Two weeks after District 7 council member Leonard Firestone announced he would not run for reelection, a new candidate to lead far north Fort Worth has thrown his hat in the ring: Jason Ellis.
Ellis is a U.S. Army combat veteran who runs a home services business in northwest Fort Worth, according to a news release announcing his candidacy. Ellis served as a sniper in the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division, including a 15-month deployment in Iraq.
“I am running because Fort Worth is the greatest city in the greatest state in the greatest country in the world,” Ellis said in the release. “It’s where I choose to work, play, and raise my family. As one of the fastest growing cities in America, I think it’s important that we work to preserve the charm that makes Fort Worth unique.”
Ellis is grateful for Firestone’s service while on council, and intends to pick up where he left off, he said. Among the primary issues he wants to address: property tax reform, which he said will put money back in the hands of residents. Property taxes in Tarrant County are set by multiple entities, including the city and county commissioners court.
Municipal elections are coming up. Here are some key dates:
Jan. 18: Candidates began filing
Feb. 17: Last day for candidates to file
April 6: Last day to register to vote
April 24: Early voting begins
May 2: Early voting ends
May 6: Election Day
He also said he will support the Fort Worth police and fire departments. Firestone was a strong proponent of funding for both departments while on council, and received campaign contributions from the departments’ affiliated political action committees.
“And I will work tirelessly to fix our roads and apply a commonsense approach to our growing infrastructure needs,” Ellis said.
Infrastructure concerns have become a common topic in District 7, which has seen some of the highest population growth of the city in recent years. While primarily made up of the north parts of the city, District 7 also encompasses part of the Cultural District, including Dickies Arena and Will Rogers Memorial Center.
“As a small business owner, I know the importance of fostering an environment that supports our small businesses while continuing to attract large companies to expand their operations here,” Ellis said.
At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.Emily Wolf is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at emily.wolf@fortworthreport.org or via Twitter.
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