Arlington voter’s guide: Here are the candidates for mayor in May 2 election
Arlington will elect a new mayor this year on May 2, as well as representatives for City Council Districts 3, 4 and 5 and Council At-Large District 8.
The city will also hold an election to decide whether to renew a quarter-cent street maintenance sales tax for eight years.
Early voting for the May 2 election runs from April 20-April 28.
Hunter Crow
Age: 31
Campaign website: sites.google.com/view/hunter-crow-for-mayor-2026/home
Best way for voters to reach you: Email
Occupation: Health Law Librarian
Education: Tarrant County College, Trinity River. AAS. in Library Technician; University of Texas, Arlington. B.A. in History, cum laude; University of Texas, Arlington, Undergraduate Certificate, Medical Humanities; University of North Texas, Denton. Masters of Science-Library Science. Concentration in law librarianship and legal informatics Expected: May 2027 University of North Texas, Denton. GAC. Health Information Expected: May 2027
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought, with years): Tarrant County Democratic Party Precinct Chair #2425 ran in the 2026 March Primary and was declared unopposed. I previously ran for the Arlington ISD Board of Trustees in 2023, 2018, 2017 and Arlington City Council District 7 2020 and Tarrant County College Board of Trustees in 2019 and 2025 and Texas Railroad Commission in 2022 and Texas State Board of Education in District 11 2023
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism in the city of Arlington:
Student Advocacy & Leadership: I would highlight his extensive involvement with Tarrant County College (TCC), where he served as the Senate Chair for the South Campus Student Government Association. I frequently mention my work raising awareness for social justice, equity, and diversity, including his role as a Social Justice Student Ambassador. Including serving multiple roles in the UT Arlington Student Government Association.
Community Service: I often cites his service as a Texas Notary Public as a primary way he directly assists Tarrant County residents with legal and administrative needs.
Academic & Civic Organizations: I have prior involvement with the Phi Theta Kappa Rho Chi Chapter at TCC South and his past membership as president in the UT Arlington Phi Alpha Theta would also be prominent features of his civic resume.
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?
TCGP, Bobby Crow, Stormie Crow
Why are you seeking this office?
I am seeking this office to challenge the “establishment” and provide a voice for working people who he believes are being “royally ignored” by the existing oligarchic rule.
If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be?
Public Transportation
Repair and maintenance of city roads
Police Brutality
How will you measure your success as mayor?
I would likely measure my success as Mayor of Arlington Texas by whether the city has transitioned toward a sustainable, working-class-centered model.
Housing Affordability over Corporate Profit: I have explicitly advocates for housing policies that “put people before the profits of corporate developers”. He would measure success by the availability of diverse housing options for all income levels rather than the construction of “luxury condos”.
Infrastructure Sustainability: Success would be defined by the implementation of green building standards and the transition to renewable energy sources across city infrastructure.
Public Transit Expansion: I would look at the modernization and expansion of public transit options as a key indicator of success in reducing traffic congestion and increasing accessibility
Expansion of Green Spaces: I identified increasing the number of parks and recreational areas as vital for community well-being.
Why should voters choose you over your opponents?
As a law librarian, my entire professional identity is built on the objective, ethical retrieval of information. I do offer a leadership style rooted in information science—meaning my training to prioritize data-driven transparency over political optics. “If you want the city to keep growing as a sports and entertainment hub, you vote for the status quo. I will say that if you want a different businessman in charge, you vote for Cavender. But if you believe Arlington should finally prioritize public buses, worker protections, and government transparency over billionaire stadium owners, Hunter Crow is the only person on the ballot speaking that language.”
How prepared do you believe the city is for the thousands of visitors who will come to town for the World Cup? Would you have allocated resources any differently as mayor?
I argue that the 125-bus “bridge” is a temporary fix for tourists that will vanish once the World Cup ends, leaving local workers in the same “car-centric” struggle they face every day. I find the reliance on on-demand services (like Via) instead of fixed-route transit as a failure of an “austerity” mindset that prioritizes billionaire sports owners over the working class. I would have allocated resources toward his signature transit proposal:Vision 34 Corridor: This project proposes a “Smart City” mobility link connecting Dallas to Fort Worth via Arlington using autonomous infrastructure and electrification.
What is your opinion on Arlington’s decision to raise property taxes to help close a $20 million budget shortfall last year? What would your strategy as mayor be to address this gap?
My approach would focus on progressive taxation, protecting public services, and targeting corporate entities, likely responding as follows:
Oppose General Property Tax Hikes: I would likely argue that increasing property taxes hurts working-class homeowners, particularly seniors on fixed incomes, many of whom are already struggling.
Protect Public Services: I would oppose cuts to public services like libraries and sanitation, favoring cutting “low-priority” items (like corporate subsidies) instead.
Alternative Revenue: I would likely propose tax increases on large, profitable corporations within the city, rather than on the average citizen.
Labor Focus: I would align with unions, opposing cuts to police and firefighter benefits, instead seeking to fund them through taxing the “millionaires and billionaires” or large corporations.
How would you address the growth in data center development across Texas?
I would likely address the growth of data centers with a strong emphasis on resource protection, fiscal accountability, and community transparency. I would oppose any development that prioritizes industrial cooling over the needs of residential utility customers, especially as ERCOT demand projects near-doubling by 2030.
Jim Ross
Mayor Jim Ross did not respond to the candidate questionnaire.
Shaun Mallory
Shaun Mallory did not respond to the candidate questionnaire.
Steve Cavender
Age: 77
Campaign website: www.cavenderforarlington.com
Best way for voters to reach you: Jill@cavenderforarlington.com
Occupation: Developer of middle-class neighborhoods.
Education: Studied business and accounting at UTA
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought, with years): No
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism in the city of Arlington: I graduated from Arlington High School and went on to study business and accounting at the University of Texas at Arlington, laying the foundation for a lifetime of service, leadership, and hard work.
My wife, Ann, my high school sweetheart, and I are the proud parents of three married daughters and grandparents to six wonderful grandchildren. Faith and community are deeply important to us, and we worship at St. Albans Anglican Church. Ann, a former Arlington ISD bilingual educator, is also a leader in Bible Study Fellowship International/Español.
President of the River Legacy Foundation
Police civilian training course
Involved with the effort to bring Medal Of Honor museum to Arlington
Served in leadership on multiple campaigns and efforts to improve city services and promote economic development
Provided leadership on campaigns for Arlington ISD bond referendums, including the construction of the Dan Dipert Career and Technical Center
Air Power Council
ARC of Texas
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? Steve Cavender Mike Long John David Moritz
Why are you seeking this office?
After decades in Arlington, Ann and I don’t just live here. We believe in this city and care deeply about its future. I’ve been invested here my entire life, giving me both perspective and urgency about where we are and where we need to go.
I’ve built a successful business focused on creating neighborhoods where working families can own homes, raise children, and pursue the American Dream. Through that work, I’ve created jobs, supported our economy, and understand what it takes to balance budgets and make responsible financial decisions.
As a homeowner, I know the real impact of rising taxes on families and small businesses, which drives my commitment to fiscal responsibility.
I’ve also worked to strengthen our community, helping attract the Medal of Honor Museum and serving as President of the River Legacy Foundation Board.
Arlington deserves principled, fiscally responsible leadership that puts residents first — and I’m ready to serve.
If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be?
Protecting Taxpayers. Arlington taxpayers deserve responsible leadership that prioritizes fiscal discipline, balancing the budget, controlling costs, and ending the cycle of tax increases and deficit spending. As a reform-minded businessman, I will restore accountability at City Hall and stand firm against new tax hikes.
Improving Public Safety. Strong public safety keeps families and communities thriving. I will ensure police and fire have the staffing, tools, and training they need, delivering safety, accountability, and peace of mind.
Strengthening Neighborhoods. Thriving neighborhoods build a stronger Arlington. I will focus on essentials like smooth streets, clean parks, and reliable services while protecting established communities from incompatible high-density development.
Restoring Trust. Arlington deserves ethical, transparent leadership. Guided by my military service, I will lead with integrity, accountability, and openness to ensure our city government serves residents.
How will you measure your success as mayor?
I will measure my success as Mayor by whether Arlington families feel the difference in their daily lives. That starts with safer neighborhoods, well-maintained streets and parks, and a city government that lives within its means. I will look at measurable outcomes such as balanced budgets without raising taxes, improved public safety response times, and stronger economic growth that creates jobs and opportunities.
Just as important is restoring trust in City Hall by operating with transparency, accountability, and putting residents first in every decision. Success isn’t about headlines or promises; it’s about results. If families feel safer, see their tax dollars respected, and believe their voices are heard, then we are moving Arlington in the right direction.
Why should voters choose you over your opponents?
Voters have a clear choice. In less than two terms, the current Mayor has taken Arlington from a budget surplus to a $25 million deficit, then voted to raise taxes twice to cover it. He has also supported thousands of new apartments, many of which are located next to established neighborhoods, and even backed the use of $33 million in city funds to subsidize another complex.
I will take a different approach and restore fiscal discipline, cut wasteful spending, and stop the Mayor’s yearly tax increases. I will protect neighborhoods from incompatible development, prioritize public safety, and focus City Hall on core services that matter to families. Most importantly, I will bring transparent, accountable leadership that puts Arlington residents first again.
How prepared do you believe the city is for the thousands of visitors who will come to town for the World Cup? Would you have allocated resources any differently as mayor?
Arlington is well prepared to welcome the thousands of visitors coming for the World Cup. Our city has a proven track record of hosting major events, and much of that success is thanks to the leadership of past mayors like Jeff Williams, Robert Cluck, and Richard Greene, who helped build the infrastructure and partnerships needed for events of this scale. That foundation puts us in a strong position today.
Moving forward, we must continue focusing on public safety, traffic management, and a great visitor experience while ensuring residents are not overlooked. With thoughtful planning and coordination, Arlington will rise to the occasion and showcase our city on the world stage.
What is your opinion on Arlington’s decision to raise property taxes to help close a $20 million budget shortfall last year? What would your strategy as mayor be to address this gap?
Fiscal responsibility isn’t optional in city government. It’s a duty. Our families live within their means, and City Hall should do the same. The $25 million budget gap required disciplined leadership. While appraisal district changes created challenges, Arlington was not alone. Other cities managed without raising taxes.
What’s concerning is that the response was to raise taxes on working families. That should never be the first option. When residents tighten their belts, their government should too.
Spending priorities matter, and reports of taxpayer-funded travel and expenses raise serious questions during a deficit. Fiscal discipline must start at the top.
This administration inherited a surplus but now faces a deficit, demanding accountability. I would focus on cutting waste and prioritizing core services. Arlington deserves leadership that plans ahead, protects taxpayers, and ensures long-term stability.
How would you address the growth in data center development across Texas?
I believe decisions about these developments should start with community input to ensure projects align with neighborhood expectations, infrastructure capacity, and quality of life. That means listening closely to residents on issues like location, noise, energy use, and water demand. If a project doesn’t fit the character or needs of a community, it shouldn’t move forward. My approach is simple: put residents first, and make sure growth happens on their terms.
