Your streets, schools, taxes: Our recommendations for Fort Worth-area local elections
Updated on April 30 to reflect changes to two Arlington recommendations.
Last fall, more than two-thirds of Tarrant County’s registered voters cast ballots for president and other offices.
A tiny fraction will do so in local elections, although early-vote turnout promises more interest than usual. It’s still not enough; after all, city councils and school boards are much more directly responsible for voters’ quality of life and the future of their communities than Congress or the president.
It’s hard to keep up with all the overlapping layers of government, who does what, what districts you’re in, who’s running for what. So, we spent weeks researching the candidates and issues and conducting interviews. Here are our recommendations in the Fort Worth area’s top races:
SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
In this special election to replace the late Republican Rep. Ron Wright of Arlington, Republican Jake Ellzey is the best choice. The ballot features 23 candidates, and many are worthy. But Ellzey, a Waxahachie state representative, is ready to step in immediately and lead for the district, which covers part of Fort Worth, most of Arlington and Mansfield, and Ellis and Navarro counties. A runoff is all but certain.
FORT WORTH
Mayor: Mattie Parker, a former chief of staff to departing Mayor Betsy Price and the City Council, brings the right blend of institutional knowledge and change as Fort Worth deals with tremendous growth, inequality and questions about its economic future.
The race is destined for a runoff, and former AT&T executive Deborah Peoples, a longtime community activist, would offer voters a clear choice about how much change they want.
City Council District 2: Incumbent Carlos Flores has been a strong representative for the north side and deserves another term.
City Council District 3: Voters have a clear choice for this open seat: Michael Crain, who has a tremendous advantage in knowledge and connections to work for the district.
City Council District 4: Council member Cary Moon has extensive knowledge of the city’s business and the district’s wide range of issues.
City Council District 5: Gyna Bivens has done solid work on housing and other district needs and should be returned to the council.
City Council District 6: Incumbent Jungus Jordan is best positioned to serve the growing district.
City Council District 7: This convoluted district requires political savvy, making public policy advocacy strategist Lee Henderson the best choice.
City Council District 8: Council member Kelly Allen Gray has earned another term with her steady work to address the district’s many needs.
City Council District 9: The open race for this district drew several candidates, and we like lawyer Elizabeth Beck, who reflects the district’s progressive voters and demonstrates an ability to dig into issues and find solutions.
ARLINGTON
Mayor: We initially backed lawyer/businessman Jim Ross, but after we learned he failed to disclose a past bankruptcy in response to a direct question in our Voter Guide, we have no recommendation for voters in this race.
City Council District 3: Healthcare administrator Nikkie Hunter was our pick for this race, but she also failed to disclose a bankruptcy and we have pulled our recommendation.
City Council District 4: West Arlington incumbent Andrew Piel has an edge in knowledge and experience, and he’ll be a stabilizing force with so much turnover on the council.
City Council District 5: Architect Rebecca Boxall brings extensive planning and zoning experience that will help boost this ailing district.
City Council District 8: Barbara Odom-Wesley, a retired university professor, is a good voice for the entire city in this at-large district.
FORT WORTH SCHOOL BOARD
District 4: Trustee Daphne Brookins deserves a second term to continue working on inequality issues for southeast Fort Worth schools.
District 7: Long-time trustee Norman Robbins brings a good business sense to the board and extensive knowledge of this west/southwest Fort Worth district.
District 8: Incumbent Anael Luebanos is steadily taking more of a leadership role on the board, which is good for this south Fort Worth district.
District 9: This open seat drew three worthy candidates, but the edge goes to marketing consultant Roxanne Martinez, who’s been extensively involved in local schools.
TARRANT REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT
Voters can choose up to three members for the board that oversees our water supply, major recreation activities and the Panther Island project. We recommend incumbents James Hill and Leah King, along with newcomer Charles “C.B.” Team as the best combination to keep the district running smoothly while still raising tough questions about Panther Island and other issues.
In city and school elections, runoffs will be required if no candidate draws more than half the vote. The top two candidates in such races will advance to a June 5 election.
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.
This story was originally published April 19, 2021 at 5:04 AM.