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Two candidates have announced they will run for mayor of DeSoto, with Mayor Pro Tem Kenzie Moore set to face former City Council member Rachel Proctor.
The seat was vacated after the former mayor Curtistene McCowan died on Oct. 28 after being diagnosed with lung cancer several weeks earlier.
Former council member Rachel Proctor announced on Nov. 19 that she would run for the vacated position.
“There is still more work to be done. Her passing not only left a hole in our hearts but it also has left a mayoral vacancy,” she said in the announcement. “I am dedicated to the healing and progression of our community.”
[ANNOUNCEMENT] Leadership is not something that is simply taught, it must be modeled. I am grateful that on my journey…Posted by Rachel L. Proctor on Thursday, November 19, 2020
Proctor was elected in March 2013 special election and was re-elected in May 2014 general Election. While in her role on the council, she served as the Mayor Pro Tem and created a Pay Day Loan ordinance that established business regulations for payday lending institutions to help reduce the abusive behaviors and practices of predatory lending institutions in the community, according to her campaign website.
She also served as the chair of the Audit and Finance Committee and as the liaison for the council to the Economic Development Corporation while on the board.
Kenzie Moore, Mayor Pro Tem of DeSoto announced his intentions to run for mayor on Nov. 20. In the Facebook announcement, he cited McGowan’s faith in his ability to lead the city, saying that he had worked closely with her on city matters.
“Now it is time to ‘Keep the City Moving Forward’. With your support, we can do this together,” he said in the announcement.
He was elected to the DeSoto City Council through a special election in Aug. 2017 to serve an unexpired term for Place 7. Moore is Chairman of the Government Affairs Committee and a member of the Finance and Budget Committee of MetroTex Association of Realtors, according to his council member page on the city website.
Today, I am announcing my candidacy for Mayor of Desoto! “The All American City”. I worked alongside our beloved Mayor…
Posted by Kenzie Moore on Friday, November 20, 2020
Moore also posted to his account that the McCowan’s husband endorsed his candidacy and tagged him in the post. He did not respond to a request for comment.
The special election was approved under at the council’s Nov. 17 meeting. The council voted at their last meeting 4-2 to include the Place 7 council position in the same Feb. 2 special election.
Early voting will begin on Wednesday, Jan. 20 2021 and continue through Friday, Jan. 29, 2021.