Incumbents win three contested races for Arlington City Council

Eleanor Dearman
·2 min read

Incumbent Arlington city council members were able to hold onto their seats, with all three contested members winning their reelection bids, according to unofficial results Saturday night.

Council members representing District 3, District 4 and District 8 handily won their elections. Council member Rebecca Boxall was unopposed in District 5 seat.

District 3

Incumbent Nikkie Hunter, who works in health care management,won a second term with 58.3% of the vote to Marvin Sutton’s 41.7%.

Sutton, a retired air traffic controller, previously represented the district. He did not seek reelection to the seat in 2021 after deciding to instead run for Arlington mayor. Sutton also ran for Tarrant County judge as a Democrat in 2022, but lost in the primary.

Hunter, in a Star-Telegram candidate questionnaire, said her top priorities for the district include safe neighborhoods, low taxes and addressing issues in the district like streets, traffic and crime. Sutton’s priorities were sustainable infrastructure and smart economic development growth, as well as community-enhanced public safety and neighborhood services.

District 4

In East Arlington, incumbent Andrew Piel defeated dog walker and sitter Chris Dobson 77.4% to 22.6% with all vote centers reporting. Piel was first elected to the seat in 2019.

Piel did not return a questionnaire, but his website lists lowering property taxes, supporting police and fiscal responsibility among his priorities.

Dobson’ priorities included ”increasing the transparency, ethical standards and professionalism of the council,” according to his Star-Telegram candidate questionnaire. Dobson said he wants improved community control of city programs and to ensure “resources are directed at needs rather than wants.”

District 8

Incumbent Barbara Odom-Wesley, who was first elected in 2019, won against David Mosby for in the at-large seat with 59.9% of the vote to Mosby’s 40.1%, with all vote centers reporting.

Odom-Wesley, a retired professor, said priorities for Arlington include promoting healthy communities, elevating health literacy and expanding public transportation, according to her Star-Telegram candidate questionnaire.

Mosby’s priorities included lowering violent crime, lowering property taxes and evaluating apartment construction applications.