By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Three seats on the Del Rio City Council will be up for election in May, and all three council members currently holding those seats say they plan to file for re-election.
City council members on Tuesday unanimously approved an ordinance “calling for and ordering a general election on May 4” to elect a Councilperson, District 3; Councilperson-At-Large, Place A; and Councilperson-At-Large, Place B.
Currently, Alexandra Falcon Calderon holds the Councilperson, District 3, seat, Mayor Pro-tem Steve Webb holds the Councilperson-At-Large, Place A, seat, and J.P. Sanchez holds the Councilperson-At-Large, Place B, seat.
The 830 Times spoke with Calderon, Webb and Sanchez after Tuesday’s meeting, and all three said they plan to seek re-election to the seats they currently hold.
The ordinance passed by the council also includes a list of possible expenses associated with conducting the election, provided by City Secretary Mari Acosta.
Acosta, in an informational sheet provided to council members, noted, “The overall cost of the 2024 election expense is anticipated to be similar to (the costs of the) 2022 election.”
Acosta told the council general election expenses in 2022 totaled $12,000, and the 2022 run-off election expense totaled $35,000.
She added in her handout, “New election equipment purchased by the Val Verde County Clerk will generate ballots at the time the voter presents to vote and will reduce waste and cost of ballots.”
She noted this year’s city budget includes anticipated expenditures of $49,000 for election/jury services and an additional $3,500 for election supplies.
The council on Tuesday also unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the city manager or designee to execute a contract with the Val Verde County Clerk to conduct a joint and general election in May 2024.
The agreement will include allowing the county clerk to conduct early voting for the city election and authorizing a joint election agreement with the Val Verde County Hospital District and the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District.
Acosta, in another handout to the council, said the school district and the hospital district have communicated their interest to her, requesting that the city collaborate with them in a joint election for the May 4 general election.
“It is important to note that the SFDRCISD and the Val Verde Hospital District will hold joint elections and contract their elections with Val Verde County. The city has the opportunity to participate in the joint election that will be convenient for the voters and a cost savings for the city,” Acosta wrote.
She added that having a single location for voters to cast their ballots for all three elections will likely mean a better voter turnout.
Reach the author at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
