By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
All four seats on the local public school board are being contested in this year’s election.
When filing for election for the four seats on the San Felipe Del Rio CISD Board of Trustees concluded Friday at 5 p.m., the three incumbents seeking reelection each had challengers while two other candidates were vying for the fourth seat.
Incumbent Ken Smith, who filed to retain his Place I seat, will face opposition from Jesus Emilio Galindo, a Del Rio Police Department officer. Smith, who lists his occupation as general manager at Howmet Aerospace, is currently in his second term as a member of the board of trustees.
Linda Guanajuato-Webb, who filed to retain her Place III seat, will be opposed by Lindsey M. Mitchell, who lists her occupation as a business owner. Guanajuato-Webb, who lists her occupation as a retired educator, is currently the board of trustees’ vice-president. She is currently in her first term as a member of the board of trustees.
Raymond P. Meza, who filed to retain his Place IV seat, will be opposed by Melanie Kidd, who lists her occupation as self-employed. Meza, who is a retired educator and administrator and who lists his occupation as owner/operator of Limo City, currently serves as the board’s president. He is currently in his third term as a member of the board of trustees.
The Place V seat was held by Fred Contreras, but Contreras has chosen not to seek re-election. He has instead filed to run for mayor of Del Rio. Contreras will have served one term on the school board.
The two challengers seeking to fill the Place V seat are Hugo T. Sanchez, who lists his occupation as a distribution operations tech, and Rebekah Luna-Chavez, who is a former school district administrator and who has also worked in realty. She also previously ran for the Val Verde County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3 seat, winning in the primary but losing in the general election.
According to Sandra T. Hernandez, SFDRCISD Administrative Director, the drawing for candidates to determine their order on the ballot is scheduled to be held Wednesday, March 2, at 4:30 p.m. in the Student Performance and Administration Building, 315 Griner St.
Early voting in the school board election begins Monday, April 25 and ends Tuesday, May 3. Election Day will be May 7.
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