By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Alexandra Falcon Calderon is seeking re-election to the Councilperson, District III, seat on the Del Rio City Council.
Calderon was born and raised in Del Rio. She attended local schools and graduated from Del Rio High School in 1991. While still attending high school, she completed the school’s cosmetology program and earned her state cosmetology license before she graduated with an eye on a career in the beauty industry. She also completed a year of study at the Bauder Fashion College in Arlington, Texas.
Calderon has owned and operated her own business, Classic Cuts Hair Salon, since 1999.
Asked why she decided to seek re-election, Calderon told the 830 Times, “I’ve enjoyed what I’ve been doing, and I believe there’s more to do. We pretty much got robbed of six months because of the COVID pandemic, so in reality, our term on council has really been three-and-a-half years, and that half-year does make a difference.
“Aside from that, I believe we’ve had a lot of success in the city and in District III,” she added.
Calderon listed the following accomplishments of her first term as the District III representative on the city council:
“• Had the city cover the fencing around the parks department to cover unsightly equipment.
- Stopped the city from using empty lots in the San Felipe neighborhood as the dumping location for street sweepers.
- Initiated a tire drive with a drop-off location in District III, the Joe Ramos Center parking lot, and drove around District III and picked up tires.
- Pushed for city cleanup events to take place in District III at the Joe Ramos Center.
- Pushed for Rotary Park restrooms to be looked at and fixed.
- Pushed for the city’s neighborhood services department to look at junked cars in District III.
- Pushed for opening of a warming center during the winter storm in 2021.
- Initiated a city-wide transportation survey.
- Pushed for advertising the city’s brush pickup schedule on Facebook.
- Pushed to keep the new skate park in San Felipe.
- Pushed to install a splash pad at GI Forum Park.
- Pushed for the city to take over maintenance and operation of Brown Plaza and start restoration of Brown Plaza.
- Pushed for the city to restart the senior aerobics program at the Joe Ramos Center and senior water aerobics at the Moore Park Pool.
- Pushed to replace outside lighting at the Joe Ramos Center building.
- Started monthly town hall meetings to listen to concerns from constituents.
- Helped with handicap parking at Rotary Park.
- Helped constituents with issues on alleys.
- Helped constituents with issues on utilities.
- Supported fire department and police department equipment purchases.
- Supported raising the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for city employees.
- During council meetings, made sure to ask the questions District III constituents ask her.”
Asked what she would like to focus on during her next term, Calderon said, “There’s projects that we’ve already started on, like improvements at Pop Word Park, we’ve just started, and of course, it’s going to be a big renovation there, for the entire park, and the community helped with that, because of their involvement in the city’s comprehensive master plan, the survey. Also, I don’t want to lose focus and I don’t want the council to lose focus, because for many years, it’s been lost, between other projects or ideas within the city,” Calderon said.
Calderon said among the projects and initiatives she would also like to focus on during her next term are lighting on Plaza Avenue, restoration of the Paul Poag Theatre, junked cars, drainage issues and streets and infrastructure.
“I believe I showed the care I have for this district, as well as the rest of the city and the dedication and being a voice for District III and the entire city. I’ve done that from day one, and I will continue to do that, so I want to come back, and of course, that’s determined by the voters. I would like the voters to send me back to council so I can finish the projects that are still out there and make sure we don’t lose focus on those. I like what I do,” Calderon said.
Asked why the voters of District III should cast their ballots for her, Calderon said, “Over the last four years, I believe we have had great successes for District III, and I would like to continue to serve the people of District III. I was born and raised in San Felipe. I am a small business owner, and my business is in District III. My goal as the councilperson for District III has always been and will continue to be a real voice for the community.”
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
