What's on the May 3 ballot in Dallas-Fort Worth
Election day is Saturday, and city council and school board positions are up for grabs across North Texas.
Why it matters: Local elections determine who makes decisions about taxes, schools, land use, roads, parks and libraries.
Many municipalities and school districts in Texas hold a general or special election in May of odd-numbered years to elect their local officials.
State of polls: Saturday's election includes mayoral races in Fort Worth, Plano and McKinney. Dallas will have at least four new City Council members after the election.
Plano voters will cast ballots on the city's largest-ever bond referendum, which includes propositions for parks and library upgrades, a new police headquarters and road construction.
Frisco voters will weigh in on a proposed performing arts center. The bond money would fund roughly half of the project.
DeSoto ISD is seeking voter approval to renovate its schools and athletic facilities.
Between the lines: Conservative Christians have poured money into school board and city council races in recent years.
An Irving political action committee that says it embodies traditional family values and has previously challenged certain library books has endorsed three candidates for Saturday's City Council election, per KERA.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Oak Park Heights announces new mayor, available council seat
The city of Oak Park Heights announced Wednesday that Chuck Dougherty will be taking over the position of Oak Park Heights mayor after the death of Mayor Mary McComber in May. McComber served as mayor from 2012 to 2025. 'Mayor McComber left some big shoes to fill, but in this time of transition, I am committed to providing steady leadership and ensuring continuity for our community,' Dougherty said in the announcement. 'I look forward to continuing to serve our community with dedication, working alongside our Council, staff and residents.' Dougherty previously served as deputy mayor and has had a seat on the Oak Park Heights City Council since 2013. He and his wife also own the Water Street Inn and the Cover Park Manor Bed & Breakfast. The city council is accepting applications for Dougherty's vacated council seat through Thursday, July 3, according to the announcement. Dougherty and the new council member will serve in these roles until November 2026, when a special election for the positions will occur. Both special elections would be for a two-year term to finish the remaining terms of McComber and Dougherty. Applications for Oak Park Heights City Council can be found on the city's website at or at City Hall at 14168 Oak Park Blvd. N. As mayor, Dougherty will help plan for the 2028 closure of the Allen S. King plant in Oak Park Heights. The plant currently provides close to 28 percent of Oak Park Heights' tax base. When running for city council in 2024, Dougherty said one of his priorities was coming up with a plan to minimize the effects the tax base loss will have on Oak Park Heights residents. Obituary: How a bridge got Mary McComber, mayor of Oak Park Heights, into local politics U of M researchers are planting 'survivor' trees in hopes of defeating Dutch elm disease State fund helps Oak Park Heights plan for PFAS treatment Oak Park Heights state of emergency declared to deal with water main break Four Stillwater teachers suspended for cheating on training program
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Watertown council to vote on lifting residency requirement for city manager, others
Jun. 13—WATERTOWN — After it came up more than a year ago, City Council members will finally deal with passing a local law that would allow City Manager Eric Wagenaar to continue to live in Chaumont. The issue was first brought to the public's attention last month when Watertown resident Robert Avallone questioned why council members had failed to act on a local law that would not require Wagenaar to live in the city. On Monday night, council members will be asked to pass the ordinance that would not require Wagenaar, Public Works Superintendent Brian MacCue, City Engineer Tom Compo and City Assessor Kimberli Johnston to live in Watertown. During three subsequent council meetings in recent weeks, Avallone brought up the subject. "It's not a good look to leave a breach of contract," Avallone said. "I'm glad they're addressing it." He wasn't blaming Wagenaar for the situation. Mayor Sarah V.C. Pierce, City Attorney Kristen Smith and council members should have acted on it long before Monday's meeting, Avallone said. On Dec. 23, 2023, the City Council approved the contract to hire Wagenaar with the stipulation that he'd move into the city within six months. Under the contract, Wagenaar was given until June 29, 2024, to make the move, with a possible six-month extension until last December. About a year ago, council members discussed the issue during an executive session, but took no action. Councilwoman Lisa A. Ruggiero said Friday that the city attorney wrote up a resolution to address it on May 20, 2024. In an email, Pierce told council members she would review it. There it sat, the councilwoman said. So Ruggiero sent out an email to Smith asking about it on May 20, 2025 — exactly a year after the city attorney had penned the ordinance — and then forwarded the email to Pierce and council members, she said. "Eric is doing an excellent job," Avallone said. "He's an asset for the city. I'm glad he's on board." On Monday night, council members will consider adopting a local law to create an exception to the residency requirement under Section 3 of the state's Public Officers Law for the city manager and the three other appointed city officials. Pierce, who could not be reached for comment, and council members Cliff G. Olney III and Ruggiero were on council when Wagenaar was hired. Council members Robert O. Kimball and Benjamin P. Shoen have served on council during Wagenaar's tenure as city manager. Wagenaar replaced former City Manager Kenneth A. Mix, who retired at the end of Decembers 2023. Mix lived in Champion before moving to Watertown to become city manager.
New York Times
6 hours ago
- New York Times
Judge Blocks ICE Plan to Open Rikers Office Indefinitely
A state judge on Friday indefinitely blocked Mayor Eric Adams from letting federal immigration authorities open an office at the Rikers Island jail complex in New York City, a priority for the Trump administration as it seeks to expand its immigration crackdown. The City Council had sued the Adams administration on April 15 in an effort to halt the return of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to Rikers Island. The Council argued that letting ICE into the city's largest jail facilities, a decade after the agency was banned from Rikers, would lead to mass deportations. Friday's action by Justice Mary Rosado of State Supreme Court in Manhattan represented the third time she had sided with the City Council. In April, she had temporarily blocked the mayor's efforts, and then extended the short-term block. The latest ruling — a preliminary injunction — is a longer-term order and will be in place until the judge reaches a decision. In an 18-page ruling, the judge found that the City Council had 'shown a likelihood of success' because of its argument about the appearance of a quid pro quo between the Trump administration and Mr. Adams. The mayor had moved to allow ICE into Rikers shortly after the Justice Department dropped corruption charges against him. The two-month legal fight has pitted Mr. Adams against fellow Democrats who control the City Council. While the case is far from over, the City Council cast the ruling on Friday as a victory. 'Over the past months, we've witnessed the Trump administration repeatedly disregard the U.S. Constitution, disappearing residents within our country without due process and wrongfully arresting local government officials,' Adrienne Adams, the City Council speaker, said in a statement. 'This attempted corrupt bargain to allow ICE to set up a center on Rikers would only make our city, and all New Yorkers, less safe.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
