East Fort Worth secures a new representative with Deborah Peoples' victory in the City Council race.
In a fierce competition between six candidates, Deborah Peoples seized victory as the people's choice for the open District 5 seat on Fort Worth City Council. With 2,524 votes and 54.27% of the overall tally, she sprinted past her competitors, leaving no room for a runoff election.
According to the Tarrant County Elections Office, Peoples will succeed Gyna Bivens, who had been a council member since 2013. A grateful Peoples thanked the residents of District 5 for their faith and trusted support, expressing her loving dedication to Fort Worth and District 5.
Peoples, a seasoned campaigner, had honed in on three key policy areas: economic growth, lower property taxes, and enhanced public safety. Her win can be attributed to her years of community work, fostering strong relationships across various demographics.
"I've built a body of work that speaks for itself," Peoples stated. "People know I care and am willing to work hard."
Bivens had opted to step down after 2023, endorsing Michael Moore, a pastor and member of the city's Park and Recreation Advisory Board. Moore, however, trailed far behind with 17.50% of the votes, making him an intriguing adversary for future challenges.
The other candidates – Kenneth Bowens Jr., Bob Willoughby, and Marvin Jose Diaz – together accounted for a mere 4.37% of the total votes.
Remarkably, the Fort Worth City Council hadn't experienced such a hotly contested race since the mayoral election, which saw seven candidates challenge incumbent Mayor Mattie Parker, who confidently secured a third term. The remaining eight council members seeking re-election claimed their victories. The District 6 seat was also in transition, with Mia Hall and Daryl Davis set for a June 7 runoff election.
Peoples' success was underscored by her substantial campaign funding, raising over $101,000, eclipsing her rivals combined[2]. Michael Moore came in second with approximately $47,000 in cash donations, but spent similarly to Peoples.
Additionally, Moore received substantial non-monetary contributions, totaling more than $62,000 from the Coalition for the Fort, a political action committee dominated by oil and gas executives. Distinguished Fort Worth figures like former Mayor Mike Moncrief, Republican State Rep. Charlie Geren, developer Mike Berry, and Skylar O'Neal, a real estate investor seeking the Tarrant Regional Water District board, contributed to the PAC[3]. Peoples reported receiving $5,000 in in-kind contributions.
This article was updated with unofficial voting results at 11:38 p.m. on May 3.
Cecilia Lenzen, a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report, can be reached at [email protected].
References:1. Fort Worth Report: Deborah Peoples Dominates Fort Worth City Council's District 5 Race - Google search (May 7, 2023)2. Fort Worth Report: Campaign Finance Reports for Fort Worth City Council's District 5 Race - Google search (May 7, 2023)3. Fort Worth Report: Coalition for the Fort And Its Funding - Google search (May 7, 2023)
- The public safety, economic growth, and lower property taxes that Deborah Peoples, the new District 5 council member, emphasized during her campaign are areas the government must address to strengthen community well-being in Fort Worth.
- The victory of Deborah Peoples in the Fort Worth City Council elections, with substantial campaign funding, signals the worth and importance of strong community work and connection in politics, a trait she demonstrated well during her election campaign.
- Michael Moore, despite falling behind Deborah Peoples in the District 5 race, might still pose a threat with his political network, built over years through his work with the Coalition for the Fort, a PAC with notable contributions from influential figures in Fort Worth's general-news politics.
- The political landscape of Fort Worth is being reshaped with the change in District 5, as Deborah Peoples' focus on public safety and economic growth may influence the general direction of the city council, especially in light of the recent Mayoral election.
- Although a runoff election was not necessary in District 5, future political contests are likely to draw increased attention, with fierce competition and community involvement serving as key components in Fort Worth's general-news and politics scene, as evidenced by the recent District 5 race and the mayoral election.
