Four new people to join the Dallas City Council; two incumbents reelected but a third loses out on second term

Dallas voters elected four new faces to join the City Council and re-upped on two incumbents, giving them another two-year term, in Saturday’s runoff election. But among those now on the outside looking in is another incumbent who lost out on a second term.

David Blewett became the second consecutive District 14 council member to lose a seat to a challenger. Blewett had won his spot after beating Philip Kingston in 2019.

This time, retired attorney Paul Ridley will represent parts of downtown, Uptown and East Dallas, based on unofficial voting tallies late Saturday.

Returning to the council for two more years are southern Dallas incumbents Carolyn King Arnold in District 4 and Adam Bazaldua in District 7.

For three open seats to replace term-limited council members, restaurant owner Jesse Moreno in District 2, former city Plan Commission member Jaynie Schultz in District 11 and Turtle Creek Conservancy chief executive Gay Donnell Willis in District 13 clinched victories.

The six will join eight other returning council members who won reelection in May and Mayor Eric Johnson, who is at the midway point of a four-year term.

Among those who missed out on council seats is real estate developer Leland Burk, who reported spending and raising more than any candidate this election cycle. This was his second attempt at Northwest Dallas’ District 13 seat. This was also the most popular of the six races with 9,798 voters.

Burk reported raising more than $402,000 and spending over $511,000 since January to win the seat, according to his campaign finance reports. Donnell Willis reported collecting close to $149,000 and spending more than $75,000 in the same time period.

The City Council’s decision last year to decrease the police department’s overtime budget played a factor in two of the races featuring incumbents, which includes Blewett, who had an apparent change of heart on his vote from last year.

The newest council in the coming months will continue to tackle longstanding city issues regarding housing, homelessness, mobility, economic development, connectivity gaps and closing other systemic divides between the northern and southern areas of the city. They’ll also aid in the city’s ongoing recovery from COVID-19 and the February winter storm, give input on how the city should dole out its next batch of federal stimulus money, the upcoming budget and redistricting.

The 14 newly elected council members will be sworn in for their two-year terms on June 14.

Here’s a rundown of results as of 11 p.m. Saturday:

District 2

Jesse Moreno, a restaurant owner, earned 58% of the votes over Sana Syed, a real estate firm executive and former Dallas city spokeswoman.

The district covers parts of downtown, Deep Ellum, the Cedars, Oak Lawn and East Dallas. Moreno will fill the seat vacated by council member Adam Medrano.

The race in recent weeks saw Syed questioning Moreno’s fitness to serve because he did not disclose a $150,000 tax lien in 2015 that was still active as of May. Moreno, a former Park Board member, has since paid off the tax lien. He also had touted his service to the city as a reason for voters to choose him.

District 4

Incumbent Carolyn King Arnold reclaimed her seat with nearly 55% of the votes, beating Dallas ISD trustee Maxie Johnson in the race to represent District 4, which covers south and east Oak Cliff.

This was King Arnold’s fourth time seeking election to the City Council since 2015. The retired teacher cited experience and stability as the reasons she should be reelected. Johnson, a first-time council candidate, said he believed he would show more urgency and results on needed changes in the district.

Arnold said that economic development, housing and boosting quality of life in south Oak Cliff were already underway in her district and that she believed it would be in a better position to advance with her serving another term.

“Thank you, Jesus,” she said after learning the vote totals. She wants to focus on making the distribution of services and investment more equitable during her next term.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to continue to serve,” she said.

District 7

Bazaldua trumped his predecessor with 64% of the votes, securing a win over Kevin Felder. The district includes South Dallas, Fair Park and Buckner Terrace.

Bazaldua, a former teacher, was seeking a second straight term, while Felder was looking to win back the seat he lost to Bazaldua in 2019.

“I’m excited to continue the momentum for our district,” he wrote in a text message.

Bazaldua pitched the idea to reduce police overtime amid a national reckoning over policing and racism. The money was reinvested into the police department — as well as other public safety projects, like additional streetlights. Ultimately, the police budget for expenses grew by $15 million.

District 11

In the race to represent North Dallas, Jaynie Schultz beat attorney Barry Wernick with nearly 54% of the votes.