Arlington City Council District 8 candidates
Chris ‘Dobi’ Dobson
https://www.facebook.com/ChrisDobiDobson
Age: 42
Occupation: Dog Walker/sitter
Education: BS poli sci, minor in hist - TCU 2002; MS in Public Administration - UTA CAPPA 2015
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought)
I have sought atlarge city offices since 2010, with the exception of 2012
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held):
I was on the original board of Arlington Proud, but have not held any city appointed position. I did however provide the first ever Remonstrance to the city as well as get the Mayor to admit to felonious campaign fundraising practices in 2019.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain:
Yes, In 2000, I was charged with possession of Marijuana under 2 oz. and possession of paraphenalia in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain:
Not as of yet, but fingers crossed.
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
ME @ $1000, and three other people @ $50.
Why are you seeking this office?
Arlington needs to confront a number of issues and I believe I have the ability to hold our elected and appointed officials accountable and have the difficult conversations to confront the inequalities in Arlington.
What are the biggest challenges facing your district?
Lack of resident engagement, lack of accountability of the council, gentrification, and the tourism myth.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
1. Expand the city’s outreach to residents through the use of our AskArlington App to meaningfully listen to our residents needs and wants for city actions, including Initiatives Referendums and Recalls.2. Professionalize the council by removing the perks of office (replaced by salary) and moving to all single member districts.3. The creation of a Citizens Oversight of Policing committee that provides both individual case as well as policy review.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I believe that I am one of the few people that has been discussing and agitating for needed changes in our city for over a decade. Anyone can look at the responses I have made to previous years FWST surveys to see that I remain focused on these issues.
City leaders have encouraged redevelopment of older property as the city runs short on commercial land. What, if anything, would you propose to entice developers to rebuild?
We have over incentivized commercial development through ch380 and TIRZs to the point that it is negatively affecting residential property taxes. While their is room for some level of assistance, the city must more focus on listening to residents rather than business interests.
The Unity Council proposed over 50 recommendations to create equity throughout the city. What are your thoughts on the final report? What recommendations from the report and/or other solutions would you advocate to enact, if any?
I believe that the Unity Council provided the first few steps in undoing the unfortunate reality and history of Arlington as white well to do bedroom community. After reading all of the report I agree with all of the proposals, including the maintenance of the Unity Council, however I do not feel, particularly in the realm of policing, that the proposed solutions go far enough to create equity. We must confront the systemic abuses of minority and youth populations as well as the privilege of ‘well connected’ member of our city to violate the law without repercussions, not the least of which were the 16 APD officers filing false reports.
Arlington voters approved funding for a city economic development corporation to attract large businesses while supporting local ones. What should be the group’s priority or priorities during its first year?
I believe this EDC to be more of the same for Arlington of well connected business interests suckling at the teat of Arlington residents. The idea that a regressive sales taxes be used to help the all ready rich is horrific. I believe the people of Arlington should vote upon how these funds are used.
Last year’s Term Limits Advisory Committee recommend letting candidates serve for eight years, then return two years after. Would you support a proposal to place the recommendations on the ballot? Why or why not?
No. The TLAC had as its chair a man who provided illegal in-kind contributions to the Mayor of Arlington. The TLAC made no real attempt to measure the support of the general population for the amending of term limits and thus it provided no real information, beyond what the special relationship ‘friends’ and ‘business interests’ of the council wanted.
Does Via, the citywide rideshare program, adequately fill the demand for transportation in Arlington? What, if any, programs or services should the city consider to complement Via?
Via allows us to collect information about the transportation needs of Arlington residents and would allow us to complement that service with other forms of transportation that meet the needs of residents without wasteful excess capacity.
How would you grade the city’s response to the loss of power and water from the winter storm, and what steps should the city take to better prepare for the next extreme weather event?
While not perfect I believe city workers did an admirable job in confronting the last extreme weather event. However we must confront the fact that city facilities like the Sports stadium had water and power throughout the event while residents did not. If these are public facilities they must be publicly available during calamities. Otherwise they exist as a form of tax fraud or tax avoidance.
If elected, how will you make yourself accessible to all constituents as an at-large councilmember?
I will be hosting weekly town halls on line to discuss the activities of the council before the scheduled meetings and the needs and wants of residents. I will also have a policy of engaging with any group that seeks to create or alter city policy to help them achieve their goal if legal.
Barbara Odom-Wesley, PhD
Age: 72
Occupation: Retired University Professor: Health Information Management
Education: BS-Medical Record Administration; MA-Education, Business; PhD-Health & Family Science
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought)
2018-Lost election for City Council District 1; 2019-Eelected to City Council District, 8, At Large
Please list highlights of your civic involvement (for example, service on boards/commissions or leadership positions held):
Elected President of local, state and national professional associations; Board of Trustees: Arlington Memorial Hospital; Health Impact Council, Texas Health Resources; Health Committee Chair: AISD, NAACP; City Council Boards: ethics, volunteer advisory, youth & families; Mentor: Richard Greene Scholars Program; Chartering President: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Arlington Chapter; Group Leader: Bible Study Fellowship; Fellow & Emeritus member: AHIMA; United Way: Advisory Board; MLK Board.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain:
No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain:
No
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
I have received 7 endorsements resulting in donations. I also have grassroots support from many individuals. Finance reports are available for public review.
Why are you seeking this office?
To continue the work started in my first term: increase equity & inclusion; reduce disparities; expand citizen engagement; advance COVID recovery & restoration; protect livable neighborhoods; enhance regional mobility and support youth and families.
What are the biggest challenges facing your district?
My district is at large, representing all 400,000 residents. Arlington has transitioned from a suburb to an urban city with urban issues. Our biggest challenge is to adapt to the growth, anticipate problems before they become crises.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
Implement the racial equity plan outlined by the Unity Council; Protect livable neighborhoods; Enhance regional mobility.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I am not running against an opponent. I am running for continued service in the district 8 seat. I am purposed with a legacy and a lifetime of service; I am prepared through my formal education and extensive leadership experience; I am proven through my first term service and collaborative ability. During my first term, I chaired the Municipal Policy committee. I represented Arlington on the Regional Transportation Council; I was appointed vice-chair of the National League of Cities’ Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I championed the adoption of equity resolutions and serve as secretary of the Tomorrow Foundation.
City leaders have encouraged redevelopment of older property as the city runs short on commercial land. What, if anything, would you propose to entice developers to rebuild?
Arlington has many tools in its redevelopment toolbox to attract business/jobs to the city: Incentives, abatements, TIRZ and opportunity zones as well as overlay districts. We are also at an advantage when we can offer a variety of housing options and an educated workforce. Other amenities attract development such as the parks system, support for the arts and regional connectivity. It is also attractive as Arlington offers an award-winning well-run city and a spectacular entertainment district. This is all evidenced as Arlington was selected in a country-wide competition, to be the site of the National Medal of Honor Museum.
The Unity Council proposed over 50 recommendations to create equity throughout the city. What are your thoughts on the final report? What recommendations from the report and/or other solutions would you advocate to enact, if any?
The Unity Council final report is comprehensive with recommendations for housing, health & wellness, economic equality, education & workforce training and policing and social reform. I look forward to implementing the vast majority of the recommendations. In the short term, I support continuing this work in a standing committee and establishing a city department to monitor and continue the progress in diversity, equity and inclusion.
Arlington voters approved funding for a city economic development corporation to attract large businesses while supporting local ones. What should be the group’s priority or priorities during its first year?
During the first year, it is important for the EDC to spur commercial development and aid the recovery of small businesses.
Last year’s Term Limits Advisory Committee recommend letting candidates serve for eight years, then return two years after. Would you support a proposal to place the recommendations on the ballot? Why or why not?
Having more experience with the impact of term limits, we can now identify some advantages and disadvantages. It is time to review the committee’s recommendations and ask the voters.
Does Via, the citywide rideshare program, adequately fill the demand for transportation in Arlington? What, if any, programs or services should the city consider to complement Via?
The Transportation Advisory Committee of 2017 never intended rideshare as the only transportation choice. I support continuing to implement the recommendations that include VIA as part of the transportation system. Light rail, bus rapid transit, fixed routes in the most traveled corridors, and other innovative solutions should be explored. It is critical to keep the process open for public participation and to increase connectivity with the North Texas region.
How would you grade the city’s response to the loss of power and water from the winter storm, and what steps should the city take to better prepare for the next extreme weather event?
I would grade the city’s response to this crisis as an A. The response included providing emergency shelter, utility and rent assistance, as well as deploying public works teams to restore power where we could. Going forward, it will take a state-wide effort to upgrade and winterize our resources.
If elected, how will you make yourself accessible to all constituents as an at-large councilmember?
During my first term I utilized e-mails and phone calls, e-newsletters, tele town halls, social media and public appearances at community events to be accessible to constituents. I will continue all these efforts.
