Voters, not city leaders, should decide best rep for new east Fort Worth council district
For the first time since Fort Worth’s mayor and council form of government was chartered in 1924, the number of City Council seats is increasing next year, from nine to 11. The process culminates in the May election, when voters in two new districts will select representatives.
There is an unquestionable need for additional Hispanic representation on the council dais, and that was a part of the goal of the redistricting effort. As a result, the council created District 11 in a gerrymandered horseshoe shape that unites Riverside, Oakhurst, Meadowbrook, Polytechnic and other East Fort Worth communities in one district for the first time. It also includes Worth Heights, Rosemont, and South Hemphill Heights on the south side.
While our new District 11 has been called a Hispanic-opportunity district, many residents of the district view it as an opportunity to create a shared vision for all of the communities it will represent. A brand-new district is a once-in-a-lifetime gift, a unique fresh start. Most neighborhoods in the district developed nearly a hundred years ago — and some even more.
Some areas have aged more gracefully than others. Our historic neighborhoods deserve to be represented by someone who intuitively understands the needs of the entire district because he or she has been active in the city for a long time — someone with deep roots in the community.
No one can even formally declare their candidacy for about another month, yet residents of District 11 have been hearing people across the city, including Mayor Mattie Parker, describe the type of person who should represent us. But District 11 residents, not outsiders and power-brokers, should decide who holds the new seat.
Our message to those outside the district is: Respect the will of the voters here. Let us decide. Endorsing or recommending candidates based on specific attributes could exclude other experienced people who could help District 11 achieve its goals.
Fort Worth's new redistricting map
The new map adds two new districts after residents voted to expand the council by approving an amendment to the city charter in 2016. The map will be used in the next city council election May 6, 2023. Compare the old map with the new map by sliding back and forth between the two.
Our new district is diverse, but diversity is nothing new to us. District 11 mirrors the overall demographics of the city better than almost anywhere else. This is a point of pride for many of us. Although the district as drawn is a gerrymandered map, we know we have shared concerns and aspirations, no matter which part we live in.
The identity of the person who will represent District 11 should be arrived at organically, as people get familiar with the candidates. Voters are capable of deciding what attributes they consider to be most important for the district. A winning candidate will emerge beyond consideration of ethnicity or other demographic factors, and that is how it should be.
Too often, there is the impression that Fort Worth stops at I-35W. That has certainly been the case with city government for decades (though that is finally showing some signs of changing). Our new City Council representative should already know this and be prepared on Day One to start resetting perceptions. We want to hear “I had no idea” more often as people discover what we have to offer.
East Fort Worth is arguably the most beautiful part of the city, as Parker noted shortly after taking office. We have much to offer the city, including Texas Wesleyan University, two (soon to be three) aviation companies, and two network television stations.
We have great destination points, such as Gateway Park, Tandy Hills Natural Area, Meadowbrook Golf Course, Reby Cary Youth Library, and the Race Street area. Our geographic location features naturally forested neighborhoods and great access to the rest of Dallas-Fort Worth.
Our District 11 southside neighbors feel pride and passion about the area, too. We all sense bright days ahead, and we want the freedom to determine who will lead us into the future.
Daniel Haase is a 40-year resident of the Meadowbrook area in east Fort Worth. He currently serves as vice president of the Central Meadowbrook Neighborhood Association.
