Tomorrow (Sat, May 1) is Tarrant County’s general election, and local voters will be electing new mayors, eight city councilmembers in Fort Worth, several school board members, and other elected officials. Following Mayor Betsy Price’s decision to not seek re-election after serving 10 years in the city’s top position, 10 candidates met the filing deadline.
We reached out to the four frontrunners, based on fundraising. Mattie Parker, Deborah Peoples, and Ann Zadeh responded, and Brian Byrd declined to participate. Polling stations can be located through Tarrant County’s Voter Lookup program.
Mattie Parker
What has campaigning been like and what were some of your more memorable moments?
Campaigning has been both exhausting and exhilarating! The schedule was often chaotic with the opportunity to meet voters, attend forums, and conduct interviews, but all are an important part of the process. A few memorable moments stand out during the past few months. Some of the most humbling moments have been friends who have stepped up in huge ways to support our campaign. The “Mattie” pins, designed by my friend Lisa, are a great example. Supporters have been wearing them around town. A little girl running up to me with a flower and asking to take a picture with her [was memorable]. On a humorous note, I did manage to run out of gas on the way to a campaign event. I just coasted into a gas station! Making the front page of my hometown paper, the Hico News Review, [was touching]. I am always appreciative of the village that raised me in Hico and continues to support me.
What would you like to tell our readers as they head to the polls tomorrow?
Thank you for showing up and casting a vote. The decisions made at City Hall impact your daily lives more than any other level of government. Fort Worth is truly positioned for greatness, and no matter the outcome of this election, I look forward to serving Fort Worth and continuing to help us be better, strive harder, and flourish in all parts of our city. It is a special opportunity to run for mayor with younger children and set an example for them that is rooted in public service and the democratic process. I certainly didn’t know what a yard sign or a councilmember was growing up, but my boys, ages 4 and 10, definitely know the local political landscape quite well.
Deborah Peoples
What has campaigning been like, and what were some of your more memorable moments?
Everywhere I go, it becomes clearer and clearer that we are ready for a change here in Fort Worth. Seeing the city come back to life as we recover from COVID-19 gives me hope — from so many families showing up for an Easter Egg hunt to passionate voters gathered at candidate forums and campaign rallies. With a city growing as fast as ours, we need a leader with proven executive experience to unite all our disjointed neighborhoods into one Fort Worth.
What would you like to tell our readers as they head to the polls tomorrow?
This city is changing. After the retirement of the longest-serving mayor of one of the fastest-growing cities in America, I am ready to use my executive experience to ensure we plan for sustainable, scaled growth so all our neighborhoods benefit. My 30 years as an executive and lifetime of work in our communities make me the best fit to unite us into one Fort Worth. We can’t keep kicking the can down the road and continuing to be a city with such stark disparities. It is a tragedy that our city is home to the ZIP code with the lowest life expectancy in the United States. I want to expand prosperity by growing our tax base through tourism, the arts, and new businesses. My 30 years in business make me the right candidate to attract new job creators and to ensure all our neighborhoods are included.
Ann Zadeh
What has campaigning been like, and what were some of your more memorable moments?
Something I’ve always loved about my service to the City of Fort Worth, whether it was in my role on the zoning commission or as councilmember in District 9, has been meeting people where they are — in their neighborhoods, at their homes, at their places of business, and at local parks. Fort Worth is such a beautiful city. There were more than a handful of moments where I would look up and notice the view of the skyline, and it quite literally took my breath away. In those short pauses of gratitude, it was clear to me that I’m in this race because I have a heart for this city, and I want nothing but the best for her.
What would you like to tell our readers as they head to the polls tomorrow?
Turnout in municipal elections is critically important. The leadership chosen by an educated electorate will shape the visionary future of the City of Fort Worth for years to come, and it’s worth noting [that] these leaders are decided by a very small number of voters. Traditionally, the people most likely to show up in a city election are the people who have a vested interest in business at City Hall, so please, if you haven’t already voted early or by mail, show up to vote on May 1 and let your voice be heard. If you have questions about where to vote, you can visit Linktr.ee/AnnZadeh.
