Arlington District 6 City Council candidates in May 7 election
Chris ‘Dobi’ Dobson
No campaign website
Age as of May 7: 43
Occupation: Self employed in the gig economy
Education: UTA CAPPA School MS in Public Administration with focus on Financial managament and community/economic development
Have you run for election office before (Please list previous office sought):
Yes, 13th run all at-large in Arlington since 2009.
List highlights of civic involvement:
In 2020, filed complaint with TEC on Jeff Williams that showed credible evidence of committing felony and misdemeanor campaign finance violations. 3 other council people have returned campaign donations since then upon my request.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain:
Yeah got arrested for paraphernalia and misdemeanor possession of Marijuana in Kentucky in 2000.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain:
No.
What are the biggest challenges facing Arlington and/or your district?
We have very little resident input in elections and other matters of concern due to a not unfounded perception of pay to play. This is adding to a crisis of legitimacy were seeing at the county level (Sheriff, Med. examiner, TRWD,DA,TAD). Rising property taxesand inflation are causing a wave of gentrification in Arlington, although this could be considered a living wage issue.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
- Maximizing resident inputs by use of City App, townhalls, and interviews including appropriate follow through.
- Moving resources from economic development to community development of quality of life services.
- Ending conflicts of interests and corruption through accountability of all city officers.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
I’m prepared and have previously told the difficult truths cause many of our municipal issues, that those stadia are not public(just the costs) so they should pay property taxes, that the police don’t prevent crime just respond(crime prevention is resource based), campaign donations from those with business before the council is bribery, our Tax increment refinancing zones (TIRZ)have become parasitic, and our relationship with the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce has become a racket.
What is your stance on multi-family housing and multi-use development in Arlington?
Arlington should be encouraging more ownership by residents not developers or corporations. We have tried giving benefits to developers only to be left with high priced and half full potemkin villages. It is better, IMHO, to force developers to pay these costs and to help residents seeking to move from renting to owning what housing we have available. Our EDC has affordable housing as a use, we should use it that way.
What is your stance on trash and recycling pickup in Arlington?
We pay a lot of money for declining services regardless of how trash is packaged. We need to renegotiate with Republic and Waste Management to pay less if they are seeking to reduce services due to their desire to not pay higher wages.
What is the best path forward for Downtown Arlington? How, specifically, would you work toward that goal?
This area is of no more importance than other parts of Arlington. We should end the DAMC, nobody likes them. We should investigate the Econ. Dev. policy that has led to millions of wasted supply side dollars of apartments, breweries, townhomes. We should end the TIRZ or at least create a 5 year maximum lag in tax evaluation. We need to stop subsidizing the plans of old, white, connected ‘businessmen’ as if they benefit anyone but their own self interest.
What is your stance on efforts to make Arlington more pedestrian and bicycle friendly? Is there anything specific you would work toward with this issue?
I generally agree with increasing the livability of Arlington and using city funds to reduce the cost of living for as many poor people as possible. Traveling this city on foot, wheel chair or by bike provides for a different level of understanding the city and should be encouraged and subsidized rather than speeding around in an SUV. It encourages people to really examine the pollution caused by our consumerism as well as industrial pollution from gas wells, diesel engines, and concrete manufacturing.
Albert Parra
Age as of May 7: 38
Occupation: Oncologist
Education: Medical Doctorate
Have you run for election office before (Please list previous office sought):
None
List highlights of civic involvement:
I am currently Treasurer for our practice, The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, and serve on the Baylor Scott and White Quality Alliance Executive Board. I have also been awarded Top Doctor numerous years in a row. I served on the of the North Texas American Cancer Society Board and was the inaugural winner of the “Real Men Wear Pink” campaign. I have also participated in events with the Hispanic Wellness Coalition and the Butler Dad’s Club. I am also on the Butler Elementary Site-Based Decision Making Committee.
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.
What are the biggest challenges facing Arlington and/or your district?
- Economic Development
- Arlington Infill/Housing
- Safe roads and neighborhoods
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
My priorities revolve around upholding the safety of our neighborhoods by providing support to our first responders, both police and fire. I’m prepared to address issues on how we can revitalize existing parks and housing while making the best use of the precious land we have left. We have to be bold in recruiting and keeping businesses and young professionals in our city. I will work with city planners to ensure we continue to make fiscally conscious decisions so that our tax dollars are utilized to the fullest. I plan to work with various community groups and government entities so that we continue to improve trust, interaction, and transparency. By increasing citizen participation we foster pride in our city and a responsibility to help and take care of each other.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
As a physician, I have an analytical and fact based decision making process. I will use this to make the best decisions for all citizens of Arlington. I have refined my interpersonal and communication skills while maintaining empathy and respect for my peers, patients and citizens.
What is your stance on multi-family housing and multi-use development in Arlington?
I will work to ensure that Arlington is the most desired city in North Texas for working families, senior citizens and young professionals. My focus will be on protecting established neighborhoods, revitalizing our aging housing stock and most of all – making sure no matter where you choose to live that you are safe.
What is your stance on trash and recycling pickup in Arlington?
I am in favor of changing to trash pickup being in a receptacle. This will make the process more efficient as well as more environmentally friendly.
What is the best path forward for Downtown Arlington? How, specifically, would you work toward that goal?
We have to be bold in our utilization of the Economic Development Council (EDC) to recruit new businesses and optimize the existing businesses in Arlington. While the entertainment district is very important to Arlington, we cannot forget about our other areas of Arlington and ensuring proper growth in those regions as well.
What is your stance on efforts to make Arlington more pedestrian and bicycle friendly? Is there anything specific you would work toward with this issue?
I am definitely in favor of walking/bicycle paths through Arlington. This will improve our citizens opportunity to be healthy through exercise and allow our people to be more mobile by using means of transportation that will be good for the environment.
Long Pham
Age as of May 7: 59
Occupation: Auto Claims Supervisor
Education: Bachelor of Science
Have you run for election office before (Please list previous office sought):
None.
List highlights of civic involvement:
Volunteered at Mission Arlington, helped clean up East Arlington, Fish Creek, Bowie High School and Neighborhood near Bowie H.S.
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.
What are the biggest challenges facing Arlington and/or your district?
Crime rate is going up and Arlington Police cannot recruit enough police officers to fill the attrition rate annually. Arlington lose about 3.5 officers per month, equate to 42 officers per year, and each year Arlington is conducting one police academy class of 45 police candidates per class, and this year the current police academy class can only fill 25 candidates out of 45. I will have a plan to help recruit more police officers for Arlington and will need the help from all council members, City Manager, Police Chief and our Mayor.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be?
- Work to keep our Police and Fire well-funded to keep our neighborhoods safe
- .Keep our streets in good repair.
- Work to lower our property taxes.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?
More than 31 years of military leadership and 25 years in customer service experiences. Managing a small business with my wife.
What is your stance on multi-family housing and multi-use development in Arlington?
Multi Family Moratorium - I would be against this even though Arlington flooded the market in the eighties, and we are paying for it now. We should exercise caution on building and make sure that any development is the right value for that area.
What is your stance on trash and recycling pickup in Arlington?
Currently, Arlington is picking up trash twice a week and recycling one per week and next year Arlington may reduce the trash pickup from twice a week to one day per week. Other cities can do one per week and Arlington can adapt and find a way to do one per week and if one a week can save our city money and reduce the trash bill for our citizens then I will reconsider this plan. However, this is an issue will be voted on by all council members.
What is the best path forward for Downtown Arlington? How, specifically, would you work toward that goal?
Council members need to work with current business partners downtown to come up a plan to improve our downtown area. Some of the businesses may have to be relocated and The City of Arlington needs to work diligently to make sure all businesses are in an agreement to make this a reality.
What is your stance on efforts to make Arlington more pedestrian and bicycle friendly? Is there anything specific you would work toward with this issue?
Currently Arlington has bike lane on Center street, and we can do more for other streets as well, first Arlington must do a safety study before putting more bike lanes on other streets. We also need to build more sidewalks for our pedestrian specially near the main roads, city council must come up with a budget to make this happens.
Joshua Taylor
Did not respond.
This story was originally published April 24, 2022 at 5:00 AM.