By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Carlos Charlie Robles is seeking the Democratic Party nomination for the office of Val Verde County Commissioner Pct. 1.
Robles is one of seven candidates who will be on the ballot for the office in the March 5 Democratic Party Primary Election.
Robles was born and raised in Del Rio and is a member of Del Rio High School’s Class of 1978.
After high school, Robles went to work for the Del Rio National Bank. He worked as a teller, in the bank’s purchasing division and helped take care of the bank’s buildings at its four locations. He stayed with the bank for 16 years.
“I also served as the bank’s assistant security officer,” Robles said.
Robles also owned and operated a business, C&J Floor Maintenance, locally for about 20 years, which did floor maintenance for large businesses, like the former K-Mart location here.
Robles set out on his career in the local automotive sales industry in 2000, when he went to work for the former Jacinto Chevrolet.
“After a year-and-a-half with Jacinto, I moved here to Brown Automotive, and I’ve stayed here ever since,” Robles said.
Robles said his decision to run for the Precinct 1 County Commissioner seat came as a natural progression from his lifelong commitment to serving the community.
“I was president of the Little League and helped put together the team that went to the state championship tournament, and I’ve also been president of the San Felipe Lions Club,” he said.
Robles said he is concerned “that Precinct 1 is still the same as it’s been for 15 years.”
“It just hasn’t improved, and I think a lot of the people that live in the precinct have told me that they feel like they have been forgotten, and I believe it’s up to the commissioner of that precinct, as well as the city, to work on that,” Robles said.
Robles said dealing with poor infrastructure, especially streets, will be one of his priorities if elected.
“A lot of the streets off U.S. Highway 90 as you’re going toward Laughlin Air Force Base need repaving. I will focus on paving and keeping up on street maintenance,” he said.
“One of the other issues I feel strongly about is the need for greater public awareness. I know the 830 Times works hard to let people know what’s going on, but sometimes people don’t find out things for two or three days after something happens, and some people say we’re too small to have a TV station, but I would like to look into that,” Robles said.
Robles said he is also concerned about unfinished projects.
“I think when the county starts something, they need to finish it. They’ll start the project and then disagree, and I understand that there are five people on commissioners court and that they won’t always see eye-to-eye and that they’ll argue sometimes, but when it starts affecting the community, then there’s a problem,” Robles said.
He added that he believes the court needs to support the county judge’s vision to further progress in the county.
Asked why he believe the voters of Precinct 1 should cast their ballots for him, Robles said, “A lot of people in the precinct know me and know my family. I bring stability, leadership and experience. I’m a problem-solver.”
The writer can be reached at delriomagnolaifan@gmail.com.
