s ties to the area he would serve as JP span decades. His father, Juan Paz Sr., has owned and operated Paz Garage on San Bernardo for 53 years, and his grandfather Rafael Paz established an auto parts store downtown in 1939.
“I’ve been a mechanic since I was 14,” he said.
The oldest of three siblings, he is pleasant and congenial.
Paz said that 27 years in public service has given him the opportunity to know the residents and business owners, not only in Precinct 1, but also across Webb County.
“As a firefighter and a paramedic, you walk into the most trying and traumatic circumstances of people’s lives — fires, suicides, drug shootings, car accidents — and you do all possible to make it better, to make a difference,” he said, adding, “Those years opened my heart.”
He said his goals as JP are to address the backlog of cases yet resolved and to use technology to update proceedings. “E-filing will save time by better preparing everyone who comes before the court,” Paz said, adding that night court would allow more access to many who have daytime work schedules.
“I’ll address truancy with a preventive program that has a case worker visiting students before the age of 12, working with them before there is a problem,” he continued.
“JPs marry people. Instead of pocketing that fee, I’d like the newlyweds to pledge it to a non-profit,” he said.
“I have concern for the elderly, especially those who live alone and are homebound. They may not know of services available to them or have a way to get to service providers or a grocery store. I want to find a way to help,” he said.
Paz, who holds a degree in political science, said he looks forward to the state mandated 80-hour Texas Justice Court Training course in civil matters for new JPs.
“This is a grassroots campaign of friends, family, and neighbors. At the heart of it is a resourceful man with a desire to serve. That would be me,” Paz concluded.
He is married to Sandra San Miguel Paz. Their son, Juan Paz III, studies at the University of Nevada.
Candidate Paz can be reached at (956) 220-5706.
