Former Somerton, Yuma Police Officer Henry Valenzuela Announces Yuma City Council Run

Henry Valenzuela, a former officer who served in both Somerton and Yuma, formally announced his candidacy for Yuma City Council, adding a law enforcement perspective to a race that will fill three council seats. The field is opening up: Councilwoman Carol Smith is seeking reelection while Councilman Art Morales and Councilwoman Leslie McClendon have both said they will not run again, guaranteeing at least two new faces on the council regardless of other challengers.

Valenzuela visited the KAWC studios on Thursday to outline his decision to run and to discuss priorities that include public safety and community service. The station recorded a 10 minute and 48 second segment with Valenzuela and also hosts a longer 36 minute and 13 second interview that delves deeper into his background and reasoning. His entry follows a period of turnover among sitting council members and comes at a moment when municipal policy choices about policing, community outreach, and city services are likely to shape voters’ decisions.

The vacancy created by Art Morales and Leslie McClendon stepping aside alters the electoral math for Yuma. Incumbent Carol Smith’s bid for reelection gives voters a familiar option, while open seats often attract a broader mix of candidates and campaigning that highlights differences in priorities such as public safety, budgeting, land use, and municipal services. Valenzuela’s professional experience in local law enforcement puts those issues at the center of his platform and could influence debates over staffing, police-community relations, and fiscal allocations for public safety programs.

For residents, the immediate implication is clearer choices at the ballot box and an expanded public conversation about how Yuma approaches safety and community engagement. Valenzuela’s emphasis on continuing community service signals an appeal to voters who prioritize neighborhood-level policing and veteran municipal stewardship. At the same time, the open seats create an opportunity for candidates with different backgrounds to press for shifts in city priorities, potentially affecting zoning decisions, business climate, and investments in infrastructure.

The timing of Valenzuela’s announcement means voters will have time to evaluate his proposals alongside other candidates as the campaign progresses. Voters who want to hear Valenzuela’s full explanations can access the 10:48 studio segment and the 36:13 interview to assess how his law enforcement experience would translate into council governance. With three seats on the ballot and two incumbents stepping down, this election will be consequential for Yuma’s policy direction; residents will want to follow candidate forums and campaign statements to make informed choices at the polls.