El Centro native Rick Lopez lays out campaign vision for City Council
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) - As the 2026 election cycle heats up, El Centro native and longtime public servant Rick Lopez is shifting his focus toward local government, officially launching his campaign for a seat on the El Centro City Council.
"I'm not just some guy that decided to run one day for city council," Lopez told News 11. "I've been involved in the city for 45 years...my entire adult life. I care about El Centro. I want it to succeed, I want it to grow, and I want our young people to thrive here when they get older."
Born and raised in El Centro, Lopez has spent his entire life in the community. He has been married for 45 years to his high school sweetheart, with whom he shares three children and six grandchildren. Today, his children are raising their own families right here in El Centro.
"The success of El Centro is very important to me and very personal," Lopez shared. "My grandkids are growing up here, and I want them someday when they get older and get married to be able to raise their families here."
Professionally, Lopez spent just over 30 years with the Border Patrol, with half of his career spent operating at the command staff level.
Through his decades in law enforcement leadership, Lopez gained direct, high-level experience in developing and executing multi-million dollar budgets, drafting and implementing organizational policy, and managing large workforces, personnel, and agency resources.
"So when you put all that together, I think I got a pretty solid foundation for serving on the city council," Lopez said.
In addition to his professional career, Lopez's civic involvement in the Imperial Valley spans 40 years. He spent decades coaching and leading youth sports and has been heavily involved with local non-profits.
For the last 15 years, he has served on the board and as a past president of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Lopez also previously served as a member and chairman of the El Centro Library Committee Services Board.
If elected, Lopez says he plans to focus his leadership on three core pillars:
1. Public Safety
Lopez emphasizes that supporting first responders is critical, noting that local departments are facing resource challenges.
"Both police and fire in the city are understaffed, so I hope to work together on the city council to identify the funding that we can start enhancing both departments to provide public safety," Lopez explained.
2. Homelessness Reform
To address the homelessness crisis, Lopez advocates for a strategy that balances compassion with accountability. He proposes establishing designated areas to safely transition individuals off the streets.
"I think if we give them a choice between daytime shelter or nighttime shelter and an authorized homeless campground that has security, then we can get them off the streets," Lopez said. "Then, we have a place for the social organizations and non-profits to come and have direct contact with them."
Lopez currently works directly on this issue as a committee member for the Imperial Valley Continuum of Care, which addresses regional housing and homeless services.
3. Fiscal Responsibility and Transparency
Drawing from his experience managing government budgets, Lopez is pledging absolute fiscal accountability. He states he wants to ensure city funds are deployed efficiently and transparently.
Lopez says he wants his campaign to be highly accessible and collaborative. He plans to host regular community meetings where residents can get to know him directly, air their concerns, and discuss the neighborhood issues they want fixed.
Voters looking to learn more about Lopez's platform, or coordinate a meeting, can connect with his campaign through his official channels:
- Website: https://electricklopez.org/
- Social Media: Available on Facebook and Instagram
- Direct Campaign Line: Residents can reach Lopez directly at 760-791-1782.
