Michael Crain shows up for his Fort Worth district. Is that enough for re-election? | Opinion
Michael Crain seeks his third term serving District 3 equipped with a clear vision for his district and understanding of what his constituents want.
We’ve seen his knowledge most pronounced through his approach to neighborhood improvement initiatives in the Las Vegas Trail portion of his district. Crain addressed the neighborhood’s crime issues by pushing the city to invest in better traffic systems, adding a public library and community center, and advocating for tenants through holding landlords accountable. And the real estate agent emphasized the importance of working well with his colleagues, an essential quality in a nonpartisan seat.
Before he was elected in 2021, Crain served as district director for predecessor Brian Byrd, so he’s steeped in the district’s issues and needs. He’s advocated for infrastructure improvements, such as maintaining existing roads and creating new ones where needed, all in his efforts to properly support development in the constellation of neighborhoods that make up his district.
Crain’s approach to managing a growing city is smart and steady. Voters should keep his experience on the council.
We were, however, bothered by Crain’s preemptive dismissal of an important public safety issue — the emerging concerns faced by immigrant communities drawn from the federal government’s well-documented efforts to deporting immigrants, with lawful residents and people without criminal backgrounds caught in the crossfire across the country. When we asked Crain about the city’s response should the issue come to Fort Worth, he said that while he doesn’t support immigration “sweeps,” his job is “to pull fear from facts.”
Which brings us to his challenger, Jason Ballmann. A former Marfa city council member, Ballmann’s campaign website has interesting, fresh ideas, including creating safe and accessible streets, addressing gun violence with targeted buybacks, and building infrastructure that can support the rapid development in District 3. We would have liked to hear him elaborate, but Ballmann declined to attend our interview; a campaign aide said that he wouldn’t participate in a meeting with another candidate unless it was a public forum, in the name of “transparency.”
Interviews aren’t always in public. It’s a critical component of a councilman’s role, and Ballmann opted out. We appreciate Crain’s willingness to discuss tough questions, even when we sometimes disagreed with his conclusions.
District 3 stretches across west and southwest Fort Worth, including the Walsh and Tanglewood neighborhoods. Early voting starts April 22 and Election Day is May 3.
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; Bradford William Davis, columnist and editorial writer; Bud Kennedy, columnist; and Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor.
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.