Star-Telegram endorsements for May 2 elections across Tarrant County | Opinion
The Star-Telegram Editorial Board has weighed in on key races and ballot measures facing voters May 2 in Fort Worth, Arlington and Keller. Here’s a summary of our endorsements:
• Fort Worth’s $845 million bond package: Voters should approve all six bond propositions, which would fund critical road improvements, parks, libraries, affordable housing, public safety facilities and a new animal shelter — investments essential to keeping pace with the city’s booming growth, structured so no tax rate hike is required to pay back the debt.
• Fort Worth council pay raise and charter amendments: Voters should approve the council pay increase, which would boost the mayor’s salary to $60,000 and council members’ to $50,000. These are modest amounts that would open service on the council to residents who can’t currently afford it. All the accompanying charter amendments to streamline city operations deserve “for” votes as well.
• Arlington mayor: Incumbent Jim Ross has earned a third and final term: Crime is down, downtown is improved and his chief opponent, Steve Cavender, is campaigning mainly on the city’s recent property tax increase but couldn’t identify specific budget cuts beyond reducing park mowing schedules.
• Keller mayor: Two-term council member Ross McMullin is the best choice to refocus Keller on city business after years in which state and national politics too often infected City Hall under outgoing Mayor Armin Mizani.
• Fort Worth Council District 10: Alicia Ortiz gets the edge because her experience as a former council district director means she can be effective from day one for constituents in a fast-growing area with pressing infrastructure needs.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referred to above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
About our campaign endorsements
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; and Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor.
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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.