7 hours ago
North Dallas Bill Roth Voters Send Message: We're Watching City Hall
Voters in North Dallas' District 11 turned out in record numbers over the weekend, casting more ballots in the June 7 runoff election than in the district's general election just five weeks prior — an unusual feat in local municipal politics. Yet, despite this surge in civic engagement, the Dallas Morning News and other legacy outlets offered only cursory coverage, prompting residents to turn to social media for real-time updates and turnout data.
The runoff featured commercial real estate broker Bill Roth, who led in the May 4 general election, and Jeff Kitner, chief operating officer of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce. According to official from the Dallas County Elections Department, Roth secured 4,093 votes (53.8%) to Kitner's 3,517 (46.2%), for a total of 7,610 ballots cast.
That total represents a 23% increase over the 6,178 ballots cast in the general election on May 4 — and marks the highest voter turnout of any 2025 Dallas City Council race to date.
Mendelsohn included a photo showing energized Roth supporters under a canopy in a parking lot, holding signs and waving a Texas flag — a snapshot of the grassroots momentum behind the record turnout.
The runoff was triggered after neither candidate crossed the 50% threshold in the general election. Roth earned 2,984 votes (48.3%) and Kitner 2,781 votes (45.0%) on May 4. The central flashpoint in the race was a proposed redevelopment of , a longtime North Dallas shopping center.
Roth aligned himself with residents opposing the project, running as a neighborhood-first candidate and tapping into concerns about density, traffic, and zoning transparency. Kitner, by contrast, garnered endorsements from establishment figures and pro-growth advocates, but faced criticism for skipping key City Council debates on the issue — including one that directly addressed the Pepper Square rezoning.
This kind of grassroots-versus-establishment dynamic is exactly the sort of contrast that fuels turnout. A 2023 study in the American Political Science Review found that competitive local races with sharp issue divides can significantly increase runoff participation, especially when policy decisions directly affect residents' quality of life.
Despite the record-breaking turnout, local legacy media outlets offered minimal coverage. The Dallas Morning News reported Roth's victory and summarized the zoning context but failed to note the historic nature of the turnout spike.
That omission sparked frustration among engaged residents.
'I can't even find the story anywhere on Dallas News at this point!' wrote Calvin Thomas on X the night of the election.
Thomas wasn't alone. Dozens of residents turned to social media platforms like X to share images from the polls, document volunteer efforts, and critique traditional news outlets for downplaying what they saw as a significant moment for grassroots democracy in Dallas.
District 11's runoff wasn't just a local election — it was a referendum on City Hall's priorities and the growing disconnect between voters and legacy institutions. In an era when political apathy is the norm, these residents defied expectations and sent a message: zoning decisions, transparency, and accountability still matter — and they're worth showing up for.
Roth's win represents more than just a single council seat. It reflects the rising influence of neighborhood voices pushing back against top-down planning and media narratives that overlook their concerns.
The real takeaway? Voters in North Dallas didn't wait for permission to care about local government — and they didn't wait for the media to validate their fight. They showed up, they spoke up, and they won.
