This Arlington district needs member to serve entire city. Here’s our recommendation
Barbara Odom-Wesley has earned a second City Council term in one of Arlington’s at-large seats, District 8.
At-large representatives are in the unusual position of trying to serve the entire city. On the biggest issues — crime, economic development and pandemic recovery — Odom-Wesley understands the pressing needs ahead. And she’s positioned to push the council to act on the recommendations of the Unity Council it established to improve racial equity.
Odom-Wesley, a 72-year-old retired university professor, is clear-eyed about Arlington’s development needs. She notes that to attract younger workers, the city must have walkable areas with work, home and recreation all within reach, along with better transit options. Odom-Wesley advocates both short- and long-term solutions to rising crime, giving police the tools they need while also improving community relations and improving education and early intervention.
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.
Challenger Chris “Dobi” Dobson is a frequent candidate for Arlington office. He’s deeply engaged with the city and identifies problems that others miss or don’t talk about. Dobson, 42, a dog walker and sitter, would be an agitator on the council, and that can be useful.
But he can’t match Odom-Wesley’s knowledge of the city’s broad array of issues or long record of service. Voters should stick with her.
Voters can cast early ballots April 19-27, and Election Day is May 1. Council members serve two-year terms and earn $2,400 a year.