Here’s who’s running for the Tarrant Regional Water District Board on May 6
Vote for none, one or two. Top two vote-getters will win the open seats.
Joe Ashton
Age: 40
Campaign website: joeashtonfortrwd.com
Best way for voters to reach you: AshtonForTRWD@gmail.com
Occupation: City Management
Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Alabama
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought, with years): Yes. Mayor of River Oaks since 2020, River Oaks City Council from 2012-2020.
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism in Tarrant County: Over 20 years of local government experience in Tarrant County, as a volunteer, and later as both an appointed and elected official. Former officer of the NAS JRB Ft. Worth Regional Coordination Committee; Former member of NW Tarrant County YMCA Board of Directors.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: No
Who are your top three campaign contributors?: Walter Horton; Doreen Geiger; Brenda Helmer
Why are you seeking this office?: I have a passion for public service and believe the District can improve in areas such as transparency and accountability to taxpayers.
What are the biggest challenges facing the Tarrant Regional Water District?: Transparency. Decisions need to be made openly in a way that makes the District accountable to taxpayers.
If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be?: Flood control, water supply, and water quality.
How will you measure your success as a TRWD board member?: When we see public input and participation actually being put to use rather than treating it as a nuisance, that’s a success for all involved.
Why should voters choose you over your opponents?: I have over 20 years of experience in local government, experience in open meetings, administering budgets, and helping residents fight their way through bureaucracy.
How would you assess the performance of general manager Dan Buhman?: I’m not in a position to assess his performance currently. I look forward to working with the general manager and assessing his performance based on the merits of the job he does when I’m in that position.
Chad Moore
Age: 51
Campaign website: https://chad4trwd.wixsite.com/chadmoore
Best way for voters to reach you: chad4trwd@gmail.com or text to 817-564-3306
Occupation: Locomotive Engineer
Education: B.S.
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought, with years): No
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism in Tarrant County: Sadly I have none
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: No
Who are your top three campaign contributors?: None
Why are you seeking this office?: To give a voice to the average family
What are the biggest challenges facing the Tarrant Regional Water District?: An ever growing consumer base
If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be?: Greater Transparency, Push for more every day citizens to be involved, maintain safe and sufficient water supply for this growing region
How will you measure your success as a TRWD board member?: If more people become involved with the TRWD
Why should voters choose you over your opponents?: New perspective
How would you assess the performance of general manager Dan Buhman?: A far as I can tell he has done a fine job.
Paxton Motheral
Age: 39
Campaign website: www.PaxtonMotheral.com
Best way for voters to reach you: Paxton@PaxtonMotheral.com
Occupation: Vice President of Cassco Development Co.
Education: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Masters of Science in Real Estate Development Texas Christian University, B.B.A Finance w/ Real Estate and B.S. Ranch Management
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought, with years): This is my first office to file to be on the ballot.
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism in Tarrant County:
Urban Land Institute (’08-’22), Small Scale Dev. Product Council (’18-’22)
Greater Fort Worth Real Estate Council (’08-’17), Board of Directors (’13-‘19)
City of Fort Worth Development Advisory Committee (’18-’22)
Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo Greeting & Calf Scramble Committees (’09-’22), Board of Directors (’17-‘22)
Sportsmen’s Club of Fort Worth Board of Directors (’09-’10, ’12-‘22)
Christ Chapel Bible Church Deacon (’20-’22), Finance Committee (’21-‘22)
Boy Scouts of America – Eagle Scout
TCU Young Chancellor’s Advisory Council (’18-’20)
Streams & Valleys Board of Directors, Chairman of the Board (’20-’22)
Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Board of Directors (’16-’22)
Stormwater Management Stakeholder Group (’18-’20)
Mixed-Use Zoning Advisory Group (’15-’17)
Fort Worth Sister Cities Board of Directors (’13-‘15)
Leadership Fort Worth Leading Edge Class of 2009
Kimbell Cosmopolitan’s (’08-’15)
The Steeplechase Club Officer (’08-’11) Board of Directors (’08-’15)
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: No
Who are your top three campaign contributors?: Will Rodgers, Joseph and Claire Berkes, Eva Motheral
Why are you seeking this office?: Since 1848, my family has been stewards of the land and water resources of our family’s farming and ranching operations. As a successful businessman and Chair of Streams and Valleys, a non-profit focused on protecting our North Texas water resources, I’m ready to fight for the future of our water supply.
I’m running for the Tarrant Regional Water District Board to continue that legacy of stewardship of our precious natural resources and keep North Texas thriving for future generations.
What are the biggest challenges facing the Tarrant Regional Water District?: TWRD must earn the trust of the community through improved transparency and following the highest standard for governance.
If the TRWD does its job well, it will help a key resource in supporting the residential and business growth we are experiencing.
If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be?:
Oppose Tax Increases
Homeowners have experienced property tax increases each and every year. We must be fiscally responsible and not let the TRWD tax be an increased burden on taxpayers.
Flood Prevention
The bulk of the tax revenue is dedicated to flood prevention. While maintaining ongoing maintenance across the system, we must target certain areas for rapid improvements that have historically flooded, causing property damage and threat to life.
Safe, Reliable Drinking Water
Ensuring our region has safe, reliable water is critical for our quality of life and to support our growth
How will you measure your success as a TRWD board member?: Earning the public trust by being 100% transparent, delivering on the core responsibilities of water supply and flood mitigation, and shepherding a process in which the whole community can be proud of Panther Island.
Why should voters choose you over your opponents?: I bring an inherent desire to protect our water resources and have the business background to understand the economics of overseeing a large organization. It’s our duty to the taxpayers to be efficient and fiscally responsible.
How would you assess the performance of general manager Dan Buhman?: willingness to clean house, desire to have more transparent organization.
Charles “C.B.” Team
Age: 40
Campaign website: www.cbteamcampaign.com
Best way for voters to reach you: cbteamcampaign@gmail.com
Occupation: Real Estate Broker
Education: BA 2005 University of Texas at Austin
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought, with years): Yes, TRWD Board of Directors 2019, 2021
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism in Tarrant County:
Former Chair city of Fort Worth Appeals Board, Former Chair Society of Commercial Realtors, Former Member Board of Directors Texas REALTORS, Former Chairman Society of Commercial REALTORS, Former Chairman Greater Fort Worth Association of REALTORS Governmental Affairs Committee, Member city of Fort Worth Airport Advisory Board, Member city of Fort Worth Library Advisory Board, Member Board of Directors Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and Livestock Superintendent
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: NO
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: NO
Who are your top three campaign contributors?: Friends and Family currently make up my largest campaign contributors.
Why are you seeking this office?: I am passionate about serving my community. For nearly a decade, I have attended board meetings, mostly in person, to better understand the District’s responsibilities, successes, and shortfalls. I have owned and managed a small business since 2012 and take the responsibility of providing jobs in our community very seriously. My experience and skillset will allow me to draw from my experiences as a business owner, property owner, and real estate broker to tackle any problems that arise.
What are the biggest challenges facing the Tarrant Regional Water District?: The district has 3 core tenets: Water Supply, Flood Control, and Recreation. The major issues facing each of these core missions are: Completion of the Integrated Pipeline Project, continued design and construction of the Central City Project, and expanding access to the Trinity Trails and other lands owned and managed by TRWD.
If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be?:
1. Ensure that the public and stakeholders continue to have a seat at the table: I have been attending TRWD board meetings for almost a decade and seen first-hand how members of the public have helped push transparency on this board.
2. Keeping major projects like the water infrastructure and Central City on or below budget and within a realistic timetable.
3. Maintaining a high level of water quality and stormwater management to increase river recreational opportunities and provide flood protection throughout the TRWD service area.
How will you measure your success as a TRWD board member?: Many of the large-scale infrastructure projects the District is involved in can take several years or even more than a decade to complete. This extended timeframe can make it difficult to judge success based on completion of tasks alone. I believe it is more about the direction of travel, so I will measure success based on where the board started and where it is headed once my service has concluded.
Why should voters choose you over your opponents?: From my perspective, I truly do not view this race as campaigning against any particular individual but instead showing the voters I have the ability to work with any of the other candidates who may be duly elected by the voters to serve on the TRWD Board. My goal is to show the electors that I can bring transparent and collaborative leadership to the TRWD Board.
How would you assess the performance of general manager Dan Buhman?: Dan Buhman stepped into the top role at the district after an extensive national search. He has overseen the successful completion of the state of Texas’ transparency star program and his knowledge of the District and the services we provide is second to none. I think Dan is a huge asset to the district and to Fort Worth. The general manager is reviewed by the Board every year using an annual list of priorities and the status of current and future projects.
