For Your Consideration: Clarence Opiela

Editor’s note: This is part two of a four-part series of articles written on four of the five candidates vying for a seat in Gonzales City Council. Councilman District 3 Lorenzo Hernandez declined to participate. The order of publication was picked at random. All stories will be linked together online.

Incumbent Gonzales City Councilman and retired Army veteran Clarence Opiela has a history of serving his country and his community. Opiela served the Texas National Guard for 20 years. He has served Gonzales on a number of boards and commissions and has run a successful local business, as well as worked for the Gonzales Independent School District for 35 years. Now, he is once again campaigning for votes so he may continue to serve his community.

Opiela is proud to have been the council member serving District 4 since 2012.

Prior to serving on Gonzales City Council Opiela served on the Gonzales Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors.

For 11 years, from 1984 until 1995, he served on the Come and Take It Committee. He helped to set up the downtown square for the annual festival and even hired local students to do clean up on the square for the weekend-long event.

From 1987-2012 Opiela helped set up the parade route, number the spots and help parade entrants line up before the parade.

Opiela said he did all of this because it is his duty.

"I have always felt it was my obligation to serve the citizens and the City of Gonzales by being a productive citizen," Opiela said.

In 1978 Opiela started a successful construction company, doing residential construction in the Gonzales area. In 1985 Kel-co Construction was opened and is still in operation today, with Opiela doing all of the company's estimates and invoicing.

From 1980 until 2015 Opiela worked for GISD. He started with the district as a vocational teacher and taught classes for 14 years. He then moved to Director of Maintenance and Operations, a position he held for the duration of his career.

Even though he balances his public and civil service, as well as a busy career, Opiela is a family man. He has been married to Debbie Downey Opiela since 1970. The couple moved to Gonzales in 1978, from Austin, to raise their children. Their daughter Dandy lines in Shiner. Their son Jace still lives in Gonzales.

"Gonzales has been good to us and we are proud to be here," Opiela said.

Opiela admits the City of Gonzales has fallen on hard times and has financial problems.

"We had the oil boom and high sales tax revenues, followed by a bust and a decrease in revenues," Opiela said. "Many communities are experiencing the same thing.”

Opiela said he feels the city needs a strong and unified city council to work together and strengthen the city financially.

"No one person can do this. We will have to increase our taxes and some utilities to be comparable with cities in our area," Opiela noted. "There is no other way out of this. Keep this in mind."

Opiela feels the recent change in municipal management is a good thing for the city.

"I feel we now have a city manager with a strong financial background and experience in a similar situation," Opiela said.

Opiela, who is proud to have never missed a city council meeting, said he is always available and ready to go to bat for his constituents for another term.

"If I get a complaint or a call from a citizen, I act on his or her concern and try to resolve the problem," Opiela said. "I have served as your councilman in District 4 for five years; I would like to serve you for three more years."

--

For Dan Blakemore's story, click here.

For Hector Porras' story, click here.

For Bobby O'Neal's story, click here.