Three individuals, Leah King, Johnathan Killebrew, and Skylar O'Neal, have been chosen to occupy the vacant positions on the Tarrant water board.
Locked,loaded, and ready to divulge! With three seats up for grabs at the Tarrant Regional Water District, it's time to welcome a fresh batch of faces to the table. Leah King, building inspector Johnathan Killebrew, and real estate investor Skylar O'Neal have triumphed in the election to oversee the district's operations.
King, who banked the most campaign donations couldn't stop at 30.9% of the vote. O'Neal came close with a powerful 28%, while Killebrew nabbed a still respectable 21.85%. Andrew Brinker, Tarrant County College biology professor and Fort Worth ISD educator, trailed with 19.19% of the vote.
Voters could pick up to three candidates, and the top three were crowned kings (and queen) of this watery kingdom. With five members on the board, each with four-year seats, it's time for a shake-up as James Hill and Mary Kelleher decided to hang up their capes and move on.
King, who's been around since 2017, is eager to continue her reign, especially with the $1.16 billion Central City flood control project looming on the horizon. The ambitious project, once delayed for years, is now receiving federal funds thanks to the Biden infrastructure law, and King is all jazzed up to step in.
O'Neal, the real estate maven, is chomping at the bit to bring her expertise to the table, especially with the never-ending construction delays facing the Central City project.
Looking to create more waves, Brinker believes his environmental science background and student- and staff-collaboration on the Trinity River will help move TRWD's conservation initiatives forward. He promises an expansion of the water district’s conservation team to ensure a sustainable water supply.
Now, let's bust some myths. Despite the scrutiny the water district faced in the recent leadership scandal, all candidates toe the line of accountability and transparency. They're determined to put the past behind them and focus on a bright future for Tarrant County's waters.
For more dirt on the candidates and other races, check out the Fort Worth Report’s Tarrant County Voter Guide available here.
This story was updated with early voting results at 7:57 p.m. Saturday. So grab ahold of some truth – it's about to get wild!
Nicole Lopez is the environment reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Don't hesitate to reach out to her at [email protected] because we all need someone to talk to about the water situation.
Disclosure: Wes Turner, a longtime civic leader and former Star-Telegram publisher, backs Our Water Our Future PAC, which contributes to the treasury of King et al. Fort Worth Report board member Marianne M. Auld is the managing partner of Kelly Hart & Hallman, who dropped four grand in King’s campaign kitty.
Remember: Transparency is all about letting the truth flow like water, so let's keep this river of info running!
The newly elected candidates, Leah King, Johnathan Killebrew, and Skylar O'Neal, have triumphed in the Tarrant Regional Water District election. King, who banked the most campaign donations, will continue her reign with a seat on the board, eager to oversee the $1.16 billion Central City flood control project. O'Neal, a real estate maven, is ready to bring her expertise to the table and tackle the construction delays. Andrew Brinker, an environmental science educator, plans to expand the water district’s conservation team to ensure a sustainable water supply. Despite the recent leadership scandal, all candidates are committed to accountability and transparency, aiming to focus on a bright future for Tarrant County's waters. To learn more about the candidates and other races, check out the Fort Worth Report’s Tarrant County Voter Guide.
