Cavazos touts family access, responsible spending in SFDR-CISD board bid

Leonel “Leo” Cavazos is pitching himself as the kind of board member parents can reach, not just vote for. In his profile, the Del Rio resident said his run for SFDR-CISD Place V is built around accessibility, family engagement and spending discipline, with student needs at the center of every decision.

Cavazos described himself as a lifelong Del Rio resident, a parent with children in local schools and a taxpayer who understands the district from several angles. He pointed to more than 21 years in federal law enforcement, saying that work taught him leadership, accountability, sound judgment, integrity, teamwork and the responsible use of public resources. He also cited his work as a city Recreation Supervisor, where he said he handled budgets, supervised staff, maintained facilities and worked directly with families and youth programs.

That background feeds into the set of priorities he is using to frame the campaign. Cavazos says the board should stay accessible, listen to families, make student- and teacher-centered decisions, strengthen curriculum alignment and professional development, and spend transparently on infrastructure. He divided those ideas into a Parent Plan, a Student Priority Plan, a Unified Staff & Curriculum Support Plan, a Taxpayer Plan and a Proactive District Infrastructure Plan aimed at preparing for enrollment growth and new campuses.

The race matters because the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District is large by local standards. District data shows SFDR-CISD serves about 9,510 students across 14 campuses, with a student body that is 93.5% Hispanic and 72.2% economically disadvantaged. The seven-member board adopts the budget, levies taxes and submits bond issues to voters, giving trustees direct influence over what families pay and what classrooms get built or repaired.

Cavazos is running against Rebekah “Becky” Luna Chavez for Place V in the election set for Saturday, May 2, 2026. Candidate filing ran from Jan. 14 through Feb. 13 at 5 p.m., and early voting is scheduled for April 20 through April 28.

The contest unfolds against an active facilities debate. In August 2025, trustees unanimously approved a $50 million bond package for improvements at Del Rio Freshman School, Buena Vista Elementary, Bobby Barrera Elementary and San Felipe Middle School. District bond materials said the package is intended for construction, renovation, acquisition and equipment for school facilities, underscoring why Cavazos’s emphasis on infrastructure and taxpayer oversight lands at a moment when voters are being asked to weigh the cost of growth and the condition of aging campuses.