Henry Valenzuela announces run for Yuma City Council seat

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Three Yuma City Council seats are up for re-election in 2026, and Henry Valenzuela has already thrown his hat in the ring.

He is a third-generation Yuman who retired from the Yuma Police Department.

City Council members Art Morales, Leslie Mcclendon, and Carol Smith are all up for re-election this year.

Morales has already said that he will not run again, while Valenzuela explains why he is running for the seat.

"I've had a lifetime of service, and I want to continue to serve the community. That's why I'm running. I think we've come a long way as a community and I think we can continue to grow, and that's what I'm looking forward to," Valenzuela says.

He says he would like to focus on a few things as a council member such as youth sports, being a pro business community, and public safety.

"We need to have a safe community, if we don't have a safe community, then really nothing else matters, if we don't feel safe going to the park, going to the store, driving on the roads, then we don't really have much," he explains.

Valenzuela also says his military experience will help him for this role.

"I've been in military service, in leadership for almost 20 years now, I am a master sergeant and I am a combat engineer, I've deployed overseas a couple of times," said Valenzuela.

Finally, he has one final message on why people should give him their vote.

"You should vote for me if you're looking for someone that’s not afraid to speak out, someone that's not afraid to have an independent voice, [and] someone that really wants to do the right thing for the working families in this community," Valenzuela says.

The primary election will be held next August.