By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Six people have filed applications seeking the office of Del Rio mayor, and seven candidates have filed for three other seats on the Del Rio City Council.
The deadline to file for the May 2 general election was 5 p.m. Friday.
City Secretary Maria “Mari” Acosta was in her office at City Hall, ready to accept last-minute applications. After the 5 p.m. deadline passed, Acosta released the applications for council seats to The 830 Times.
Acosta said she received six applications for the office of mayor since filing for the municipal election opened on Jan. 14.
The candidates for mayor include the incumbent, Al Arreola, who is seeking re-election; Jim DeReus, who currently serves as the District 2 representative on the city council; Efrain V. Valdez, who previously served as a city council member, as mayor and as Val Verde County judge; Arturo Rodriguez, a retired U.S. Customs agent; Lazaro “Laz” Castro Jr., who is currently employed as the parks superintendent for the city of Del Rio; and Ryan Horning, who lists his current occupation as “law enforcement.”
Acosta also released seven other applications from Del Rioans seeking to serve on the Del Rio City Council.
Three persons filed applications seeking the office of councilperson at-large, Place C.
They include the incumbent, Ernestina “Tina” Martinez, who is seeking re-election; Alexandra Falcon Calderon, a small business owner who previously served on the council; and LeRoy Briones, who currently works as a funeral director.
Two persons filed applications seeking the office of councilperson District 1.
This seat is currently held by Jesus Lopez Jr., who did not file an application seeking re-election.
The candidates for councilperson District 1 are Elsa Reyes, who lists her occupation as “operations manager”; and Jorge “George” Vargas, who currently serves as the chief of the Val Verde County Fire Department.
Two persons have also filed applications seeking the office of councilperson District 2.
This seat is currently held by Jim DeReus, who had reached his term limit in the seat and who is running for mayor.
The two persons who filed applications for the seat are Leno Hernandez Jr., who currently works as head of the city’s civic facilities division; and David Scarbo, who is retired.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
