Election results show who’s winning Fort Worth City Council races
Though several Fort Worth council members appear on their way to another term, fresh faces will come to the council for the first time in four years.
The 2021 race drew the most candidates in recent memory with nearly 50 vying for the city’s eight districts. Council member Dennis Shingleton’s retirement opened sprawling District 7, which includes historic neighborhoods inside Loop 820 as well as Fort Worth’s rapidly growing far northern suburbs. Council members Brian Byrd and Ann Zadeh’s bid for the mayor’s office created vacancies in District 3 and District 9.
The runoff will be June 5.
City Council District 2
In District 2, incumbent Carlos Flores is on his way to another term with 64.94% of the vote. Jennifer Sarduy, a communications manager, had about 16.58% and Juan Sixtos, an engineer, had 10.33%.
The district north of downtown includes the Historic Stockyards District and several diverse neighborhoods as well as Meacham Airport and northern suburbs.
District 3
In the Fort Worth’s western-most District 3, Michael Crain, district director for Byrd and a Real Estate broker, had and early lead with 71.32%. Tonya Carter, who works in customer service, had 6.66%, and Kaite Johnson, self-employed, had 7.13%.
District 3 includes the growing Walsh area and stretches into Parker County. Crain had more than 75% in Parker County where early results showed 67 votes.
District 4
Councilman Cary Moon had an early lead over four opponents with 51.396% of the vote. Tara Wilson, a registered nurse, followed with 28.13%.
District 4 includes several older east side neighborhoods and stretches north to the east side of the AllianceTexas corridor.
District 5
In District 5, council member Gyna Bivens was leading with 62.81% of the vote. Bob Willoughby, who works in entertainment merchandise, had 11.193% followed by Antonio (Twin) Harris, who works in lawn care, with 8.88%. Mar’Tayshia James, collector, had 9.21% Richard Vazquez, Republican precinct chairman, had 7.92%.
The district reaches to far east Fort Worth and include DFW Airport and the American Airlines headquarters as well as Stop Six and other neighborhoods.
District 6
Council member Jungus Jordan, the longest serving council member, had 43.71% followed by Jared Williams, an educator and nonprofit leader, who had 34.41%. Tiesa Leggett had 21.82%.
The southwestern district includes the new Tarleton State campus.
A Fort Worth Police Officer’s Association endorsement of Jordan created controversy earlier this week. A mailer noting support for Jordan listed several candidates who ran in 2017 and 2019 who are not running now. It left Leggett off entirely.
District 7
Shingleton’s retirement drew 10 to the District 7 race. Zeb Pent, self-employed, led with 32.70%. Leonard Firestone, entrepreneur, had 27.73% and Lee Henderson, a political strategist, was in third place with 15.65%.
In Denton County, Pent had 34% of the vote followed by Firestone, who had almost 14%. Early results 676 votes.
District 8
In District 8 Christopher Nettles led incumbent council member Kelly Allen Gray 45.87% to 43.50%.
The east side district includes neighborhoods in the 76104 ZIP code where a lack of access to health care, groceries and other resources as driven life expectancy to a statewide low. The Star-Telegram explored life in the area in a 2020 series that’s resulted increased focus on neighborhoods there.
Disrict 9
Zadeh’s decision to leave diverse District 9, which includes downtown, the booming Near Southside and several Hispanic neighborhoods, drew nine candidates.
Elizabeth Beck, a lawyer who ran for the Texas House last year, had an early lead with 42.79%. Fernando Peralta, a logistics specialist and president of the Rosemont neighborhood followed with 12.50%. Jared Sloane, an operations director had 11.15%.
