Here’s what you need to know about the 2023 May elections in the city of Fort Worth, Fort Worth ISD, Tarrant County College, the Tarrant water board and other information.

Voter Guide
Fort Worth City Council

Mayoral race

Incumbent Mattie Parker, who was elected in 2021, is facing four challengers in the at-large mayoral race.

  1. Ken Bowens Jr., entrepreneur
  2. Jennifer Castillo, an entrepreneur and Realtor (did not return survey)
  3. Alyson Kennedy, cashier and activist (did not return survey)
  4. Mattie Parker, incumbent
  5. Adrian Smith, veteran

Read more about the Mayoral race:

Meet the candidates for Fort Worth mayor: Challengers push platforms ranging from socialism to cultural divide

District 2

Carlos Flores, who was elected in 2017, is running unopposed in District 2, which includes parts of north central Fort Worth and the Stockyards.

  1. Carlos Flores, incumbent (did not return survey)

District 3

Michael Crain, who was elected in 2021, is running unopposed in District 3, which includes parts of southwest Fort Worth.

  1. Michael Crain, incumbent

District 4

Charles Lauersdorf and Teresa Ramirez Gonzalez are running for an open seat in District 4, which includes the Alliance Corridor and neighborhoods north of Loop 820.

  1. Teresa Ramirez Gonzalez, community volunteer (did not return survey)
  2. Charles Lauersdorf, business owner and veteran

District 5

Bob Willoughby and William McKinley Jackson are challenging incumbent Gyna Bivens in District 5, which includes areas of east Fort Worth.

  1. Gyna Bivens, incumbent
  2. William McKinley Jackson, pastor (did not return survey)
  3. Bob Willoughby, frequent speaker at city meetings (did not return survey)

District 6

Italia De La Cruz and Tonya Carter are challenging incumbent Jared Williams in District 6, which includes areas of far southwest Fort Worth.

  1. Tonya Carter, customer service worker (did not return survey)
  2. Italia De La Cruz, small business owner (did not return survey)
  3. Jared Williams, incumbent (did not return survey)

District 7

Caleb Backholm, Jason Ellis and Macy Hill are running for an open seat in District 7, which includes areas in northwest Fort Worth.

  1. Caleb Backholm, insurance agent
  2. Jason Ellis, business owner
  3. Macy Hill, philanthropic adviser

District 8

Incumbent Chris Nettles is running unopposed in District 8, which includes parts of far southeast Fort Worth.

  1. Chris Nettles, incumbent (did not return survey)

District 9

Pamela Boggess, Jason Peña and Chris Reed are challenging incumbent Elizabeth Beck in District 9, which includes Fort Worth’s downtown and the south central core of the city.

  1. Elizabeth Beck, incumbent
  2. Pamela Boggess, attorney
  3. Jason Peña, business owner
  4. Chris Reed, software developer

District 10

Current District 4 council member Alan Blaylock is running against Brandon Jones in the newly-created district, which includes far north Fort Worth.

  1. Alan Blaylock, current District 4 council member
  2. Brandon Jones, home inspector (did not return survey)

District 11

Five candidates are running in the newly-created District 11, which includes parts of east and south central Fort Worth.

  1. Ricardo Avitia, neighborhood activist (did not return survey)
  2. Rick Herring, neighborhood advocate and retirement adviser
  3. Christopher Johnson, entrepreneur (did not return survey)
  4. Tara Maldonado Wilson, an emergency room nurse and small business owner
  5. Jeanette Martinez, administrator

Read more about District 11:

Hispanics hope for better representation through new Fort Worth City Council district
Meet the candidates for Fort Worth City Council District 11
Fort Worth ISD

District 2

Business owner Pat Carlson is challenging school board president Tobi Jackson, who has represented the east Fort Worth district for nearly 13 years.

  1. Pat Carlson, business owner
  2. Tobi Jackson, incumbent

District 3

Mar’Tayshia James and Valeria Nevárez are challenging incumbent Quinton Phillips to represent District 3, which includes the Stop Six area and the most eastern parts of Fort Worth ISD.

  1. Mar’Tayshia James, activist (did not return survey)
  2. Quinton “Q” Phillips, incumbent
  3. Valeria Nevárez, activist (did not return survey)

District 5

Candidates Kevin Lynch and Josh Yoder are challenging incumbent CJ Evans to represent parts of west Fort Worth ISD.

  1. CJ Evans, incumbent
  2. Josh Yoder, insurance company managing director (did not return survey)
  3. Kevin Lynch, medical device salesman (did not return survey)

District 6

Incumbent Anne Darr is running unopposed in District 6, which covers parts of the Texas Christian University area and extends south past Sycamore School Road.

  1. Anne Darr, incumbent
Tarrant Regional Water District

Four candidates are vying to fill two open seats on the Tarrant Regional Water District board of directors, which oversees the agency’s leadership and has input on the Central City/Panther Island flood control project. The top two vote-getters will win the seats. 

  1. Chad Moore, locomotive engineer
  2. Paxton Motheral, developer
  3. Joe Ashton, Pantego city manager
  4. Charles “C.B.” Team, incumbent
Tarrant County College

Two seats on the Tarrant County College District board of trustees are on the ballot. Trustees are elected in single-member districts and serve six-year terms. Three candidates are vying for the District 5 seat, which covers west Fort Worth, Azle, Haslet, Watauga, North Richland Hills and Haltom City. Two candidates are seeking the District 4 seat, which covers south Arlington and Mansfield.

Read more about the races:

Driven by tax rate, conservatives challenge TCC District 4 incumbent in board race
TCC trustee candidate drops out of race, but his name remains on ballot
TCC candidates violate state election code, college policy
Arlington educator seeking District 5 seat on TCC board
Incumbent Leonard Hornsby seeking first full term on TCC board of trustees/a>
Incumbent Bill Greenhill seeks re-election on TCC board of trustees
Republican precinct chair running for TCC board of trustees
Former commissioner candidate seeks spot on TCC board of trustees
Other area school board races

Fort Worth voters also will decide several area school board races and bond proposals. 

Read more about the races:

Booming Northwest ISD proposes $2 billion bond to manage high growth
‘It’s already here.’ Crowley ISD voters to decide more than $1 billion bond to manage growth
School board candidates discuss how to tackle Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD’s growth
A year after Keller ISD’s dispute over books, board candidates want politics out of schools
Crowley ISD voters to decide two school board seats alongside $1 billion bond
Castleberry ISD candidates discuss high teacher turnover rate and aging infrastructure
Get award-winning Fort Worth area news in your inbox — free.

Election Central - nonpartisan and comprehensive

Election Central

Get all your election news in one place.