EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Two experienced candidates are vying for the title of El Paso’s district attorney. They are Bill Hicks, a Republican, and James Montoya, a Democrat. The District Attorney’s Office represents the state and victims of crime in the prosecution of felony and misdemeanor cases committed in El Paso, Culberson and Hudspeth counties, according to the El Paso county’s website. The district attorney serves four-year terms. Incumbent Bill Hicks has been in office since 2022 after being appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to finish the term of former DA Yvonne Rosales, who resigned. Hicks has more than 10 years of experience working as an assistant DA under former DA Jaime Esparza. He has also worked as a State District Court judge and operated his own private practice specializing in general litigation before being appointed to his current position. For more information on Hick’s experience click here. He is being challenged by public defender James Montoya, who won May’s runoff election against former judge Alma Trejo for the Democratic Party nomination. Montoya also served as an assistant district attorney at the DA’s Office under Esparza, working the early stages of the 2019 Walmart shooter case. He then served as an assistant U.S. attorney before returning to El Paso to work as a senior public defender for the County. For more information on Montoya’s experience click here. Early voting runs Monday, Oct. 21 through Nov. 1. Election Day is Nov. 5.