Official filing record
Full legal name
Clarissa Yvette Cardenas
Name on ballot
Clarissa "Claire" Cardenas
Campaign treasurer
Mirtha P. Caudillo
What is verified
The City of Laredo lists Clarissa Yvette Cardenas as a District 3 candidate, with ballot name Clarissa "Claire" Cardenas and campaign treasurer Mirtha P. Caudillo. She is third in the listed District 3 ballot order, which the City states is the order for the November 3, 2026 ballot.
City of Laredo — 2026 Candidates InformationHer official application for a place on the November 2026 general-election ballot identifies the office sought as City Council District III, gives her full name as Clarissa Yvette Cardenas, and lists her occupation as Insurance Underwriter.
Application for a Place on the Ballot for a General ElectionIn an official campaign announcement, Cardenas stated that she has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and said she does not come from a political background.
Clarissa "Claire" Cardenas for City Council District 3 — campaign announcementHer candidate-controlled Facebook page identifies the page as a Political Candidate page and describes her as running for Laredo City Council, District 3.
Clarissa "Claire" Cardenas for City Council District 3 — official campaign pageCandidate questionnaire
Core questions plus record-specific follow-ups.
VoteLaredo asks every candidate the same core questions, one office-specific question, and follow-ups tied to verified public records. Responses are reviewed, attributed, and linked to supporting documents before publication.
Respondent: Clarissa “Claire” Cardenas
Candidate for Laredo City Council District 3
Received: September 12, 2026
What are your three highest priorities for this office?
Name the outcome, timeline, estimated cost, and responsible department for each priority.
Candidate response
My three highest priorities are infrastructure and basic services, responsible economic development, and communication and accessibility. For infrastructure, I want to start with the everyday issues residents actually see: streets, drainage, sidewalks, parks, maintenance and water reliability. I would work with the appropriate City departments to identify District 3’s highest-priority projects, determine what is already funded and establish realistic timelines instead of making promises before knowing the actual cost. For economic development, I want growth that benefits Laredo residents. When projects come before Council, I want to know how many permanent jobs they create, whether those jobs can be filled locally, what incentives are being requested, and what impact the project will have on our infrastructure and resources. And accessibility is something I can begin immediately. Residents shouldn’t have to chase their councilmember to get an answer.
What will you do during your first 100 days?
List specific votes, policies, audits, meetings, or administrative actions.
What would you change in the City budget, tax rate, or spending priorities?
Identify what would increase, decrease, or remain protected and how the change would be funded.
What measurable plan do you support for water reliability and infrastructure?
Include project order, funding source, deadlines, and public performance reporting.
Which transparency and ethics rules should be strengthened?
Address contracts, conflicts, campaign donors, public records, meetings, and performance dashboards.
Which three district-level service problems require immediate attention?
Name the location, responsible department, proposed action, budget source, and completion target.
Your official ballot application lists your occupation as an insurance underwriter. How would that professional experience shape your approach to City Council decisions involving municipal risk, budgets, or constituent service?
Cite the specific public record, date, amount, policy, or measurable commitment supporting the answer.
You have said that you do not come from a political background. What specific preparation, advisers, or public-engagement practices would help you effectively represent District 3 from the start of a council term?
Cite the specific public record, date, amount, policy, or measurable commitment supporting the answer.
Your campaign announcement emphasizes accessibility, listening, and communication. What concrete channels and response-time commitments would you establish so District 3 residents can raise concerns and follow their resolution?
Cite the specific public record, date, amount, policy, or measurable commitment supporting the answer.
Candidate response
Accessibility isn’t just something I put on a campaign flyer. It’s one of the main reasons I’m running. Residents should be able to contact me by phone, email, social media and in person, and I want regular opportunities for residents to speak with me directly through district meetings. I also want concerns tracked. If someone reports a pothole, drainage problem or another City issue, they shouldn’t have to start from zero every time they call. I would establish a standard that constituent contacts are acknowledged within two business days, even when the problem itself cannot be resolved that quickly. An acknowledgment isn’t necessarily a solution, but residents deserve to know their concern was received, where it was referred and what happens next. And if something takes time, communicate that. Silence is what frustrates people.
You cite a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration as relevant preparation. Which elements of that training would you apply first to District 3’s needs, and how would you measure results?
Cite the specific public record, date, amount, policy, or measurable commitment supporting the answer.
Candidate response
My business education taught me about budgeting, management, planning, accountability and making decisions with limited resources. My professional experience has strengthened those skills. I would apply that first by treating District 3’s needs like priorities that have to be identified, organized, funded, tracked and measured. It’s not enough for me to say, “I’m going to fix the streets.” Which streets? What’s wrong with them? Which department is responsible? What’s the estimated cost? Is funding available? What’s the timeline? And did we actually complete it?
Candidates or authorized campaign representatives can submit answers below.