For north side Fort Worth City Council district, here’s our recommendation
In two terms on the City Council, Carlos Flores has emerged as a steady leader for District 2. We see no reason for voters to change course in this election.
The district, which includes the north side and Stockyards and stretches north and west, is a mix of important economic drivers and aging neighborhoods. The closures and economic pinch associated with the pandemic have taken a toll, but as Flores notes, the pieces are in place for good job growth.
Flores, 52, offers a balanced approach to crime, an important issue for District 2 and the entire city. Flores has supported expanding the Police Department while taking steps to ensure better community relations. And he knows the department needs to continue to change how it responds to calls and employ de-escalation tactics.
On housing, Flores, an aerospace engineer, is working to bring in a mix of affordable options. He notes that the average house inside Loop 820 was built 76 years ago, and there’s a need for newer single-family options without chasing out current residents with spikes in property values and taxes.
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.
Flores has three challengers. The most active, Jen Sarduy, a 33-year-old communications manager and community organizer, is campaigning on a sweeping progressive platform. She’s energetic and knowledgeable of the issues, but Sarduy doesn’t offer enough specifics of what she could accomplish on the council.
Two other candidates, Theodore Gray and Juan Sixtos, did not attend our candidate interview.
Flores is the clear pick for another term in District 2.
Early voting starts April 19. Election Day is May 1. If no candidate gets more than half the vote, the top two will advance to a June 5 runoff. Council members serve two-year terms and make $25,000 a year.