Monday is the first day of early voting for the May 6 general election, when voters get to choose who serves on city councils and school boards across Texas. These public servants decide how your taxes are spent, how your city grows and your neighborhood changes and how your children or grandchildren are educated.
Local elections touch on our everyday lives, but turnout is usually low despite the high stakes. The editorial board interviewed dozens of candidates running in 31 races, and we’ve summarized our recommendations below. You can browse candidate questionnaires in these races and others in the Dallas area at dallasnews.com/voter-guide.
MUNICIPALITIES
Dallas City Council District 1: Chad West
Few parts of our city have seen the development pressure that parts of north Oak Cliff have, and managing that growth responsibly is the main challenge that the three candidates for Dallas City Council must address. West, the incumbent, has a record of leading the planning for north Oak Cliff’s future. We urge voters to return him to council for a third term. He deserves credit for steering the West Oak Cliff Area Plan through an inclusive community process.
Challengers Albert Mata and Mariana Griggs have made important civic contributions, but they do not have West’s record of delivering at City Hall.
Dallas City Council District 2: Jesse Moreno
Moreno had some wins in his first term, particularly related to crime reduction and noise complaints in Deep Ellum. On the redesign of Interstate 345, Moreno seems to fall somewhere between a trenched freeway scheme and a boulevard option. The latter would dramatically limit mobility for southern Dallas commuters. On homelessness, Moreno approves of the efforts made on that issue so far, but he said progress has been too slow. We haven’t always agreed with Moreno, but we don’t question the seriousness with which he approaches the job.
Challenger Sukhbir Kaur is a newcomer to Dallas politics who demonstrates scant knowledge of city government.
Dallas City Council District 3: Zarin Gracey
During four terms representing Dallas City Council District 3, Casey Thomas grew into a thoughtful, passionate champion of quality of life and economic equity in the district and across Dallas. Zarin Gracey appears to possess many of the same traits and priorities and gets our nod to replace Thomas, who is term-limited and ineligible to run this year for this seat. Gracey has held leadership posts in city government and previously served as Thomas’ appointee to the Plan and Zoning Commission. His unique résumé makes him the better choice in this race over Denise Benavides, August Doyle, John Sims and Joe Tave.
Dallas City Council District 4: Carolyn King Arnold
We recommend incumbent Carolyn King Arnold, with caveats. Arnold faces a challenge from a passionate newcomer, Jamie Smith, who is critical that things aren’t changing fast enough in the district. While we have reservations regarding aspects of Arnold’s leadership, we think her experience and deep ties to south Oak Cliff make her better suited to keep the momentum going on projects such as the Southern Gateway Park and new housing in The Bottom neighborhood.
Smith, an accountant, raised concerns on public safety and the lack of development but offered few policy specifics on how she would turn things around.
Dallas City Council District 5: Jaime Resendez
Jaime Resendez offers the clearest and most compelling path to make the Pleasant Grove area a more prosperous part of the city. The incumbent is rightly reluctant to embrace more low-income apartments in an area of Dallas where they are already concentrated. Instead he supports the construction of more single-family houses for homeownership in his district and turning underused DART parking lots into mixed-use developments. Opponent Yolanda Faye Williams advocates for more high-rises and amenities such as coffee shops to attract millennials. Also running is Terrance Perkins, who is campaigning for more opportunity in the district.
Dallas City Council District 6: Omar Narvaez
Incumbent Omar Narvaez is the best choice to address the challenges facing this diverse district with 70% Hispanic residents. Narvaez has grown into a seasoned and effective council member, and while he generally votes with the progressive wing of the council, he is no ideologue. Regarding the complex issues facing his district, Narvaez offered nuanced and thoughtful responses that reflected a public official who is weighing the pros and cons to make the best decisions for his constituents. Also running are former council member Monica Alonzo, activist Tony Carrillo and consultant Sidney Robles-Martinez.
Dallas City Council District 7: Adam Bazaldua
Adam Bazaldua wears his progressive credentials on his sleeve and sometimes backs initiatives that are more symbolic than substantive. However, he also has built coalitions on the council in support of more equitable budgeting, investment and housing policies designed to reverse years of underinvestment in southern Dallas neighborhoods. While his progressivism can lead him to support some poor policy ideas, he is a consistent and steady advocate for his constituents and the best choice over longtime Dallas activist Marvin Crenshaw, businesswoman Okema Thomas and real estate broker Tracy Dotie Hill.
Dallas City Council District 8: Tennell Atkins
Several good headlines have been streaming out of southern Dallas in recent years, including a mixed-use development next to the University of North Texas at Dallas campus, the redevelopment of a failing mall in Red Bird and, recently, the announcement of a new grocery store. Council member Tennell Atkins deserves some credit, even though it has taken him several years — and the support of a council that is more aggressive about pursuing equity policies — to turn things around. He faces challenges from tax professional Subrina Brenham and artist Davante “Shawt” Peters.
Dallas City Council District 9: Paula C. Blackmon
Unseating an accomplished City Council member is a tall order. Such is the case for first-time candidate Kendra Denise Madison’s challenge against Paula C. Blackmon, who is seeking her third term. Blackmon has served her district, which includes much of East Dallas, Lakewood and Lake Highlands, and all of Dallas well since first being elected in 2019, and she deserves another term. Most notably she’s pushed for the dredging of White Rock Lake, a massive project that will require cooperation with the federal and state governments. She also is working to crack down on the growing problem of speeding in her district.
Dallas City Council District 10: Kathy Stewart
Our nod in this four-way race goes to Kathy Stewart, who is well attuned to the needs of the Lake Highlands area. Stewart, who led three public improvement districts, doesn’t oppose more affordable apartments but cautioned against concentrating them along a single corridor without additional services. She wants to advocate for underserved neighborhoods in her district to get more funds in the next bond cycle. Stewart offered more balanced views than those of her strongest opponent, Brian Hasenbauer, a former appointee to the Community Development Commission. Also running are businessman Chris Carter and publisher Sirrano Keith Baldeo.
Dallas City Council District 11: Jaynie Schultz
At the epicenter of the contest to represent District 11 is the redevelopment of the Dallas International District, a nearly 450-acre, mixed-use redevelopment district that includes the site of the former Valley View Center mall. Challenger Candy Evans says incumbent Jaynie Schultz didn’t do enough to move the project forward. Schultz admits to making some mistakes and trusting the property owners to secure and develop the site. Schultz deserves some criticism but has experience, coalition-building skills and offers more pragmatic approaches to the city’s challenges than her opponent.
Dallas City Council District 13: Gay Donnell Willis
Incumbent council member Gay Donnell Willis is the obvious choice over first-time candidate Priscilla Shacklett. Willis is seeking her second term representing this district that wraps around the Park Cities and also contains low-income areas to the east, such as the Vickery Meadow neighborhood. She has a strong record in serving all of her constituents equally, as well as being a trusted voice in debating citywide issues such as homelessness and rules for short-term rentals. Shacklett lacks the experience necessary to seriously challenge Willis.
Dallas City Council District 14: Paul Ridley
We haven’t always agreed with Paul Ridley’s philosophy, especially when it comes to development and housing density. But we can’t say he doesn’t do his homework and serve constituents with diligence. Ask Ridley about any issue facing District 14, and you’ll get a clear, direct answer with granular detail. Ridley is an outspoken opponent of short-term rentals and believes the city should dramatically limit them. He faces meager challenges from two well-meaning but inexperienced candidates: real estate agent Amanda Schulz and engineer Joseph F. Miller.
Farmers Branch Mayor: Terry Lynne
Former Farmers Branch City Council member Terry Lynne is the far more experienced candidate in this race. He offers the best opportunity for bringing stability to the mayor’s office, which was left unsettled after the sudden resignation of its former occupant amid ethics complaints six months ago. Lynne served on the council from 2016 to 2022 and has a lengthy résumé of city service even before that. He does his homework and has a demonstrated record of open communication with constituents. First-time candidate Jaime Rivas is well-meaning but lacks the experience Farmers Branch needs.
Fort Worth Mayor: Mattie Parker
Since her election two years ago, Parker has delivered on the promise that she would work to be a unifying leader focused on the city’s growth and prosperity. We strongly urge voters to return her to office for another term. Her honesty about the negative impact of partisanship on governance is refreshing. Parker is focused on the need to stay strong on public safety, build workforce opportunities, compassionately address homelessness without accepting encampments and ensure that Fort Worth is making the right capital investments. Her opponents include political newcomer and entrepreneur Jennifer Castillo, business owner Ken Bowens Jr., veteran Adrian Smith and political activist and socialist Alyson Kennedy.
Frisco’s growth is the envy of cities around the country. We urge voters to return Jeff Cheney to office for a final term. Cheney has been a presence in Frisco government since his election to the City Council in 2007. He has steadily promoted the city’s growth in a way that has also increased its livability. The city’s requirement for 10% green space for new development is one that will pay off for generations, for example. Cheney’s main competitor, former Frisco Fire Chief Mark Piland, does not offer a compelling reason to replace the mayor. Also running is newcomer Jonathan David Spencer.
Frisco City Council Place 5: Laura Rummel
Incumbent Laura Rummel is the better option to continue Frisco’s success and address coming challenges. In our interview, she showed a superior grasp of policy issues and offered much more clarity for the short-term future of this city than her challenger, Anwer Azam, an accountant. As Frisco continues to grow, Rummel is well aware of the need to update the city’s aging infrastructure. She is behind an upcoming bond package that will allocate half of the funding to street and road constructions. Rummel believes that the city has enough apartment rentals but advocates for more condos, townhomes and zero-lot line homes.
Plano City Council Place 3: Rick Horne
Rick Horne is a first-time candidate, but he’s not a newcomer to Plano City Hall. He served three years on the Planning and Zoning Commission and six years on the Parks and Recreation Planning Board. His priority is to keep Plano a regional economic engine, and he views the lack of housing options, including homes for entry-level employees, as a major problem that Plano must address. Opponent Colleen Aguilar-Epstein also has a strong civic résumé, but her rigid opposition to apartments won’t be productive as Plano leaders adapt to the evolving needs of its residents and businesses.
Plano City Council Place 5: Shelby Williams
Shelby Williams is the only incumbent member of the Plano council facing an opponent. Williams should be returned to office. He has served on the council since 2019 and now has the momentum of experience on his side. He is hardworking and committed to pressing Plano issues, such as public safety and smart residential development in this dense suburb. Challenger Brett Cooper, a physician, is running primarily because he opposes Williams’ conservative stances. We see no compelling reason, however, that Williams should be ousted.
We recommend Mayor Pro Tem Janet DePuy over council member Bob Dubey to succeed Paul Voelker, who is not seeking reelection as mayor. Before she was elected to the Richardson City Council in 2019, DePuy served 10 years on the city’s Plan Commission. Dubey also has deep ties to the community as a council member, football coach and athletic director. He has served as chairman of the City Charter Review Commission and the Richardson Parks and Recreation Commission and other committees. However, DePuy’s hefty résumé, greater experience on regional committees, leadership in her neighborhood and service on the plan board earn her our nod.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD: Randy Schackmann and Wesley Nute
Voters can cast two votes among three candidates for two at-large seats on the school board. We recommend those votes go to former trustee Randy Schackmann and lawyer Wesley Nute. Although current trustee Carolyn Benavides is an incumbent, her opponents are more qualified. Schackmann previously served on the board from 2013-2022 but was ousted in unfair balloting circumstances. Nute has represented school districts in legal affairs statewide and has a sophisticated understanding of school board issues, such as the proper role of trustees in dealing with administrators.
Dallas ISD District 2: Kevin Malonson
Kevin Malonson, with a wealth of experience in Texas education, is the best option among three strong candidates. Malonson, who is executive director of the nonprofit Teach Plus Texas, has worked closely with state education policy and teacher diversity initiatives. He is also a former teacher and has worked in several education roles.The other candidates Jimmy Tran, a small-business owner, and Sarah Weinberg, an accountant, did their homework and offered thoughtful answers about the direction of Dallas ISD, but they were not at the level of Malonson’s knowledge on the nuts and bolts of education policy.
Dallas ISD District 6: Joyce Foreman
Dallas ISD board trustee Joyce Foreman has been on the opposite side of this newspaper on several issues. At times, her positions can be cause for concern, such as her early opposition to a teacher accountability system that she felt didn’t fairly assess and across-the-board reward the abilities of teachers in the classroom. But Foreman is always prepared, asks important questions and cares passionately about the future of public-school children — all qualities of a good trustee. We recommend Foreman, who was first elected to this seat in 2014, for another term over challenger Stephen Poole.
DeSoto ISD Place 3: Marsha C. Roberson
The district has numerous obstacles ahead, including rebuilding trust with DeSoto parents and taxpayers after petty board squabbles, financial mismanagement and sagging academic performance. Both candidates bring passion and an impressive knowledge of the school district and could provide the district with levelheaded leadership. Our nod goes to Marsha C. Roberson, a chemist, over Karen E. Lacy, an educational diagnostician. Roberson impressed us with her commitment to prepare for this post, including studying at a district academy for aspiring trustees. We urge Lacy to remain a contributor in the educational community and a vital part of the district’s journey.
DeSoto ISD Place 5: Abe C. Cooper Jr.
DeSoto ISD’s academic performance and reputation are not yet where district leaders and families need them to be. But it’s also true that the district has made notable progress since a financial mismanagement scandal in 2020 that precipitated the appointment of a state conservator. Abe C. Cooper Jr. was elected to the school board at the end of that year and has put in the work to improve the district. He deserves another term. Also running is David “DaWud” Edgerson, a longtime educator and a former DeSoto ISD employee.
Frisco ISD Place 4: Dynette Davis
We urge voters to keep Frisco ISD on the path of excellence and return Dynette Davis to office. During a time of growth and change, Davis has ably represented the interests of Frisco students, parents and teachers. She appropriately supported the abandonment of a pilot program that removed some advanced classes. She is also right to raise concern about the district’s retesting policy.
Her challenger, Reed Bond, has honorably served the district, but we worry about his association with a divisive political action committee.
Mark Hill is the best person to keep the district moving forward with excellence. Hill, who has long been involved with the Frisco Education Foundation, showed in-depth knowledge of the inner workings of the district with a focus on education and with a genuine interest in defusing political and cultural fights that are currently distracting this board of trustees. With Hill, Frisco ISD has a better chance of sticking to the business of education, compared to the other candidate, Susan Kershaw, who has been endorsed by Families4Frisco, a far-right political action committee, and similar groups.
Highland Park ISD Place 6: Blythe Koch
Blythe Koch has been involved with Highland Park ISD as a volunteer since 2012. She is focused on academic rigor, teacher-led instruction, a reduction in technology and increased investment in teachers. She advocated for last year’s decision to move away from a curriculum called Lucy Calkins Units of Study in Reading and Writing, which is related to the controversial “whole word” reading method. She favors similar reform to math curricula.
Traditionalist crusader Paul Calce also wants reforms and raises important issues about technology and accountability. But Koch will make a better trustee.
Also running is social media provocateur Alexander H. Stein.
Plano ISD Place 4: Tarrah Lantz
Although Tarrah Lantz, a self-described PTA mom, is a first-time candidate for public office, she has served on the Plano ISD Council of PTAs and Plano ISD Education Foundation and on various committees. She said the district needs to reduce what she calls forces intent on “sowing distrust and division” in schools, a reference to divisive curriculum and cultural fights. She’s thoughtful, balanced and stands out in this race over Lydia Ortega, a retired economics professor, and Margaret Turner-Carrigan, a retired attorney and longtime Plano resident. Lantz has the proper temperament and expertise to be a positive addition to the board.
Plano ISD Place 5: Michael Cook
This race pits two experienced district volunteers against each other for an open seat. We support real estate investor Michael Cook over IT consultant Khalid Ishaq based on his more practical approach to school district matters. Cook, who holds a master’s in business from Cornell University, was blunt enough to tell us school closings appear unavoidable in response to the district’s declining enrollment and growing financial needs. He has served on the district’s Future Planning Task Force. Also running is real estate professional Greg Jubenville.
Plano ISD Place 7: Cody Weaver
Four years of experience as a trustee, along with broad community involvement, give Weaver robust knowledge about issues facing Plano ISD. When pressed on things such as LGBTQ issues and critical race theory, for which he made news last year, Weaver gave thoughtful and respectful answers. We don’t align with all of his ideas, but we don’t find them disqualifying.
Regarding meat-and-potatoes school policy issues, Weaver’s primary challenger, dispute resolution consultant Katherine Chan Goodwin, largely agrees with him. Also running is recent PISD graduate Simon Salinas.
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