West Arlington can help whole city in council election. Here’s our recommendation
Western Arlington voters can help out the entire city with their council election by keeping incumbent Andrew Piel in office.
With a new mayor and at least two new council members assured by open races, the council will need engaged, knowledgeable representatives to ensure a smooth transition. Piel, who’s wrapping up his first term, is far ahead of his rivals on the top issues facing District 4 and the city as a whole. From crime and transportation to pandemic response and the city budget, the 49-year-old attorney and mediator is poised to help lead the council.
His rivals bring an interesting range of views and experience to the contest. B.W. McClendon Jr., a 49-year-old pastor and teacher, exudes passion for addressing community needs. On crime, helping the neediest and inclusiveness, he would be a strong voice.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHey, who is behind these endorsements?
Members of the Editorial Board, which serves as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s institutional voice, decide candidates and positions to recommend to voters. The members of the board are: Cynthia M. Allen, columnist; Steve Coffman, editor and president; Bud Kennedy, columnist; Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor; and Nicole Russell, opinion writer.
Members of our Community Advisory Board may also participate in candidate interviews and offer their views, but they do not vote on which candidate to recommend.
Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
How does the process work?
The Editorial Board interviews candidates, asking about positions on issues, experience and qualifications, and how they would approach holding the office for which they are running. Board members do additional research on candidates’ backgrounds and the issues at hand. After that, members discuss the candidates and generally aim to arrive at a consensus, though not necessarily unanimity. All members contribute observations and ideas, so the resulting editorials represent the board’s view, not a particular writer.
How do partisanship and ideology factor in?
We’re not tied to one party or the other, and our positions on issues range across the ideological spectrum. We tend to prefer candidates who align with our previously stated positions, but qualifications, temperament and experience are important, too.
Attorney Anne Nwaefulu, 58, and business owner Nehal Mehta, 37, show promise as candidates, but they need more policy experience before they’re ready for the City Council — or to compete with a veteran such as Piel.
A fifth candidate, Cheyenne Zokaie, did not respond to our invitation to interview with the Editorial Board.
Early voting begins April 19; Election Day is May 1. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote, a June runoff between the top two will determine the winner. It’s a two-year term, and council members make $2,400 a year.