Fort Worth mayor race dominates, but don’t sleep on these City Council runoffs
The runoff for Fort Worth mayor has rightly gotten the lion’s share of attention, but four City Council races went to overtime, too. Two are guaranteed to elect a new representative and in the others, incumbents are fighting to remain in office.
The most interesting contest is in District 7, where Leonard Firestone, known as one of the partners who made the TX Whiskey distillery a success, faces entrepreneur Zeb Pent. Firestone is the best choice for the district.
In the first round, we backed political strategist Lee Henderson, arguing that his experience would help him represent a convoluted district with a wide range of needs. For similar reasons, we recommend Firestone now. His business acumen and connections would help him navigate the council and City Hall to get things done.
Firestone, 54, entered the race late, but he quickly drew the support of several past and present city leaders. He has a good sense of the development needs facing Fort Worth, including drawing and retaining a dynamic young workforce.
Pent, 41, portrays himself as a candidate who has carefully studied city business and would represent taxpayers interests. He led the crowded field in the first round with nearly 33% of the vote, bolstered by strong Election Day support. Firestone took nearly 28%.
Pent’s opposition to traditional economic-development incentives wouldn’t serve a city that needs more businesses, both home-grown and imported, to make a home here.
We’re concerned, too, that his ideology would become a commanding cause as a council member. Pent has been a spokesman for Stand for Fort Worth, which takes staunch right-wing stances on transgender youth, abortion and other social issues. To his credit, Pent has focused on traditional city issues in his campaign. But the district would be better represented by someone not so heavily invested in the culture wars.
The winner, who will replace retiring council member Dennis Shingleton, will have to be able to serve both historic west Fort Worth neighborhoods and the booming Alliance area in the north, where congestion and growth have constituents on edge about quality-of-life issues. The district needs an effective advocate on several fronts, and that’s Firestone.
Here are our recommendations in the remaining council districts and the lone Fort Worth school board race to go to a runoff:
DISTRICT 6
Incumbent Jungus Jordan, the longest-serving council member, faces a spirited challenge from nonprofit leader and educator Jared Williams in this southwest Fort Worth district. Jordan’s record of delivering for the district and the stability he can help provide amid much council turnover have earned him another term. Williams shows promise as a potential successor.
DISTRICT 8
Council member Kelly Allen Gray ran second to challenger Chris Nettles, and though it was close, it’s a clear indication of dissatisfaction with the pace of progress in the east and south Fort Worth district. Gray has been steadily effective and deserves another term, but she’ll have to convince more voters that she can deliver for areas such as the neglected 76104 ZIP code.
DISTRICT 9
Council member Ann Zadeh departed this seat to run for mayor, and a large crowd of candidates cropped up. Lawyer Elizabeth Beck ran far ahead of the field, though well short of avoiding a runoff. Her preparation and skill have her ready to step in on Day One. She faces Fernando Peralta, president of neighborhood group Las Familias de Rosemont. The district includes downtown and several politically active neighborhoods.
FWISD DISTRICT 9
The only open seat on the board this year will be decided in a runoff between two engaged, thoughtful candidates. We recommend marketing consultant Roxanne Martinez, who’s been heavily involved in the district’s schools. She fell a handful of votes short of an outright victory in the May 1 election and faces lawyer Cade Lovelace.
Early voting begins Monday and runs through June 1. Election Day is June 5.
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 May 20, 2021 at 10:51 AM.