Job description | Presiding officer of the City Council, the city’s governing body. Term is two years. |
Duties | Represents city at official functions Enacts city laws and ordinances Determines city policies Adopts city budget Appoints city manager to administer city government |
Annual salary | $29,000; reimbursed for official city expenses. |
Meetings | Council meetings three times per month; special meetings called as needed. |
City contact information | Contact City Secretary csoadmin@fortworthtexas.gov 817-392-6150 |
Mattie Parker | Website: https://mattieformayor.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattieforMayor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MattieforMayor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattieformayor/ Email: info@mattieformayor.com | RUNOFF |
Deborah Peoples | Website: https://www.deborahpeoplesformayor.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeoplesForMayor Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/PeoplesForMayor/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peoplesformayor/ Email: contact@deborahpeoplesformayor.com | RUNOFF |
Recent News Articles
- “What do Latinos want from Fort Worth’s next mayor, leaders?” Fort Worth Report (6/1/21) https://fortworthreport.org/2021/06/01/what-do-latinos-want-from-fort-worths-next-mayor-leaders-they-dont-necessarily-have-to-look-like-us-but-be-an-ally/
- “Following the Dark Money,” Fort Worth Weekly (5/19/21) https://www.fwweekly.com/2021/05/19/following-the-dark-money/
- “High-profile trial concerns Fort Worth mayoral candidates,” Fort Worth Report (5/18/21) https://fortworthreport.org/2021/05/18/high-profile-trial-concerns-fort-worth-mayoral-candidates/ (includes video)
- “Mattie Parker, Deborah Peoples runoff to determine Fort Worth’s political future,” Fort Worth Report (5/1/21) https://fortworthreport.org/2021/05/01/mattie-parker-deborah-peoples-runoff-to-determine-fort-worths-political-future/
- “How much do PACs influence local elections? The answer is sometimes elusive,” Fort Worth Report (4/27/21) https://fortworthreport.org/2021/04/27/how-much-do-pacs-influence-local-elections-the-answer-is-sometimes-elusive/
- “Big money flows into once-in-a-decade mayor’s race,” Fort Worth Report (4/19/21), https://fortworthreport.org/2021/04/19/big-money-flows-into-once-in-a-decade-mayors-race/
- “What kind of change does Fort Worth want? Here’s our recommendation for mayor vote,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (paywall), (4/18/21), https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/editorials/article250598709.html
- “Compare North Texas municipal candidates side by side,” Dallas Morning News (paywall), (4/18/21), https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2021/04/18/compare-north-texas-municipal-candidates-side-by-side/
- “Our recommendation for Fort Worth mayor,” Dallas Morning News (paywall), (4/17/21), https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/we-recommend/2021/04/17/our-recommendation-for-fort-worth-mayor/
- “Fort Worth is electing a new mayor. Here’s what Black Lives Matter activists want to see,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (paywall), (4/15/21), https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/election/voter-guide/article250439736.html
- “Fort Worth firefighters association issues endorsement for mayor ahead of early voting,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (paywall), (4/15/21), https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/election/voter-guide/article250732634.html
- “These Fort Worth mayoral candidates say voter restriction laws are bad for business, Fort Worth Star-Telegram (paywall), (4/14/21), https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article250664674.html
- “Watch Fort Worth mayoral candidate forum, hosted by chambers of commerce, Star-Telegram,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (paywall), (4/14/21), https://www.star-telegram.com/news/article250664654.html
- “Interested in Fort Worth mayoral candidates’ vision for business? Watch this forum.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (paywall), (4/13/21), https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article250635424.html
- “Mattie Parker bets on Fort Worth wanting new generation of leadership as she runs for mayor,” Fort Worth Report (4/13/21) https://fortworthreport.org/2021/04/12/mattie-parker-bets-on-fort-worth-wanting-new-generation-of-leadership-as-she-runs-for-mayor/
- “CBS 11 political reporter Jack Fink talks with Fort Worth mayoral candidate Deborah Peoples,” KTVT/CBS11, (4/12/21), https://dfw.cbslocal.com/video/program/1578/5490112-fort-worth-mayoral-candidate-deborah-peoples-talks-issues/
- “Fort Worth mayoral candidate Mattie Parker talks with CBS 11 political reporter Jack Fink,” KTVT/CBS11, (4/12/21), https://dfw.cbslocal.com/video/program/1578/5490151-fort-worth-mayoral-candidate-mattie-parker-city-is-positioned-for-greatness/
- “Deborah Peoples, priming diversity support, eyes Fort Worth’s mayor seat,” Fort Worth Report (4/12/21) https://fortworthreport.org/2021/04/12/deborah-peoples-primes-diversity-support-inching-closer-to-fort-worths-mayor-seat/
- “After more than a decade, Panther Island remains at center of Fort Worth politics,” Fort Worth Report (4/11/21) https://fortworthreport.org/2021/04/11/after-more-than-a-decade-panther-island-remains-at-center-of-fort-worth-politics/
- “Another Texas congresswoman has weighed in on the Fort Worth mayoral election,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (paywall), (4/6/21), https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article250440296.htm
- “Race to the top,” Fort Worth Weekly (4/7/21) https://www.fwweekly.com/2021/04/07/race-to-the-top/
- “Fort Worth council rejects independent commission as it prepares to redraw districts,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (paywall), (4/6/21), https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article250474541.html
- “Fort Worth residents want better public transit. What about the mayoral candidates?,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (paywall), (4/5/21), https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article250318079.html
- “Two Fort Worth mayor candidates boast deep pockets as others rely on small donations,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (paywall), (4/1/21), https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article250376401.html
- “Fort Worth mayoral candidate forum features property tax, pension, and homelessness discussions,” The Texan (paywall after free articles), (3/30/21),https://thetexan.news/fort-worth-mayoral-candidate-forum-features-property-tax-pension-and-homelessness-discussions/
- “A former Fort Worth mayor has endorsed this candidate to replace Betsy Price,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (3/22/21), https://www.star-telegram.com/article250122219.html (paywall)
- “Interviews with Mattie Parker and Brian Byrd,” Fort Worth Business Press – Mayoral Madness, Parker at 6:21, Byrd at 29:15 (3/9/21) https://fortworthbusiness.com/podcast/mayoral-madness/
- “Interview with Deborah Peoples,” Fort Worth Business Press podcast – JW and BP Get Civil podcast at 8:02 (3/1/21), https://fortworthbusiness.com/podcast/jw-and-bp-get-civil/
Candidate Q&A
1. WHY ARE YOU THE BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE? | |
Mattie Parker Experience, leadership, and authenticity. Those are the three qualities that set me apart from the other candidates. For 17 years I have developed the skills and knowledge necessary to lead Fort Worth into the future. As chief of staff to Mayor and Council I served as the go to consensus builder not just for the Mayor but for all City Councilmembers across every district in Fort Worth. Our city cannot be successful if we do not have strong leadership that knows how to put politics aside and unite our city every Tuesday at City Council. I have been that leader for five years and have the experience to connect with every resident in Fort Worth, lead the council through complex problems and pivot quickly when we face difficult times to bring calm and a focused strategy for Fort Worth Most recently, I have served as the founding CEO of Fort Worth Cradle to Career and the Tarrant To & Through (T3) Partnership, advocating that every child in every neighborhood has the resources to thrive in today’s workforce. My deep understanding of Fort Worth’s education system is a strong asset. With my leadership I know Fort Worth can drastically improve FWISD, which in turn will create a more qualified workforce, attract new companies, and grow our economy. As a scrappy small-town kid, I have worked incredibly hard to be where I am today. I am a quick thinker with a strong moral compass and my candidacy for mayor is about service to our residents and leading all of us into the future. My candidacy is not a steppingstone to seek higher office. It’s about focusing on Fort Worth and making sure future generations are proud of the community they live in. |
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Experiencia, liderazgo y autenticidad. Esas son las tres cualidades que me distinguen de los demás candidatos. Durante 17 años he desarrollado las habilidades y el conocimiento necesarios para guiar a Fort Worth hacia el futuro. Como jefe de gabinete de la alcaldesa y el Concejo, me desempeñé como el consejera no solo para la alcaldesa sino para todos los Concejales de la Ciudad en todos los distritos de Fort Worth. Nuestra ciudad no puede tener éxito si no tenemos lideres fuertes que sepan dejar la política a un lado y unir a nuestra ciudad todos los martes en las juntas del Ayuntamiento. He sido ese líder durante cinco años y tengo la experiencia para conectarme con todos los residentes de Fort Worth, dirigir al consejo a través de problemas complejos y girar rápidamente cuando enfrentamos tiempos difíciles para traer calma y una estrategia enfocada a Fort Worth. Recientemente, me desempeñé como la primera CEO de Fort Worth Cradle to Career y Tarrant To & Through (T3) Partnership, defendiendo el lema, que cada niño en todo vecindario tenga los recursos para prosperar en la fuerza laboral. Mi profundo conocimiento del sistema educativo de Fort Worth es una gran ventaja. Con mi liderazgo, sé que Fort Worth puede mejorar drásticamente el FWISD, a lo cual creará una fuerza laboral más calificada, atraerá nuevas empresas y hará crecer nuestra economía. Como niña de pueblo pequeño, he trabajado increíblemente duro para estar donde estoy hoy. Pienso rápido, tengo buenos cimientos morales y mi candidatura a la alcaldía se tratará de servir a nuestros residentes y guiarnos a todos hacia el futuro. Mi candidatura no es un trampolín para buscar un cargo más alto. Se trata de centrarme en Fort Worth y asegurarme de que las futuras generaciones estén orgullosas de la comunidad en la que viven. |
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Deborah Peoples I'm running for mayor to use my experience as a mother, business leader, and progressive change-maker to unite us into One Fort Worth. Our city has so much untapped potential, but previous leadership has overlooked the changes and growth that have taken place in Fort Worth. We can’t afford to continue to be a city for only the wealthy and well-connected. This historic crisis has made it painfully clear that our city suffers when leaders prioritize one group over another. Now more than ever, we need a mayor who will listen to community members of all geographic, racial, and sexual identities to unite us into One Fort Worth. |
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2. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED FORT WORTH’S BUDGET AND SERVICES, AS WELL AS THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS. HOW WOULD YOU GRADE FORT WORTH’S RESPONSE AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY? | |
Mattie Parker The decisions we make as a community coming out of the pandemic will determine the trajectory of Fort Worth for generations. Playing armchair quarterback and criticizing the decisions of elected leaders is unproductive. Right now, we need to focus on a safe and smart recovery from COVID, taking care of our health and safety as well as our economy that have all been ravaged by the pandemic. As mayor, I will ensure the city’s primary focus regarding the pandemic are: 1. Business Recovery – Business recovery must continue, including the successful work Fort Worth has done distributing PPE loans, but we cannot stop there. We need to support our small business and entrepreneurs in new and innovative ways, cutting any unnecessary regulatory red tape and connecting as many resources as possible across multiple sectors to help businesses recovery and our residents pivot into new businesses post-COVID. 2. Public Health – City leaders must coordinate with every partner who has worked together to fight the COVID-19 pandemic - Tarrant County, UNT Health Science Center, first responders, hospital systems – and do a full evaluation of the impact of this pandemic and understand what public health changes must be met to better meet the needs of our residents. 3. Learning Loss – Fort Worth students and families need every available resource and support to help students get back on track. Multiple city departments have already stepped up to support students, from neighborhood services, libraries, the police department and others, and as public gathering becomes possible again, fully activating our city facilities and employees to support students in after school and summer programming must remain a priority. |
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Las decisiones que tomamos como comunidad al salir de esta pandemia determinara la trayectoria de Fort Worth y sus generaciones. Jugar árbitro y criticar las decisiones de los líderes electos no es productivo. En este momento, debemos enfocarnos en una recuperación segura e inteligente después COVID. Esto consiste en cuidando nuestra salud y seguridad, así como nuestra economía que ha sido devastada por la pandemia. Como alcaldesa, me aseguraré que el enfoque principal de la ciudad con respecto a la pandemia sea: 1. Recuperación empresarial: la recuperación empresarial debe continuar, y no excluye el trabajo exitoso que Fort Worth ha realizado en la distribución de préstamos PPE, pero no podemos detenernos allí. Necesitamos apoyar a nuestras pequeñas empresas y emprendedores de formas nuevas e innovadoras, eliminando cualquier burocracia regulatoria innecesaria y conectando recursos como sea posible en múltiples sectores para ayudar a las empresas a recuperarse y a nuestros residentes a crear nuevos negocios después de COVID. 2. Salud pública: los líderes de la ciudad deben coordinarse con todos los equipos que han trabajado juntos para combatir la pandemia de COVID-19 (el condado de Tarrant, el Centro de ciencias de la salud de UNT, los primeros en responder, los sistemas hospitalarios) y hacer una evaluación completa del impacto de esta pandemia y comprender qué cambios de salud pública deben cumplirse para satisfacer mejor las necesidades de nuestros residentes. 3. Pérdida de aprendizaje: los estudiantes y las familias de Fort Worth necesitan todos los recursos y el apoyo disponibles para ayudar a los estudiantes a volver al camino correcto. Varios departamentos de la ciudad ya han dado un paso al frente para apoyar a los estudiantes, desde los servicios del vecindario, las bibliotecas, el departamento de policía y otros, y volver abrir nuestros centros comunitarios y traer sus empleados de nuestra ciudad para apoyar a los estudiantes en la programación después de la escuela y durante el verano deben seguir siendo una prioridad. |
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Deborah Peoples I would grade Fort Worth’s response as unsatisfactory. A number of decisions by the city have made the pandemic response less effective and efficient—including the city’s previous decision to eliminate the public health department. For too long, Fort Worth has areas with shocking health disparities: the zip code with the lowest life expectancy and the zip code with the worst infant mortality rate. We’re only as healthy as our sickest neighborhood—the pandemic has proved as much. My campaign is committed to ending pharmacy deserts to ensure all our neighborhoods have access to vaccines, boosters, and other necessary medical care. I am focused on targeted, efficient public health measures to make Fort Worth an attractive place to work, raise a family, and have access to quality healthcare. |
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3. FORT WORTH WILL BE RECEIVING OVER $184 MILLION IN RELIEF FUNDS FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN. HOW SHOULD THAT MONEY BE SPENT? | |
Mattie Parker Three priorities: 1. Prioritizing efforts to promote economic recovery for our businesses and families and our students. We must align our city budget to ensure we are supporting our community in recovery and long-term success economically. This includes how to distribute our CARES Act funds and the additional federal stimulus money. Streamlining city services and departments that cuts down on regulation and burdens to business and residents to encourage more investment and development in all areas of the community is critical. Developing a robust effort to support our employees to be client-facing and focus on serving our residents as customers. We have incredible employees that deserve to be empowered to make decisions with a “get to yes” attitude. 2. City Infrastructure: as one of the fastest growing cities in the country, our public infrastructure is strained, and critical investment is needed in many areas across our city. In North Fort Worth, we know transportation infrastructure, especially with our arterial streets leave residents in major congestion and concern for more growth. In other neighborhoods we have neglected street maintenance and neighborhood investment is needed. A continued investment through the Neighborhood Improvement Strategy should continue as a priority. 3. Public Safety, Public Health and Safe Neighborhoods: Our city’s foundation is in our neighborhoods and without strong public safety, including police and fire, we cannot continue our efforts to neighborhood improvement and investment. Emerging from COVID, we also know our needs for public health investment and coordination is critical for residents. Optimizing our partnership with Tarrant County Public Health, UNTHSC, JPS and all our hospital networks must be a priority. |
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Tres prioridades: 1. Priorizar los esfuerzos para promover la recuperación económica de nuestros negocios y familias y nuestros estudiantes. Debemos alinear el presupuesto de nuestra ciudad para asegurarnos de que estemos apoyando a nuestra comunidad en la recuperación y el éxito económico a largo plazo. Esto incluye cómo distribuir nuestros fondos del CARES ACT y el dinero adicional del estímulo federal. Es fundamental simplificar los servicios y departamentos de la ciudad que reducen la regulación y las cargas para las empresas y los residentes para fomentar una mayor inversión y desarrollo en todas las áreas de la comunidad. Desarrollar un esfuerzo sólido para ayudar a nuestros empleados de la ciudad a estar enfocados al cliente y servir a nuestros residentes como clientes. Tenemos empleados increíbles que merecen ser empoderados para tomar decisiones con una actitud de "llegar al sí". 2. Infraestructura de la ciudad: como una de las ciudades de crecimiento más rápido en el país, nuestra infraestructura pública está sobrecargada y se necesita una inversión crítica en muchas áreas de nuestra ciudad. En el norte de Fort Worth, sabemos que la infraestructura de transporte, especialmente con nuestras calles arteriales, deja a los residentes en una gran congestión y preocupados por un mayor crecimiento. En otros vecindarios hemos descuidado el mantenimiento de las calles y se necesita inversión en el vecindario. Una inversión continua a través de la estrategia de mejorar del vecindario debe continuar como una prioridad. 3. Seguridad pública, salud pública y vecindarios seguros: la base de nuestra ciudad está en nuestros vecindarios y sin seguridad pública, esto incluye la policía y los bomberos, no podemos continuar nuestros esfuerzos para mejorar e invertir en los vecindarios. Saliendo COVID, también sabemos que nuestras necesidades de inversión y coordinación en salud pública son fundamentales para nuestros residentes. Optimizar nuestra asociación con Salud Pública del Condado de Tarrant, UNTHSC, JPS y todas nuestras redes hospitalarias debe ser una prioridad. |
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Deborah Peoples First and foremost the money should support the coordinated COVID-19 relief efforts. Leading our city out of this crisis and paving the way to a post-covid world means taking bold action. And we have a unique opportunity to take bold action without putting undue burden on city taxpayers. My long-term priorities for the budget will be looking at what sectors provide the highest return on investment: chiefly infrastructure projects, efficient public health initiatives, and nuanced means of attracting businesses. As I’ve explained, these investments will not only pay the best dividends in the future but will also achieve the incalculable benefit of healing the longstanding divisions in our city. In an environment where the federal government is aggressive with investments for healthcare and public works initiatives, our city leaders need to put Fort Worth on the map for federal funding. |
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4. THE RECENT “BIG FREEZE” CAUSED MANY RESIDENTS TO GO WITHOUT POWER OR WATER FOR HOURS OR EVEN DAYS. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CITY’S RESPONSE (WARMING CENTERS, TRANSPORTATION, AND EMERGENCY WATER DISTRIBUTION)? HOW WOULD YOU WORK TO IMPROVE ELECTRIC/GAS/WATER INFRASTRUCTURE SO THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN? | |
Mattie Parker The recent state of emergency Fort Worth encountered several weeks ago demonstrated that communication, especially in times of crisis, is lacking in Fort Worth. Emergency communication is key – messaging needs to be streamlined and meet residents where they are at. We must create a trusted and well-organized communication system that meets our “on-demand” culture in every mode possible – telephone, social media, email, news media etc. so residents know where to turn to get accurate information. Fort Worth is scheduled to receive an unprecedented amount of CARES Act funds and additional federal stimulus. We must be smart and organized on how these dollars are utilized and make sure there is collaboration among all jurisdictions. It is essential we continue our work in neighborhood revitalization with investment in critical city infrastructure both above and below ground. As one of the fastest growing cities in the country, our public infrastructure is strained, and critical investment is needed in many areas across our city. A continued investment through the Neighborhood Improvement Strategy should continue as a priority. |
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El reciente estado de emergencia que Fort Worth encontró hace varias semanas demostró que la comunicación, especialmente en tiempos de crisis, es deficiente en Fort Worth. La comunicación de emergencia es clave: los mensajes deben simplificarse y llegar a los residentes de modo rápido. Debemos crear un sistema de comunicación confiable y bien organizado que cumpla con nuestra cultura de alta demanda. Esto abarca todos los modos posibles: teléfono, redes sociales, correo electrónico, medios de comunicación, etc. para que los residentes sepan dónde acudir para obtener información precisa. Está previsto que Fort Worth recibirá una cantidad sin precedentes de fondos del CARES ACT y un estímulo federal adicional. Debemos ser inteligentes y organizados sobre cómo se utilizan estos dólares y asegurarnos de que haya colaboración entre todas las jurisdicciones. Es esencial que continuemos nuestro trabajo en la revitalización de vecindarios con inversiones en infraestructura crítica de la ciudad. Como una de las ciudades de más rápido crecimiento en el país, nuestra infraestructura pública está sobrecargada y se necesita una inversión crítica en muchas áreas de nuestra ciudad. Una inversión continua a través de la estrategia de mejora del vecindario debe continuar como una prioridad. |
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Deborah Peoples We will do everything in our power to ensure resilient, efficient energy sources power our neighborhoods and we avoid another mass utility failure. At the end of the day, dollars invested in public infrastructure provide some of the best return on investment possible for the city, and this should be a priority as we continue to grow. Regarding the specific response, I would use my 30 years of executive experience to bring all involved leaders to the table to ensure we avoid another mass failure and stunted response. It is a shame taxpayer dollars were wasted on the city sending out a robo-call with inaccurate boil water advisory information. We need to have plans in place to avoid the panic and scrambling we saw from city departments and officials across North Texas. |
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5. HOW SHOULD FORT WORTH ADDRESS THE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING? WHAT ROLE SHOULD CITY GOVERNMENT PLAY IN RESPONDING TO PANDEMIC-RELATED EVICTIONS? | |
Mattie Parker A study commissioned by the National Association of Home Builders shows that for every $1,000 increase in the price of a home that 22,000 Texans are priced out of their place of residence. This study and the statistic provided should be a wakeup call for any local elected leader in Texas, paying close attention to the policies that move our residents further away from home ownership. In Fort Worth, we seem to have allowed the incorrect belief that affordable housing is section 8, vouchers or a responsibility that belongs to the Fort Worth Housing Authority. This is absolutely incorrect, and we have to retake the narrative. We have not adequately included our private sector partners and homebuilding community at the table to understand the opportunity and industry best practice to ensure we have additional affordable housing inventory in the pipeline. Additionally, our tax base is approximately 40% commercial and 60% residential. We will never be able to lessen the tax burden on residents until we flip this. We must continue to attract new businesses and help grow our established businesses here in Fort Worth. Economic Development efforts that focus on corporate relocation and true commercial growth is the only way to rebalance our tax base in Fort Worth to take the burdens off of individual homeowners. As mayor, I will work to refocus our efforts through: 1. New City of Fort Worth led strategy that includes an emphasis on affordable housing in a multitude of products across the city. 2. Better leverage City owned property in our neighborhoods in the urban core to match and provide more affordable housing options built by the private sector. 3. Attract new businesses and maintain relationships with the amazing local companies we already have to help lessen the burden of property taxes for citizens. |
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Un estudio hecho por la Asociación Nacional de Constructores de Viviendas muestra que por cada aumento de $ 1,000 en el precio de una casa, 22,000 tejanos pierden su lugar de residencia. Este estudio y la estadística proporcionada deberían ser una llamada de atención para cualquier líder electo local en Texas, prestando mucha atención a las políticas que alejan a nuestros residentes de la propiedad de vivienda. En Fort Worth, parece que hemos permitido la creencia incorrecta de que asistencia de vivienda es para la sección 8, o la responsabilidad que le pertenece a la Autoridad de Vivienda de Fort Worth. Esto es absolutamente incorrecto y tenemos que retomar la narrativa. No hemos incluido adecuadamente a nuestros socios del sector privado y la comunidad de constructores de viviendas para comprender la oportunidad y las mejores prácticas de la industria para garantizar que tengamos un inventario adicional de viviendas con precios razonables. Además, actualmente nuestra base de impuestos es aproximadamente 40% comercial y 60% residencial. Nunca podremos reducir la carga fiscal sobre los residentes hasta que cambiemos esto. Debemos seguir atrayendo nuevos negocios y ayudar a crecer nuestros negocios establecidos aquí en Fort Worth. Los esfuerzos de desarrollo económico que se enfocan en la reubicación corporativa y el verdadero crecimiento comercial es la única manera de reequilibrar nuestra base de impuestos en Fort Worth para aliviar la carga de los propietarios individuales. Como alcaldesa, trabajaré para reorientar nuestros esfuerzos a través de: 1. Nueva estrategia liderada por la ciudad de Fort Worth que incluye un énfasis en viviendas con precios razonables en una multitud de productos en toda la ciudad. 2. Aprovechar de las propiedades de la Ciudad en nuestros vecindarios en el núcleo urbano para igualar y proporcionar opciones de vivienda más económicas por el sector privado. 3. Atraer nuevos negocios y mantener relaciones con las increíbles compañías locales que ya tenemos para ayudar a reducir la carga de impuestos a la propiedad para los ciudadanos. |
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Deborah Peoples One of my top priorities is making Fort Worth an attractive place to work, live, and start a family. That means ensuring sensible commutes and minimizing congestion by focusing on targeted adjustments that make it easier for the private sector to offer affordable housing. Changes to zoning and land-use policies are often charged debates, but I want to call people to their better angels and focus on the long-term goals of maximizing the benefits of our historic growth instead of doing nothing and having it become a great burden. We can avoid this worst-case scenario by allowing for more flexible zoning and land-use policies. Regarding pandemic-related evictions, we shouldn’t have a situation where the city is leaving federal relief money on the table while our neighbors are being evicted during an economic and public health crisis. We need to intervene to make sure residents and property owners aren’t shouldering undue burdens during this one-in-a-century crisis. |
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6. NEW POLICE CHIEF NEIL NOAKES HAS SAID, “WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO DO SOME AMAZING THINGS TO LOOK FOR THAT POSITIVE REFORM, TO LOOK FOR COMMUNITY AND CONNECTIONS.” WHAT REFORMS TO FWPD POLICIES DO YOU SUPPORT, AND WHAT SHOULD BE THE TOP PRIORITY? | |
Mattie Parker Let me start by saying, I know we have one of the best police departments and police officers in the country. We ask our officers to be all things, to all people, all of the time. One of the most impactful moments for me as chief of staff, was sitting at JPS hospital after Corporal Garrett Hull was shot and watch the brotherhood of men and women rally around Mrs. Hull and her daughters. I am proud to support our department and will push back against any efforts to defund our police. Any candidate for mayor must acknowledge, that no efforts to reform or improve our police department is possible without the right leadership in FWPD. Chief Neil Noakes and his command staff have the talent, the experience and the focus to make improvements from recruiting, training, discipline, enhanced multi-disciplinary teams, transparency and community building. Additionally, last year the city established the Office of Police Oversight Monitor, which provides oversight and accountability to the FWPD, led by Kim Neal. Laying this out is critical to answer this question because any lasting policing reforms and community work will require the full cooperation of both these leaders. Plan number one is working to first understand all progress plans and future implementation that is prioritized by the OPOM office and Chief Noakes. Second, is listening and talking directly with residents that have both extremely negative and extremely positive interactions with police. And lastly, is working with our department on how we recruit and retain the best and brightest into out police department. Recruitment strategies have begun to improve, but we need to do more. In order to hire from every community in Fort Worth and attract young leaders into these roles, there must be trust with police and respect for the profession. |
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Permítanme comenzar diciendo, sé que tenemos uno de los mejores departamentos de policía y oficiales de policía del país. Pedimos a nuestros oficiales que sean todo, para todas las personas, todo el tiempo. Uno de los momentos más impactantes para mí durante mi mandato como jefe de gabinete, fue estar sentada en el hospital JPS después de que le dispararan al Oficial Garrett Hull y ver a la hermandad de hombres y mujeres reunirse en torno a la Sra. Hull y sus hijas. Me enorgullece apoyar a nuestro departamento y rechazaré cualquier esfuerzo por retirar fondos a nuestra policía. Cualquier candidato a al alcaldía debe reconocer que ningún esfuerzo para reformar o mejorar nuestro departamento de policía es posible sin el liderazgo adecuado en FWPD. El jefe Neil Noakes y su personal de comando tienen el talento, la experiencia y el enfoque para realizar mejores esfuerzos de reclutamiento, la capacitación, la disciplina, los equipos multidisciplinarios, la transparencia y la construcción de la comunidad. Además, el año pasado la ciudad estableció la Oficina para monitorear la Supervisión de la Policía, que supervisa y rinde cuentas al FWPD, dirigido por Kim Neal. Exponer esto es fundamental para responder a esta pregunta porque cualquier reforma policial duradera y trabajo comunitario requerirá la cooperación total de ambos líderes. El plan número uno está en trabajando para comprender primero todos los planes de progreso y la implementación para el futuro que priorizan la oficina de OPOM y el jefe Noakes. En segundo lugar, está escuchar y hablar directamente con los residentes que tienen interacciones extremadamente negativas y extremadamente positivas con la policía. Y, por último, está en trabajando con nuestro departamento sobre cómo reclutamos y retenemos a los mejores y más brillantes en nuestro departamento de policía. Las estrategias de contratación han comenzado a mejorar, pero debemos hacer más. Para contratar personas de todas las comunidades de Fort Worth y atraer a líderes jóvenes a estos roles, debe haber confianza en la policía y respeto por la profesión. |
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Deborah Peoples I support what the FWPD is beginning to do with its new Civilian Response Unit, and it’s long overdue that the city is following the recommendations of the Race and Culture taskforce and listening to the calls of activists long before. Making Fort Worth a safe place for all should be a top priority, and I will be actively monitoring these new initiatives. Moreover, I support providing additional funding for crime prevention programs and additional resources for community recruitment and community policing efforts so we can end the unacceptable status quo where the majority of Fort Worth police officers do not actually live in Fort Worth. |
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7. DO YOU THINK IT IS EVER APPROPRIATE FOR STATE LAWS TO OVERRIDE LOCAL CONTROL OF ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE CITY? IF SO, PLEASE PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE. | |
Mattie Parker First and foremost, I am a huge proponent for local autonomy. Fort Worth knows Fort Worth best and is the post qualified to make decisions to protect its citizens. While I believe local government should have jurisdiction over the laws and mandates that effect its people, there are times that state and federal mandates benefit the community. For example, during times of crisis, state and federal emergency declarations can be beneficial to the city. This allows our local government to receive additional assistance and aid that we may be lacking to protect the health and safety of our community. Ultimately, I think this should only occur in parallel with the city and county. |
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En primer lugar, definido la autonomía local. Fort Worth conoce mejor a Fort Worth y es el puesto calificado para tomar decisiones para proteger a sus ciudadanos. Si bien creo que el gobierno local debe tener jurisdicción sobre las leyes y los mandatos que afectan a su gente, hay ocasiones en que los mandatos estatales y federales benefician a la comunidad. Por ejemplo, durante tiempos de crisis, las declaraciones de emergencia estatales y federales pueden ser beneficiosas para la ciudad. Esto permite que nuestro gobierno local reciba asistencia y ayuda adicional que puede que nos falte para proteger la salud y la seguridad de nuestra comunidad. En última instancia, creo que esto solo debería ocurrir en paralelo con la ciudad y el condado. | |
Deborah Peoples Unless it prevents some extreme discontinuity in government, I am strongly opposed to such executive overreach. Local leaders, especially in a state as large and diverse asTexas, should not be governing with one hand tied behind our back. Fort Worth needs to be a partner with state leadership, not an adversary like we’re seeing now with certain restrictions. |
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8. HOW SHOULD THE CITY PROCEED WITH THE PANTHER ISLAND PROJECT GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTY OVER FEDERAL FUNDING? | |
Mattie Parker Frankly, the fact that we have built three bridges over dry land with no real plan to move forward is unacceptable. The next Mayor of Fort Worth must be committed to speak the truth and bring additional transparency and resolution to this project and the problems that plague it. There will be no more closed-door deals under my watch. Elected leaders have an obligation to the citizens of Fort Worth to make sure future generations aren’t financially burdened with this project. In order to move the Panther Island project forward, we must have a contingency plan. We are going to need to shift our focus from receiving funding solely on the federal level and start looking at alternative funding mechanisms such as public private partnerships. There must be coordination between all government partners – city, county, state and federal. We can do better and should. My experience working at every level of government helps me understand the perspective and how to align priorities effectively. I am committed to doing the right thing for Fort Worth based on solutions and a commitment to citizens, not politics. |
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Francamente, el hecho de que hayamos construido tres puentes sobre tierra firme sin un plan real para avanzar es inaceptable. El próximo alcalde(sa) de Fort Worth debe comprometerse a decir la verdad y aportar transparencia y resolución adicionales a este proyecto. No habrá más acuerdos a puerta cerrada bajo mi supervisión. Los líderes electos tienen la obligación para con los ciudadanos de Fort Worth de asegurarse de que las futuras generaciones no tengan una carga financiera con este proyecto. Para avanzar el proyecto de Panther Island, debemos tener un plan de contingencia. Tendremos que cambiar nuestro enfoque de no nada más recibir financiamiento únicamente a nivel federal y comenzar a buscar mecanismos de financiamiento alternativos, como asociaciones público-privadas. Debe haber coordinación entre todos los socios gubernamentales: ciudad, condado, estatal y federal. Podemos hacerlo mejor y deberíamos hacerlo. Mi experiencia trabajando en todos los niveles del gobierno me ayuda a comprender la perspectiva y cómo alinear las prioridades de manera efectiva. Estoy comprometida a hacer lo correcto para Fort Worth basado en soluciones y un compromiso con los ciudadanos, no con la política. | |
Deborah Peoples With new leaders in DC, we have an environment that will provide serious funding for infrastructure and economic recovery, and we can’t leave money on the table. With all our recent infrastructure issues, we need to make sure we’re doing the Panther Island Project right and doing it safely. As Mayor, I want to put Fort Worth on the map for federal grants and ensure the benefits from our rapid growth are enjoyed citywide. |
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9. ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? | |
Mattie Parker Growing up as the third generation on my family’s farm in Hico, Texas, a strong sense of community was distilled in me early on. We didn’t have much, but we did have strong values centered around responsibility, respect and equality. As the granddaughter of a high school principal, I recognized at a young age the impact quality education can have on a community. Like most of you, getting an education took sacrifice and determination. I put myself through college by waiting tables, scholarships and student loans and later went on to earn a law degree from Texas Wesleyan School of Law. I continued to work hard, dedicating my career to serving our great city. My 15 years of experience has been achieved behind the scenes, caring more about solving problems for my community than getting credit for the successes. As the soon to be 12th largest city, Fort Worth is at a turning point and we need innovative and experienced leadership to make sure our success story continues. If you want leadership that isn’t afraid to tackle the tough issues, embodies strong values and believes progress starts with innovation, I ask you to join me in moving Fort Worth forward. |
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Formo parte de la tercera generación que creció en el rancho de mi familia en Hico, Texas. Mi familia me inculco un fuerte sentido de comunidad. No teníamos todas las comodidades que las grandes ciudades podían ofrecer, pero teníamos valores sólidos centrados en la responsabilidad, el respeto y la igualdad. Como nieta de un director de una preparatoria, reconocí a una edad temprana el impacto que la educación de calidad puede tener en una comunidad. Como la mayoría de ustedes, obtener una educación requirió sacrificio y determinación. Pague mis estudios universitarios siendo mesera, obteniendo becas y préstamos estudiantiles y luego obtuve un título en derecho de la Texas Wesleyan School of Law mientras trabajaba a tiempo completo y tuve nuestro primer hijo. Seguí trabajando duro y dediqué mi carrera a servir a nuestra gran ciudad. Mis 15 años de experiencia se han logrado detrás de las escenas, preocupándome más por resolver problemas para mi comunidad que por obtener crédito por los éxitos. Fort Worth, que pronto será la decimosegunda ciudad más grande, se encuentra en un punto de inflexión y necesitamos un liderazgo innovador y con experiencia para asegurarnos de que nuestra historia de éxito continúe. Si desean un liderazgo que no tenga miedo de abordar los problemas difíciles, que incorpore buenos valores y crea que el progreso comienza con la innovación, les pido que se unan a mí mientras continúo trabajando para avanzar a Fort Worth. |
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Deborah Peoples |