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The Fort Worth Star-Telegram rescinded endorsements for two Arlington candidates Thursday after they failed to disclose previous bankruptcies in the newspaper’s voter guide questionnaires.
Mayoral candidate Jim Ross and his ex-wife filed for bankruptcy in 1999, and District 3 city council candidate Nikkie Hunter filed in 2017, the Star-Telegram reported, citing records from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas. Both have since been released from their debts, the report said.
Ross told the newspaper his case occurred while he was attending law school and his then-wife was launching her career. Hunter told the paper she was laid off and was taking care of her dying grandmother during her case.
Bankruptcies do not prohibit someone from seeking public office, according to the city’s election rules, but the newspaper’s editorial board wrote that the omission “raises questions about their fitness for office.”
Ross told the newspaper he thought it applied to only the last decade, and Hunter said she assumed it referred to only current cases.
The candidates also said no to a similar question in The Dallas Morning News Voter Guide asks a similar question: “Have you been involved in any civil lawsuits or declared personal or professional bankruptcy? If so, please explain.”
The News recommended former city council member and mayor pro tem Michael Glaspie in the mayoral race, calling him “an experienced Arlington civic leader with a focus on improving city services and building commercial businesses.”
The Star-Telegram declined to endorse other candidates in the races, saying too little time remained before Saturday’s election, but will issue recommendations if the races go to runoffs.
Ross is the presumed front-runner and has far outspent his opponents in the mayoral race.