Six File for Del Rio City Council Seats Ahead of May 2

Six people have filed applications for seats on the Del Rio City Council, according to documents filed with City Secretary Mari Acosta as of Monday morning." Those filings shape the first wave of competition for the May 2 municipal election and signal where voters will have a choice in city leadership.

"Four city offices will be decided by voters in the May 2 general election: mayor, councilperson at-large Place C, councilperson District 1 and councilperson District 2." Filing opened Jan. 14 and remains active; "Filing for the open seats on the Del Rio City Council continues until 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13." With that window still open, interested residents can add to the fields or confirm the candidate roster with the City Secretary's office.

The mayoral contest is already a three-way race: "Three candidates have filed applications seeking the office of mayor." Incumbent Mayor Al Arreola "filed Jan. 20 seeking re-election." Arreola is employed as the manager of the Zales jewelry store at Plaza Del Sol Mall. Also filing for mayor were Efrain V. Valdez and James "Jim" DeReus. Valdez's public-service record includes work in local schools and government: "Valdez worked for many years as a coach and educator in the local public school district before entering city and county government. He has previously served on the Del Rio City Council, including terms as a councilperson and as mayor, and later served as Val Verde County judge." DeReus brings council experience and a military background: "DeReus has served two terms on the city council as councilperson District 2 and currently serves as mayor pro tem. He is a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and pilot and is currently employed as a simulator instructor at Laughlin Air Force Base."

The at-large Place C contest likewise lists three applicants under the heading "Three seek at-large seat." "Incumbent Ernestina 'Tina' Martinez filed Jan. 20 seeking re‑election. Martinez is a retired business owner and volunteers with several local organizations." "LeRoy Briones also filed Jan. 20 for the at‑large seat. Briones is employed as a funeral director." "Alexandra Falcon Calderon has also filed for Place C. Calderon previously served a single term on the city council as councilperson District 3. She is the owner of a hair salon and is involved with several local organizations and boards." Together, those filings amount to six total applicants for Del Rio offices as reflected in the city records.

Notably, two council districts remain without challengers at this reporting point. "As of Monday morning, no candidates had filed applications for the offices of councilperson District 1 or councilperson District 2." That absence leaves neighborhood representation unsettled for those districts and raises the possibility of late filings before the Feb. 13 deadline.

For voters, the current filings matter for policy direction and city governance: the mayoral race pits an incumbent against experienced former officeholders and a current mayor pro tem, while the at-large seat contest could change the balance on issues that affect the whole city, from development near Plaza Del Sol Mall to city ties with Laughlin Air Force Base. Filing remains open through Feb. 13; after that, ballots will be finalized ahead of the May 2 election, and Del Rio residents will decide who will lead the city and represent its neighborhoods.