David Stout would heed an important call at the age of 17, when one of his volunteering opportunities took him to an avocado ranch in the state of Michoacan, Mexico.

“It was a place with no electricity, no running water primitive living situation, some of the poorest people, most humble people that I have ever come across to tell you the truth.”

During this experience, he was tasked with assisting the workers in matters of sanitation.

“We went there to inform them about the importance of dental hygiene, sexual hygiene… wash your hands after you use the restroom, brush your teeth, the use of condoms”

The hospitality, dedication, trust, and overall will to improve their lives were qualities that deeply reverberated within Stout.

“These people were some of the most open hearted folks I have ever met.”

This would be one of his prime and most formative experiences, one that would infuse a culture of humanitarian aid and a desire for it to become a life philosophy.

“Having a vocation to help others is what makes me happy, what fulfills me,” he explains.

Stout’s experience in Mexico would also set a precedent working with the latino population, which would reappear during his prominent career as a multifaceted journalist in the American Southwest.

“(Albuquerque) that’s where I started my journalism career spent a little more than a year as a reporter for channel 26.”

He made it a point to highlight the significance of the geographical location, “the border is a great place for a journalist to start out or continue a career because you get to report on so many different issues.”

The area is usually surrounded with a certain mystique in the eyes of the media and this condition can be catalyzed by the situation and the social/political context the country is in.

For example, during the current election cycle “people use the border as a political platform, and there are a lot of informed and uninformed people in this area.”

While on the field, Stout also got to explore the different functions and services a journalist can provide.

“As a journalist I wasn’t just bringing important news to people, but also working on advocacy projects talking to legislators trying to understand their points of view when it comes to different issues.”

This conviction and zeal for politics and the public sphere at the county level led him to question the efficacy and efficiency of a certain individual holding public office.

“I started looking at the gentleman who was the Commissioner before me and the more I watched him the more I saw what he wasn’t doing, the more it frustrated me.”

Sparked by this grievance, Stout decided to take action by actually campaigning for the 2^nd precinct County Commissioner position, with the Democratic Party as a conduit.

“I was afforded the opportunity to work for Senator Rodriguez and I got very involved with the Democratic Party locally. Instead of sitting around and complaining I thought maybe I could be that person that ran and did something better.”

After an arduous campaign process, Stout took office in 2015, eager to finally make a difference representing the 2^nd precinct and further reinforcing his crusade for providing public service to the community.

“We’re working on a healthcare expansion, $450 million on transportation projects on the east and west side of the county and expanding university medical center’s outreach,” Stout said.

Coincidentally, Professor Stout also teaches the Portuguese courses at UTEP thanks to his experience living in Brazil and graduate-level education in Latin American Studies.

This is fulfilling to him within his philosophy of public service because “teaching is a gratifying opportunity or job by having a positive influence on the folks you interact with in class. It helps kids learn another language see another culture open someone’s eyes to visit Brazil or continue in a career where they might need to speak Portuguese.”

Ultimately David Stout has made a career of helping others, particularly those without power and influence.

“I’ve always been involved in my community since a very young age, my parents inculcated in me the fact that we need to give back to our community, we need to be involved.”