Castro pitches united Del Rio council, cites city operations experience

A March 4 special council meeting in Del Rio, where leaders discussed appointing an interim city manager and interim city attorney, put city hall’s instability on display just as Lazaro Castro is asking voters for a steadier hand.

Castro, one of six candidates on the May 2 mayoral ballot, has centered his campaign on practical city management rather than ideology. He said he has worked for the City of Del Rio for almost 10 years, including more than eight years as a division head in Parks and Golf, giving him a close view of budget choices, operational planning and the trade-offs that determine what the city can actually deliver.

That experience is the heart of his pitch: a seat on the dais should go to someone who understands city operations, policy and procedure, and who can help other council members understand how the government works. In everyday terms, Castro is arguing that Del Rio needs fewer public clashes and more cooperation so routine city business does not get stuck between City Hall and the people who depend on it. That means a smoother path for services residents notice, from permits and street repairs to the trust people place in local government when they walk into City Hall.

Castro also leans heavily on local identity. He said he grew up in Del Rio and remembered the city’s amenities, from the mall and downtown to the basketball court near his childhood home on Garza Street. That memory shapes his message that the next generation should be able to enjoy the same kind of community.

His broader vision reaches beyond one election. Castro said the city needs a united, not divided, council built on trust and mutual understanding. He also said he would like to see a city manager who was born and raised in Del Rio and who could work with council for at least four years, a combination he believes could help rebuild public confidence and guide the city toward recovery and prosperity.

The stakes are bigger than one council seat. The City of Del Rio’s election calendar shows filing ran from January 14 to February 13, 2026, after the council called the race by Ordinance 2025-108 on December 16, 2025. Voters will also choose District 1, District 2 and At-Large Place C. Ballotpedia lists Castro alongside incumbent Al Arreola, James DeReus, Ryan Horning, Arturo Rodriguez and Efrain V. Valdez.

Del Rio is a home-rule, civil service city with a council-manager structure, and it enters the campaign after securing a $17 million Texas Military Value Revolving Loan Fund loan for the San Felipe East Springs Containment Wall and a Water Treatment Plant expansion. State leaders said the project would strengthen water resiliency for Del Rio and Laughlin Air Force Base, a reminder that city hall’s ability to function affects both neighborhood life and regional security.