By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Raul Alatorre is seeking election to the office of County Commissioner Pct. 3.
Alatorre will be one of four candidates on the ballot for the office in the March 5 Republican Party Primary Election.
Alatorre was born Laredo, Texas, but was raised in Del Rio and attended Del Rio schools. He graduated from Del Rio High School in 1987.
He attended Southwest Texas Junior College for two years. He studied criminal justice and attended the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office Academy.
Before launching a career in law enforcement, Alatorre said he was recruited into the health care field and worked in that industry for 26 years.
“My scope was basically home health, selling durable medical equipment and hospice,” he said.
Alatorre retired in the spring of 2022, but remains co-owner of the Good Night Sleep Center in Del Rio.
He has served three terms as an elected member of the Val Verde Hospital District’s board of directors.
Asked why he decided to run for county commissioner, Alatorre said, “I learned a lot serving on the hospital district’s board of trustees. I know about budgets and finances. I know how to network with big hospitals, and that’s what I’m looking at as county commissioner.
“We need to look outside the county to see how they’re doing it in their counties. I feel that with my experience as a trustee with the state of Texas, the hospital association, I have learned a lot about budgets and how to manage. I can’t promise anything. I’m going to see what’s going on right now,” Alatorre said.
Alatorre also discussed priorities he wants to focus on if elected.
“If I get elected, I’m going to take it step-by-step, see what the county needs. I will ask the people of Precinct 3 what their needs are. I live in that area. I’ve been in the precinct for 14 years. I’ve built a home out there, right when Lake Ridge was going up, and now Lake Ridge, I see it as a suburb.
“I see what people need because I need it, too. We need more services in that area. Comstock residents are asking for a full-time deputy for that area and for fire safety services. We need more safety for the people in that area. The same is true for the Langtry area. We need more lighting, and we need more businesses close by,” Alatorre said.
Alatorre said he decided to run for commissioner to make a difference.
“I just felt I could make an impact for the county with my experience and work as an elected trustee for the hospital. I feel I can bring those tools to use as a county commissioner,” he said.
Alatorre said he would also like to work on economic development.
“I would like to attract businesses to open (in the precinct) to serve the Lake Ridge area, like gas stations, maybe a small supermarket, something that’s going to be convenient to the many families that live in that area,” he said.
Alatorre said he envisions keeping in close contact with his constituents.
“I will absolutely be accessible to the constituents of the precinct. Elected positions like hospital trustee and county commissioner, they’re about serving the people. You have to be available to people,” he said.
“When you ask why you should vote for me, I’m going to ask you, ‘What are your needs here?’ What have you asked for that has not been delivered? What are your needs? What do the people want? I’m not going to make promises. It’s not about me; it’s about the people. It’s also about working together with the county commissioners and the county judge,” Alatorre said.
“I want the voters to know that I will speak up. I will be their voice on the court, and I will stand up for them. I will not hold myself back. I have no agenda. I have nothing to lose. I will serve them,” he said.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
