Dr. Isabel Araiza

Dr. Isabel Araiza – Candidate for Mayor

How do you plan to ensure fair treatment and equal opportunities for all citizens, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity?

First and foremost, I will lead by example, treating every single person regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, with respect and dignity. I will use people’s preferred names and pronouns, especially when they make the effort to let me know. I would also be happy to participate in events sponsored by members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. We need to walk the walk and talk the talk, which is what I will do. Moreover, if I misgender someone (which would be totally unintentional), I will self-correct and apologize. If I don’t catch myself, I hope someone will let me know so that I can publicly correct myself and apologize. We have to demonstrate to the broader community how we cultivate an inclusive, accepting culture. 

I’ve taught sociology for over 20 years and have been active with social justice issues for years. It has always been my goal to create/foster inclusive and safe environments. Not only can I lead by example, I also intend to appoint people to boards and committees that share my perspective on inclusivity, fair treatment, and equal opportunities. Our public institutions are for the public, and people should feel welcomed, entitled, and safe to be and serve in public institutions and spaces. 

What is your position on the local government’s role in protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination?

Government should protect LGBTQ+ individuals; that is the law. If we don’t foster such an environment, we undermine the potential of community members to thrive. Government is for ALL people. Discrimination, especially that which targets individuals based on who they are, is unacceptable and violates our ideals. Where we can, government should play an affirmative role in protecting members of the LGBTQ+  community.

How would you promote initiatives or policies that support diversity and inclusivity across Corpus Christi?

As mayor of Corpus Christi, I would have the power of the organizational position. Just as past mayors, have taken their time to attend ribbon cuttings to promote businesses or completion of projects, I see value in attending and supporting events/celebrations/initiatives/announcements that uplift diversity and inclusivity across Corpus Christi. I fundamentally believe that there is innate, intrinsic value in the diversity of communities, our city, our state, our country. 

I also want to say this, when I decided to run for office, that decision was rooted in watching 8 years of city council meetings and seeing them repeatedly put the interests of the rich, the powerful, and the well-connected, over the rest of us. And, when I decided to run, I decided to collect signatures instead of paying the fee because I wanted to connect and talk to community members, and what I learned is that I have so much more to learn. There are so many gaps in city services, and there are all these people who are doing advocacy work for the issues they are passionate about, and there is a lot to learn from their experiences. So, my core answer to this question would also be, that I am committed to meeting with the community organizers of the LGBTQ+ to ask what you would like to see from me, as the mayor of Corpus Christi, in addition to the things I have already mentioned.

In addition, we would like to know your thoughts on the current situation with the Corpus Christi Public Library advisory board, which has proposed removing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles from the library’s collection development policy. Many residents are concerned about the potential impact this could have on ensuring our public libraries represent the diverse needs of our community.

First, and foremost, just like other public institutions are for everyone, the library is FOR EVERYONE!!!!! I have found what is taking place with the CC Public Library board an affront to democracy and a threat to vulnerable populations. Public libraries are one of the last places that people of all backgrounds can go to and just be permitted to exist. Public libraries are repositories of knowledge and understanding, and that is especially important for members of marginalized populations who don’t seem themselves and all their complexity and nuance in the dominant culture or in the standardized public school curriculum. Historically libraries are safe spaces for everyone. 

The group I helped co-found, For the Greater Good, has tried to inform its followers (we have over 1,000) of what is taking place with the library. We have encouraged people to attend the meetings and voice support for librarians and to oppose what the current library board is attempting to do. I have not been able to attend the Library board meetings personally, as they conflict with my work schedule. I, too, am incredibly concerned about what the current library advisory board is doing. I am not sure if I, as mayor, it will be my turn to appoint members to the library committee, but if/when I am afforded that opportunity, I will appoint someone who 1) respects librarians authority and expertise to curate our reading collection to reflect the needs, wants, and interests of the ENTIRE community and 2) who is enthusiastically committed to the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion principles. 

I know that this isn’t exactly aligned with the question. But, there is a quote credited to Baba Dioum that I think about often, which states, “In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand and we will understand only what we are taught.” We need libraries to be inclusive. We need libraries to provide access to information and stories where everyone–especially the most marginalized, most vulnerable populations–can see themselves and learn about themselves, because they won’t (or will rarely) see themselves in the dominant culture. Books/literature create that possibility. If we don’t embrace the DEI principles, if we don’t fight for that, those voices who seek to oppress and marginalized, will control what happens in our libraries, and I DO NOT want that. I am morally and intellectually opposed to what the current library board is doing. Who we get into office matters. We need someone who will fight and to ensure that everyone can see themselves and learn about themselves from OUR, THE PUBLIC’s library collection. I will be that mayor!