Mayor Candidate Profile — Al Arreola

“I’ve had the opportunity to serve our community at multiple levels, and that perspective has shaped how I lead today.

“My service didn’t start at City Hall. It’s been an evolution of leadership, from serving on the school board, including three years as board president, to the City Council, to the hospital board, and now as your Mayor. That full breadth of experience gives me a balanced understanding of how city government should work and how it can truly partner with our schools, our healthcare system, and our community at large.

“When I stepped into office as Mayor, Del Rio was facing serious challenges. We needed stability, stronger leadership, and a renewed focus on the basics that matter to families. Over the past four years, we’ve worked to restore trust, strengthen public safety, and make meaningful investments in infrastructure and community spaces.

“In addition to the civic experience, I’ve spent the last 46 years working through the ranks of Zales Jewelry Store from sales associate to store manager. My professional experience has taught me how to manage in times of high turnover, uncertain economic climates, and through company mergers. The consistency provided through dependable service, attention to detail, with a high level of customer service in mind is how my leadership shows up.

“I believe leadership is about focus, reliability, and seeing things through while taking accountability when things change. While others have spent years running for different offices, I’ve stayed committed to serving and delivering results. And I’ll continue working every day to keep Del Rio moving forward.”

Question #2: What is your vision for the office of mayor for the next four years?

“Public safety remains a top priority, and I will continue ensuring our police and fire departments are properly funded. In addition, streets will remain a focus. When I was your District 2 Councilmember, we increased street and drainage investment from $150,000 to $1.4 million annually, reversing years of neglect. As Mayor, we’ve grown that to $1.7 million, and we’re working to push it beyond $2 million.

“Critical infrastructure improvements to address wastewater system needs has been a key to make sure our resources are used the right way. Through collaboration with Laughlin Air Force Base to address joint City-Base needs, $17 million in outside funding was secured and it’s just the start. We need to continue to invest in upgrades to our wastewater treatment facilities so they can meet today’s demand with tomorrow’s future growth in mind. Continued work is happening to secure and finalize a second water source to enhance our long-term water reliability and much needed resource for progress.

“We’re taking steps to restore San Felipe Creek by removing invasive Carrizo cane, clearing out aging concrete structures, and returning it to its natural conditions based on professional environment recommendations. While some continue to talk about the creek as a path to commercial development, the reality is that the surrounding creek areas are primarily neighborhood homes. Continued preservation of the creek with thoughtful park improvements nearby will go hand-in-hand.

“I will continue to build strong partnership with others in our community like the one with our school district that helped reopen the Cody Wardlaw Gym. Today it serves residents, families, student athletes, and local organizations like the Boys and Girls Club to provide a safe place to build community, improve resident health, and serve as a place of community pride. Similar in process, we are working on identifying the right path forward for long overdue upgrades to the Civic Center and the restoration of the Paul Poag Theater. In partnership between the City, County, School District, and Hospital, I’m helping lead joint federal advocacy efforts to secure the resources our community needs such as these and others.”