Del Rio council candidates outline priorities at Southwest Texas College forum

Del Rio voters heard competing answers to the problems they feel first: sewer capacity on the north side, streets that need attention, and a city government still trying to fill key jobs.

At Southwest Texas College on April 16, candidates for mayor and City Council used a public forum to make their case before the May 2 general election. The event, organized by The 830 Times and Southwest Texas College, gave residents a direct look at the people competing for District 1, District 2, At-Large Place C and mayor.

Josh Overfelt, an associate professor of government at Southwest Texas College, moderated the forum and laid out the format. Each candidate got two minutes for an opening statement, then answered questions before closing with final remarks.

The council portion began with District 1 candidates Elsa Reyes and Jorge George Vargas, who were asked about the biggest issue in their district, how they would work with the rest of council to address vacancies in city administration, and where they would put roads and infrastructure on the priority list. District 2 candidates Leno Hernandez Jr. and David Scarbo followed with similar questions, including how they would handle rapid growth on Del Rio’s north side and make sure infrastructure keeps pace.

The At-Large Place C segment featured incumbent Ernestina Tina Martinez, Alexandra Falcon Calderon and LeRoy Briones. They addressed the biggest issue facing Del Rio, how they would communicate with residents, and how they would help fill administrative vacancies. The mayoral forum then put Al Arreola, Jim DeReus, Efrain Valdez, Lazaro Castro and Ryan Horning on the same stage, giving voters a chance to compare leadership style as much as policy.

The debate over growth and basic services landed with extra force because the city has been dealing with major infrastructure pressure. Del Rio has said the first phase of its $30 million Northside Sewer Outfall project is needed to keep development moving on the north side, and city staff have said at least one developer paused a planned project because of sewage-capacity problems. City officials have also said wastewater-rate changes could support about $62.3 million in new debt for priority water and wastewater projects, and the city has said it secured $17 million in state funding for critical water infrastructure work.

The election was ordered by Ordinance 2025-108 on Dec. 16, 2025, and filing for mayor, District 1, District 2 and At-Large Place C ran from Jan. 14 to Feb. 13, 2026. Six people filed for mayor and seven filed for the other three council seats, making the forum one of the clearest public tests yet of who Del Rio wants steering the city through growth, staffing gaps and aging infrastructure.