Candidate with felony convictions declared ineligible for Arlington mayor’s race
Jerry Warden, a talent purchasing agent credited with creating the Dallas-Fort Worth metal scene, is ineligible to run for mayor.
Warden’s name was struck from the crowded mayor’s race filing list on Thursday.
Warden has multiple felony convictions and a lifetime registration in the state’s sex offender registry. State law prohibits people with felonies from running unless they have been pardoned or had their full citizenship rights restored, but does not specify all means by which felons can restore them. Warden told the Star-Telegram in a February phone interview his rights were restored after he served his sentences.
Warden said in a text message Friday he disagrees with City Secretary Alex Busken’s ruling and the exclusion of convicted felons from running. Election code wording, he said, “leads a common person to believe they have the right to run for office, especially after the restoration of the right to vote.”
“This is a very serious issue and the great State of Texas should be able to define this matter in a much more clear and concise manner,” Warden wrote.
Warden’s former opponent, attorney and business owner Jim Ross, has for weeks sought to remove Warden’s name from the ballot.
Ross sent the secretary’s office multiple complaints and files, including his listing in the sex offender database and proof of felony convictions. The documents were not proof that Warden was ineligible, Secretary Alex Busken said in responses to Ross, as they did not conclude whether Warden was pardoned or otherwise granted clemency.
Ross’ most recent submissions — letters from the state Court of Criminal Appeals and Secretary of State’s office forwarded to the Star-Telegram — state that they have no evidence Warden was pardoned or had his rights fully restored.
“I think we can proceed with the election and a little bit more integrity in the process now that we don’t have a two-time convicted felon who is eligible to be mayor,” Ross said in a phone interview.
This story was originally published April 9, 2021 at 10:29 AM.
