By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Del Rio voters will go to the polls in 2026 to select a mayor and three city council members.
Mayor Al Arreola told The 830 Times today he will seek re-
election to a second term at the helm
of the city council.
Three council seats will also go before city voters in 2026: Councilperson District I,
Councilperson District II and Councilperson-At-Large Place C.
Ernestina “Tina” Martinez currently serves as Councilperson-At-Large Place C. Martinez served
two previous terms on the council, as Councilperson District III, but this is her first term as one
of the council’s three at-large members.
All of Del Rio’s voters cast ballots for the mayor and at-large seats on the council. Only voters in
the city’s three districts vote on the candidates for the council District I, II and III seats.
The 830 Times contacted Martinez by phone today and asked whether or not she planned to seek
a second term as the Councilperson-At-Large Place C.
“I believe I am,” Martinez responded.
Jesus Lopez Jr. currently serves as Councilperson District I. It is Lopez’s first term on the city
council.
The 830 Times contacted Lopez by phone today and asked if he planned to seek re-election to
the seat he now holds.
“I’m still undecided,” Lopez said.
James “Jim” DeReus currently serves as Councilperson District II.
DeReus is nearing the end of
his second term on the city council. He has served as the District II representative on the council
for both of those terms.
The 830 Times contacted DeReus by phone today and asked if he
planned to seek re-election.
DeReus said he could not run for re-election to the District II council seat because of the city
charter’s term limit provisions.
“I do plan to run again. I will be running for mayor,” DeReus said today.
During its most recent meeting on Dec. 16, city council members voted 7-0 to approve an
ordinance ordering a regular municipal election to be held on May 2, 2026, for the purpose of
electing a Mayor, a Councilperson District I, a Councilperson District II and a Councilperson-At-
Large Place C.
Filing for a place on the ballot of the municipal election begins Wednesday, Jan. 14, and ends
Friday, Feb. 13.
Prospective candidates can pick up packets and obtain other election information and paperwork
from the city secretary’s office at City Hall, 109 W. Broadway St.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
