By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Del Rioans with business leadership or professional experience are being asked to
consider applying for a position on the Del Rio Economic Development Corporation
(EDC) Board of Directors.
The EDC board met on Nov. 20, and the appointment of four board members whose
terms expire at the end of the year was one of the items on the agenda.
EDC board member Richard Robles presided over the meeting.
Following opening ceremonies, approval of the previous meeting’s minutes and a reading
of the October 2025 EDC financial report from Assistant Finance Director Roxy Soto,
Robles opened a discussion regarding the appointment of new board members.
Economic Development Director Orestes Hubbard told the board, “As you know, there
are seven board members. When the EDC board was created, it was decided to have
appointments staggered (to end) in different years so there is continuity. This time, we
have four board members whose appointments end at the end of December.
“We already notified those board members. In the case of one of them, Jacqueline Perez,
she was appointed on July 1 of this year, and she was to replace another board member, a
prior board member, so her appointment is going to end.
However there is definitely the expectation that she will apply to remain (on the board),” Hubbard said.
Other board members whose terms expire at the end of the year include Raul Barksdale, Richard Robles and Ken Smith, who currently serves as president of the EDC board.
Hubbard said both Smith and Barksdale have said they do not plan on reapplying for seats on the board.
Robles, though, said he planned to reapply for appointment to another term, Hubbard said.
“So, technically, right now, we have two board member positions open. We have already
started the process, and the way the process works is, we have to advertise, we have to
open it up for the community to know about it and be considered, should anyone wish to
apply,” Hubbard said.
He said the application for the EDC board can be found on the city’s web site. As of the time of the Nov. 20 meeting, Hubbard said he had already received two applications.
Hubbard said he has also been speaking to different members of the community to
encourage them to apply and spread the word to contacts who might be a good fit.
“Same to all of you. If you know somebody you feel might be a good candidate, if you
would like to help us spread the word, that would be fantastic,” Hubbard said.
According to the EDC’s amended by-laws, applicants for positions on the board must be
serving or have served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of a company, be serving or
have served in a position of executive management of a company, be serving or have
served in a professional capacity or have experience equivalent to any of the previous
three qualifications.
Hubbard said he would like to have the new members appointed before the January 2026
EDC meeting.
H said he would like a good slate of candidates for the EDC board to review and for the
board to then recommend to the Del Rio City Council. The council interviews
prospective candidates, then must vote on the candidates to be selected.
“So the idea is to have, hopefully, at the end of this year, two or three board members to
be appointed so we can start 2026 with a full board. We won’t be able to operate if we
don’t do this very soon,” Hubbard said, adding at least four members are needed for a
quorum to conduct EDC business during meetings.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
