Dallas City Council: Who's Running in Your District On May 1?

DALLAS — It's what we all learned on day one of civics class: the best way to keep a democracy thriving is to maintain an informed electorate.

With that in mind, we've prepared thumbnail bios on each of the candidates on the May 1 ballot for Dallas City Council.

DISTRICT 1

Chad West is an Oak Cliff small-business owner and attorney. Among his beliefs: that Dallas must continue to advance anti-displacement policies — including the Home Improvement and Preservation Program and Neighborhood Empowerment Zones. The incumbent also advocates future planning and boosting locally-owned businesses by encouraging shopping local.

Stephani Kyle (also known as "Skyle") is a real estate agent and the owner of the Skylark Marketing agency. Her candidacy was spurred when she objected to the City Council's approval of sheltering homeless COVID-19 patients on Fort Worth Avenue at the Miramar Hotel.

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Gerardo Sanchez is best known for relocating to Dallas some three years ago to work as an organizer for the Socialist Workers Party. Originally a Mexican native, Sanchez says he's lived in numerous cities across the country and done exactly the same work.

Giovanni Valderas is an activist and artist who last ran for a seat on the council in 2019. His focus: equality for all. He sees widening gaps between the wealthy and those families living paycheck to paycheck, and he insists that the city "will collapse on itself" if more is not done to ensure economic opportunities are shared equally.

District 2

Raha Assadi works as an advocate and attorney for clients "amidst intense and adverse environments." In 2020, the 29-year old was named a Texas Super Lawyers "Rising Star." Assadi has also devoted her time to the Dallas Volunteer Attorney program, as well as supporting local activists as a legal observer with ACLU of Texas, and serving at Heart House Dallas. On her agenda: the Dallas housing situation, public health and safety, transparency and accountability and social justice.

Jennifer Cortez has taken up the fight for immigrants, "Dreamers," and Dallas’ at-risk communities. She touts her skills as an organizer and a strategist touting a pathway towards access for communities of color and equity while arming her constituents "with the tools and voice needed to be the change they seek."

Michael Fetzer hails from the suburbs of Chicago suburbs, although he's been a Dallasite since his graduation from Western Illinois University. His work: to help staff local hospitals with qualified registered nurses. He's a doggie Dad to two shelter rescues and has devoted time to volunteer work in the community. After a nearby shooting, he felt called to run for the council. On his agenda: public safety, infrastructure improvements and cutting bureaucratic waste.

Jesse Moreno advocates ensuring police have the necessary resources to protect citizens — while simultaneously holding the department and its officers accountable. Moreno also favors affordable housing, helping seniors remain in the community, working to solve homelessness and advocates "conscious development" that would remain neighborhood-centric.

Jonas Park has suspended his campaign for District 2.

Dr. Sana Syed is basing her campaign on a platform of strengthening and reforming public safety, improving aging infrastructure and finding lasting solutions to homelessness.

DISTRICT 3

Casey Thomas II has been an incumbent member of the Dallas City Council since 2015. He currently sits as vice-chairman of the Economic Development Committee. In his hands: recommendations on economic development projects across the city worth millions. He's credited with green-lighting the redevelopment of the Red Bird area and other projects around southern Dallas. Thomas also sits on the Housing Committee, where his evaluations of housing projects helps pave the way to home ownership for families around the city, but particularly in Oak Cliff.

Irby Foster is running for a council seat in order to increase command staff and provide law enforcement with mental health services. Foster is also an advocate for code enforcement, public safety and overall improvement in city services.

DISTRICT 4

Carolyn King Arnold is already a member of the Dallas City Council and presently holds the seat in District 4 —an office she's held since December of 2018. She's also held the seat before — from 2015 to 2017. She rebounded from a defeat to win the special election in 2018 after the resignation of former council member Dwaine R. Caraway.

Johnny Aguinaga is a homeless advocate and real estate developer, but his views on policy are not as widely known as some of his other activities. Court documents attest that he was convicted in 2000 on a charge of distributing marijuana and subsequently jailed after breaking probation. Not long ago, Aguinaga was also involved in a fracas with a local resident over campaign signs. Apparently he suggested he'd dispatch his cousin — who “packs heat” — to the resident's home house to resolve the campaign yard sign dispute. He told D Magazine the trouble stemmed from “political rivalry, false stories, stolen signs and misunderstanding.”

Matt Canto is an Oak Cliff native, Deacon, and a small business owner. He intends to focus on community outreach, business development and education, as well as road conditions and pandemic resources.

Maxie Johnson is running for a council seat in search of "a fundamentally new direction." Johnson cites crime rates, poverty and a lack of economic mobility that puts kids at risk of poor outcomes in adulthood.

Lelani Russell intends to focus on affordable housing, claiming that it's "not just a COVID-19 relief issue." Rather, she contends, it's systemic. She advocates jobs that earn a living wage, homeless housing, resources for those in danger of falling through the social safety net, and a local eviction moratorium. Russell also wants to address increasing job creation and what she considers discriminatory city policies.

DISTRICT 5

Jaime Resendez currently sits on the Dallas City Council as the District 5 representative. He's also the former District 4 representative of the Dallas Independent School District board of trustees. As he sees it, Resendez' mandate is to "improve the quality of life in Southeast Dallas." He wants to empower neighborhoods and facilitate residents' participation in district-wide decisions that entail changes in city procedures and policies.

Terry Perkins seeks to concentrate on affordable housing and public safety in Pleasant Grove. He points to street racing and gun violence as significant public safety concerns, and has openly criticized Resendez for turning "a blind eye to public safety in District 5 because he simply will not speak up on behalf of the folks who elected him."

Ruth Torres considers her mission, if elected, to pursue equity in the community. She's an advocate of workforce and economic development. Torres believes a robust program of entrepreneurship will help to "circulate wages and build our community instead of everyone else's." She's also interested in affordable housing and infrastructure.

Yolanda "Faye" Williams: has served as a paralegal specialist, case manager, contract paralegal, and substitute teacher in the community. In her position on the Park and Recreation Board, Williams pushed for The Cove at Crawford, a new regional aquatic center. The Cove at Crawford. She also was a proponent of the 2017 Park and Recreation bond program — program that means over $13 million to District 5.

DISTRICT 6

Omar Narvaez currently sits on the council representing District 6, a position he's held since 2017. Navarez is a former trustee of the Dallas County Schools and served on the City of Dallas Community & Development Commission from 2009 to 2013. His community concerns include economic development and housing, human and social needs and quality of life through arts and culture.

Monica Alonzo is running for a non-consecutive term to win back the seat she held on the Dallas City Council before losing to Navarez in her June 2017 re-election campaign. She served as deputy mayor pro tem from 2013 to 2015, and from 2015 to 2017 as mayor pro tem. Alonzo is championing smart growth, safe neighborhoods, jobs and recovery from the pandemic.

Tony Carrillo is a residential real estate developer. He does not appear to have a campaign site, nor has he answered questions posed by the press or responded to independent voter guide inquiries.

Wendi Macon seeks to strengthen schools, fully fund and staff the police, repair city streets and lower the tax burden on residents. She also believes that by diversifying the employment base, the city's tax base will be bolstered.

Earl Thomas is a pastor who believes the district needs "transparency and intentionality." His mission, he states, is "to create healthy relationships throughout the community, as well as provide avenues for a safer neighborhood." A lifelong District 6 resident, he intends to make I "servant leadership" a priority. The candidate writes, "I see this as an opportunity to serve people through empowerment and authenticity; Innovation: Creative thinking to reach all generations in addressing the needs of the community."

DISTRICT 7

Adam Bazaldua is the incumbent. He currently serves District 7 and the city on committees targeting government performance and financial management as well as transportation and infrastructure and public safety. His focus: "the need for neighborhood safety improvements, solving the city's growing homeless population, and attracting local businesses which better serve each neighborhood's needs."

Tramonica Brown is running "because we need a city council woman in District 7 we can trust." She cites her experience fighting for People Over Profits and her work providing resources to Pleasant Grove. She works with the homeless in South Dallas to provide placement, and helps the South Dallas Project in caring for the homeless. Her main interest is restructured public safety. She considers the current system of policing "broken" and in need of complete realignment.

Kevin Felder is a former city council member who's focus is on fighting for voter and worker rights, targeting pollution and on building housing and job creation. He believes in supporting the Police and Fire Department, with starting pay of $60,000 annually. His past votes include voting against the Trinity River Toll Road for environmental reasons and against batch plants, which prevented further pollution.

Walter “Changa” Higgins is a small business owner and community leader whose mandate includes environmental justice, expanding domestic violence services, protecting immigrants, LGBTQ equality, bail reform and reducing "over-policing."

Calvin Johnson believes District 7's greatest single need is economic development. "We have to help our current property owners and business owners improve and develop our property so we can attract new businesses and the right type of businesses in the community," he writes on his website. Johnson wants to encourage more local shopping and a more fair distribution of local bond dollars in the district. Overall, he says, "There needs to be a full economic development assessment of the different communities in the entire district."

Donald Parish Jr. currently serves on numerous boards in Dallas, including the African American Museum, the Parkland Clinic at Hatcher Station, the Dallas Police Homeless and Mental Health, and is the site based decision-making chair at Dade Middle School. He intends to focus on public safety, improving police and community relationships, zoning and revitalizing the economic corridors of District 7.

James "JT" Turknett is a practicing pastor who's campaign leans on the simple anagram "YESS," which represents his intention to focus on youth opportunity, economic development, safety and senior outreach.

Israel Varela is a former business owner and successful local realtor who believes the pandemic has caused a budget shortfall. In his view, the council needs to cut waste, and balance its budget and ensure city services actually deliver. “I am running," he writes on his site, "to ensure the safety of our neighborhoods, improve roads and bring businesses and jobs into our community.”

Read more: Thumbnail Profiles of Dallas City Council Candidates Districts 8-14

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