Go vote in Fort Worth, Arlington runoffs. Need help? Here are our recommendations.
Tarrant County’s two largest cities are in for major change. As of Monday, voters in Fort Worth and Arlington can take part in setting their directions.
Both cities will choose new mayors to replace longtime incumbents. In Fort Worth, half the city council races went to runoffs. One Arlington race is in overtime, along with one Fort Worth school board contest.
Early voting began Monday morning, and you have a little more than a week to cast a ballot. Election Day is June 5. You don’t have to have voted in the first round to cast a ballot now. Here are our recommendations in the top races:
FORT WORTH
Mayor: Mattie Parker is well-positioned to lead Fort Worth into a new era. Her experience as chief of staff to the mayor and City Council gives her an immediate understanding of how to affect change in city government. And her leadership style promises to help a council with several new members navigate the post-pandemic era, racial justice concerns and the need to shape an economy for the future.
Opponent Deborah Peoples is an excellent candidate with valuable business experience, but Parker is the right choice.
District 6: Long-time incumbent Jungus Jordan has earned another term in this southwest Fort Worth district. Challenger Jared Williams may be a worthy successor, but for now, Jordan is delivering for his constituents.
District 7: This open district sprawls from Arlington Heights to Alliance, so it needs a council member who can build coalitions to get things done on a variety of issues. Businessman Leonard Firestone has the necessary skills, while entrepreneur Zeb Pent doesn’t align with the district’s need for economic development and threatens to get bogged down in divisive social issues.
District 8: Challenger Chris Nettles led the initial round of voting over incumbent Kelly Allen Gray, indicating voters in this district are growing impatient for solutions to housing, economic and healthcare needs. Gray has delivered steady progress and deserves re-election, but she’ll have to persuade voters she can help quicken the pace of change.
District 9: Lawyer Elizabeth Beck is best prepared to represent this progressive, politically active district. It’s an important area for the city, too, encompassing downtown. Beck’s opponent, Fernando Peralta, is a Rosemont neighborhood leader with promise as a future officeholder.
ARLINGTON
Mayor: Jim Ross is positioned to fill the many roles of Arlington’s mayor, including chief salesman and recruiter. His record of leadership shows he’ll be able to help the city navigate through difficult issues such as crime and transportation, too. His opponent, Michael Glaspie, is a veteran Arlington leader, but Ross is the better choice.
District 3: Healthcare administrator Nikkie Hunter has served the city in several roles, and she understands the need to improve basic services for southeast Arlington. Her opponent is Diana Saleh, an account manager.
FORT WORTH ISD
District 9: Marketing consultant Roxanne Martinez is the right candidate to replace departing board member Ashley Paz. Martinez has been active in local schools and understands equity concerns facing the district. Her opponent, lawyer Cade Lovelace, has also been involved in education issues and understands the urgency of students catching up from the pandemic, but Martinez will make the better trustee.
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.