UPDATE 05/11/09

By John MacCormack - Express-News

In a City Council race marked by the civility of the debate, Ray Lopez easily defeated Anna Caballero and two minor candidates to represent District 6. “I'm honored, I'm anxious and I'm ready to get started,” said Lopez, 59, who prevailed in his second bid for a seat vacated by departing two-term incumbent Delicia Herrera. “More than anything, it highlights a lot of hard work by a lot of people,” he said of the decisive victory, in which the two leading candidates stuck to the high road. “We both made a commitment to run for the position and not against each other,” said Lopez, who retired this spring after 34 years with AT&T.

His priorities are to open a one-stop center for seniors and combat graffiti. Lopez brought a thick resume of public service to the race, having served three terms on the Northside Independent School District board, as well as on various other public boards and committees.

Caballero, 53, a USAA department manager, emphasized public safety, community involvement and working more closely with county officials. She could not be reached Saturday night after the race was decided.

The other two candidates finished far behind. Student Koi Smith, ran a low-budget campaign that emphasized recycling. Marc Zabriskie, 27, a dive show performer, ran a whimsical effort based on a Facebook group called “Marc for District 6 Council Dude.”