By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Early voting is underway in the runoff election for the office of Del Rio mayor.
City voters will select one of two candidates for the office: incumbent Mayor Al Arreola or Efrain V. Valdez, who has served as a city council member, mayor and county judge. Arreola has for decades managed the Zales jewelry store in the Plaza Del Sol Mall, and Valdez retired after a decades-long career as a coach and educator with the local public school district.
Arreola and Valdez were the two top vote-getters in the May 2 city election, finishing first and second, respectively, in a six-candidate field.
All early voting by personal appearance will be in council chambers at City Hall, 109 W. Broadway St. The council chambers are located on the northwest side of the City Hall building, facing East Martin St. Parking is available just outside the council chambers, along East Martin Street and on the southwest side of City Hall, adjacent to the drive-through utility payment lanes. Overflow parking is also available across West Broadway, opposite City Hall.
Early voting by personal appearance began at 8 a.m. Monday and will continue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. Early voting by personal appearance will also be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, June 8, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9.
Voters will get one last chance to cast their ballots on Election Day, Saturday, June 13. On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Polling locations on Election Day will be as follows:
• City districts 10A, 11, 12, 21 and 22B – Joe Ramos Center, 1105 W. De La Rosa St.
• City districts 22A, 30A and 31 – Del Rio Civic Center, 1915 Veterans Blvd.
• City districts 10B, 30B and 40 – Council Chambers/City Hall, 109 W. Broadway St. (rear entrance)
According to information posted on the website of Val Verde County Clerk Teresa Esther Chapoy, a total of 479 persons had cast early ballots by personal appearance in the runoff election as of 5 p.m. Wednesday.
During the May 2 city election, a total of 2,728 persons, 13 percent of the 21,422 persons registered to vote inside the city limits, cast ballots in the election for mayor, with those ballots spread among the six candidates.
Chapoy, who is administering the election, said anyone who is registered to vote and who lives inside the Del Rio city limits is eligible to participate in the mayoral runoff.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
