FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF)- Two candidates have announced they will be vying for Mayor of the City of Fort Worth.
This comes after Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price announced she will not be seeking re-election for a 6th two year term.
Deborah Peoples, who ran against Price in 2019 said she will be running again this year.
“Friends, we find ourselves in an America and in a state and in a city that seems unrecognizable at first glance,” said Peoples speaking about the events at the Capitol. “Far too many are divided along political, racial, and socio-economic lines. We absolutely must bring this city together. From engaging all neighborhoods, to addressing public safety, to being more inclusive and respective of other’s points of view, we must and we can be One Fort Worth,” she said.
Peoples is the chairman of the Tarrant County Democratic Party and a retired executive for AT&T.
“At the age of 23, I began my career at the City of Fort Worth as a community affairs aide making $500 per month. I could not have been prouder to serve my city and what I knew it could become for all residents. Now many years and many lessons later, my hopes and dreams for Fort Worth remain the same. This city has been a beacon of hope for my family and for me. With your help, we have shattered many insurmountable odds. However, the election for Fort Worth’s next mayor is not about my family or me. We have a chance to ensure a united Fort Worth that will no longer be referred to as quadrants like east side or west side or south side or even zip codes. For it is time for us to be One Fort Worth. It is time for us to be a Fort Worth offering great city services to all our citizens, a city that anticipates rather than reacts, a city that embraces growth while never forgetting what made us special in the first place: our many thriving neighborhoods and citizens,” she said.
Fort Worth Council member Brian Byrd also announced he will be on the ballot for mayor.
Byrd has served District 3 since 2017.
“I am a physician by trade and have built a successful business here in Fort Worth along the way. Both my wife and I grew up here. This is our city, our hometown. I went to grade school here, and graduated from AHHS. We remember when Fort Worth was just under 400,000 people. Now it is one of the fastest growing cities in the country in the past 8 years. We are the 13th largest city in the country, and we could pass 1 million in the 2020 census. It is a city I am proud to call home and I can’t imagine living anywhere else,” said Byrd during his announcement speech Monday.
“My vision for Fort Worth is simple: I want ours to be a city where families can feel safe, grow their dreams into realities and honor our western heritage while embracing growth. I want to make Fort Worth the most attractive city in Texas for high paying, quality jobs. Achieving that goal means keeping property taxes low, making our city business-friendly so more companies will want to invest and bring jobs here, educating and preparing our future workforce, and keeping crime out of our neighborhoods by supporting our law enforcement,” he said.
So far Byrd and Peoples are the only candidates to officially announce their candidacy. Those wishing to run for mayor have until January 15th to file.
