What started as a run-of-the-mill race for the El Paso County Criminal Court at Law No. 1 judicial seat turned heated when a picture began circulating of one of the candidates, appointed Judge Linda Perez, at a Donald Trump rally in 2019. 

Neither of the two Democratic candidates, Linda Noelle Estrada, 40, nor Perez, 49, knows who began circulating the picture. Perez, however, asserts that the photo is not reflective of her values as  a Democrat. 

“With regards to my Democratic values, my voting record speaks for itself,” Perez said. “I have always supported our Democratic candidates. I have never been a Trump supporter.” 

Perez’s primary voting record shows she consistently voted Democrat, but the candidate refused to identify the man with her in the photo saying that he is a private citizen who is not running for office.

“The race is about me,” she told El Paso Matters. “I will not be discussing his name.”

The photo is of Perez being hugged by Leonardo Maldonado, an El Paso attorney, according to various attorneys who asked not to be identifed.

The photo was taken during the February 2019 rally by then-President Trump at the El Paso County Coliseum. In the photo, Maldonado, who is also Perez’s campaign treasurer, is wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat.

 The city of El Paso has sued the Trump campaign, alleging that it never paid for hundreds of thousands of dollars in security costs. 

Perez, 39, called out her opponent for allegedly violating the Texas Judicial Code of Conduct Canon 5 Section II after Estrada sent out a campaign mailer with a headline that read “Linda Perez is Wrong for El Paso,” along with the photo.

The code cited states that a judicial candidate “shall not knowingly or recklessly misrepresent the identity, qualifications, present position, or other fact concerning … an opponent.” 

Estrada, who has voted in the Democratic primaries, argues that this photo is something El Paso Democrats should consider in choosing a candidate. There is no Republican in the race, so the Democratic primary winner will take office next year.. 

“I would be surprised that any Democrat could stand there in that crowd and look so enthusiastic,” Estrada said. “It troubles me, some of the ideals that Trump runs off of, especially with our close proximity to Mexico. As a life-long El Paso resident, that should really trouble anybody.” 

Estrada, who has since reposted the mailer to her campaign Facebook page, responded to Perez’s comment by saying: “The photo speaks for itself.”

The two are running to fill the County Criminal Court at Law No. 1 seat formerly held by Alma Trejo, who retired to run for district attorney for the 34th Judicial District. The criminal court, which oversees DWI, family violence, bond forfeitures, burglaries and prostitution cases, has not had a change at the bench since 2002, when Trejo won her election. 

The term for the position is for four years with a $157,000 starting annual salary.

Following the resignation of Trejo, the El Paso County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to appoint Perez to the vacancy in early December and she was sworn in soon thereafter.

Prior to her appointment, Perez, a Loretto Academy graduate, has seen time as an assistant district attorney, an assistant county attorney and most recently, a deputy public defender. 

Perez’s appointed incumbency has been a major part of her campaign and she believes that her limited experience at the bench already sets her apart from her opponent. 

“I believe voters need to know the type of experience that each candidate has,” Perez said. “To my knowledge, my opponent has never been a presiding judge over a jury trial. I have had that experience for a month and a half, where my (opponent) has handled bond hearings. This court handles more than just bond hearings.” 

Estrada, however, does not see Perez’s appointment as a big hurdle for her campaign. 

“Obviously, her being appointed helps her with her campaign,” Estrada said. “But I do not know if that should be one of the defining features for anyone running. I really trust our system of democracy and prefer what the voters have to say.” 

Estrada, an Eastwood High School alumna, is currently serving as a full-time criminal jail magistrate judge, largely involved in the early stages of criminal proceedings. Previously, Estrada served as a part-time criminal jail magistrate judge while working as a criminal defense attorney. 

According to the Feb. 5 campaign finance reports, Perez, who has $17,906 in contributions, which excludes loans and pledges, outraised Estrada by more than $12,000. 

Some of Perez’s main contributors were Melissa Williams, a San Antonio paralegal, and El Paso attorney Joseph Mullen, each of whom contributed $2,500.

Meanwhile, Estrada’s biggest contributions come from El Paso attorneys Erica D. Rios, who contributed $1,500 and James Rey, who contributed $1,000. Total contributions for Estrada are $5,850. 

Early voting begins Feb. 20 and runs until March 1 while Election Day is March 5.

Correction, Feb. 13, 2 p.m.: The age of Judge Linda Perez has been corrected.