Crystal Wise
Mattie Parker
For the first time in 10 years, a new mayor was sworn in for the city of Fort Worth.
On June 16, Mayor Mattie Parker along with four new council members — Dr. Jared Williams (District 6), Leonard Firestone (District 7), Chris Nettles (District 8), and Elizabeth Beck (District 9) — took the oath of office at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
In addition to marking the end of Betsy Price’s long tenure as mayor, the night also introduced the youngest and most diverse city council Fort Worth has ever seen — which could mean the city may see shifts in policy that reflect the youthful nature of its leaders, TCU political science professor Jim Riddlesperger says.
“With generational change, you see different priorities,” he says. “And I think we’ll see the initiatives begin to reflect that.”
As the 12th largest city in the nation, Fort Worth’s new city council is distinctly diverse — of the eight council members, three are Black, one is Latino, and four are white.
Crystal Wise
Jared Williams
“Together, we represent parents, spouses, community leaders; we all have a fierce love and desire to leave Fort Worth better than we found it,” Parker said in her address. “A responsibility to take the torch we’ve been handed and lead Fort Worth into the future.”
Endorsed by Gov. Greg Abbott, Parker is closely associated with the Republican party, yet she will likely need to mold her politics after her predecessor’s nonpartisanship to accomplish her agenda as a unified council.
The challenges traditionally facing local government are largely nonpartisan, such as improvements to infrastructure and city services. Still, the nation has seen political ideologies seeping into local issues over the last several years. The council is now challenged with grappling life after COVID-19, improving race relations and police, and attracting more jobs and businesses.
Besides setting aside a polarized lens, the new city council must also cope with the challenges accompanying growth, such as affordable housing and public transportation.
The new local leaders have never held public office before, and many are hopeful that they will offer a fresh perspective on many of the city’s major issues.
“In addition to bringing that excitement associated with being a first-time public officer, they could perhaps come up with innovative ways to confront the issues facing Fort Worth,” Riddlesperger says. “I’m looking forward to a new set of voices representing the city of Fort Worth. With generational change comes the exciting opportunity to redefine issues and frame them for everyone.”
