| Job description | The Council is the city’s governing body. This position is elected by district; term is two years. |
| Duties | Enacts city laws and ordinances Determines city policies Adopts city budget Appoints city manager to administer city government |
| Annual salary | $25,000; reimbursed for official city expenses. |
| Meetings | Council meetings three times per month; special meetings called as needed. |
| City contact information | Contact City Secretary csoadmin@fortworthtexas.gov 817-392-6150 |
Who’s Running?
| Kelly Allen Gray (incumbent) | Website: https://www.kellyallengraycampaign.com/?fbclid=IwAR0tH04sXilPJ_etiKjQiQFoLa6LrdCnGbK0N_J42MxDtszha1Th8jxL4WE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KellyAllenGray Twitter: https://twitter.com/kellyallengray?lang=en Email: teamkellyallengray@gmail.com |
| Tyrone King | Website: Healingfortworth.com Facebook: @Healingfortworth Twitter: @Healingftworth Instagram: @Healingfortworth You Tube: Healing Fort Worth Email: Healingfortworth@yahoo.com Phone: 817-455-9281 |
| Millennium Woods Jr. | Email: millenniumcwoods1@gmail.com |
| Chris Nettles | Website: https://www.chrisnettlescampaign.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VoteNettles/ Email: chrisnettlesrey15@yahoo.com,info@chrisnettlescampaign.com |
| Christopher Johnson | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Christopher-Johnson-for-Fort-Worth-City-Council-District-8-102252751836114/ Email: christopher76109@yahoo.com |
Recent News Articles
- “The race for District 8,” Fort Worth Weekly (Mar 17, 2021) https://www.fwweekly.com/2021/03/17/the-race-for-district-8/
- “Fort Worth council rejects independent commission as it prepares to redraw districts,” Fort Worth Star-Telegram (paywall), (4/6/21), https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article250474541.html
Candidate Q&A
| 1. WHY ARE YOU THE BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATE? | |
| Kelly Allen Gray |
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| Tyrone King I'm the best qualified candidate because I have a clear, concise, plan to begin the process of healing our city. Furthermore; my education, experience as a small business owner for almost 30 years, and my 20 years of arts related leadership gives me the background experience needed to lead Fort Worth in the direction of becoming an all inclusive city. I have an Associate of Applied Science Business from Tarrant County College and Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Texas At Arlington. Having owned/operated a small business, I understand the need for planning, scheduling, and implementing various models, as well as the importance of small businesses in the overall economy. Additionally my arts leadership gave me the skills needed to lead a community, and also be willing to compromise in certain areas to get things done. My platform of Healing Fort Worth outlines the steps necessary to tackle the tough issues facing Fort Worth which include economic inequality, race relations, and the community's relationship with police, among others. I think everyone will agree that the one thing we all have in common is the need to feel safe. So we begin the process of making all communities safer by working together to set up viable community policing programs, with a focus on youth outreach and development. Afterwards we can address economic inequality and race relations through community participation. |
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| Millennium Woods Jr. |
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| Chris Nettles |
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| Christopher Johnson |
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| 2. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED FORT WORTH’S BUDGET AND SERVICES, AS WELL AS THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS. HOW WOULD YOU GRADE FORT WORTH’S RESPONSE AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY? | |
| Kelly Allen Gray |
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| Tyrone King I think Fort Worth did a good job overall in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. There was no way to have known how long it would last or how devastating it would be, so I won't second guess the city's response to budget issues relating to services. However, I would have acted sooner on safety issues by urging residents to wear masks and social distance. In addition, I would've began the distribution of food and other resources earlier. |
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| Millennium Woods Jr. |
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| Chris Nettles |
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| Christopher Johnson |
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| 3. FORT WORTH WILL BE RECEIVING OVER $184 MILLION IN RELIEF FUNDS FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN. HOW SHOULD THAT MONEY BE SPENT? | |
| Kelly Allen Gray |
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| Tyrone King The money should be spent to address the immediate basic needs of our residents, including but not limited to food distribution, rental assistance, and securing housing for those who've been left homeless. I also think some funding should go towards helping the unemployed find jobs and assisting with child care for parents adjusting to new schedules because of job changes or other pandemic related changes to their lives. Funding also needs to be set aside for healthcare related needs, both physical and mental. After the basic needs of our residents are addressed, the remaining funds should be used to address the shortfall in the city's budget. |
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| Millennium Woods Jr. |
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| Chris Nettles |
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| Christopher Johnson |
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| 4. THE RECENT “BIG FREEZE” CAUSED MANY RESIDENTS TO GO WITHOUT POWER OR WATER FOR HOURS OR EVEN DAYS. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CITY’S RESPONSE (WARMING CENTERS, TRANSPORTATION, AND EMERGENCY WATER DISTRIBUTION)? HOW WOULD YOU WORK TO IMPROVE ELECTRIC/GAS/WATER INFRASTRUCTURE SO THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN? | |
| Kelly Allen Gray |
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| Tyrone King Fort Worth did a somewhat adequate job in response to the "big freeze". Due to safety concerns I can understand why the transportation was severely delayed or even stopped in certain parts of the city. The emergency distribution of water could've been improved, but I do understand that given the unforeseen circumstances of the moment, it probably went as smoothly as possible. But I do think the city should've left the warming centers open for a longer period of time. To insure that this never happens again, I'll work with all of the utility companies to inspect all lines/equipment, make any needed repairs, and take all preventive measures. I'd also require annual reviews and inspections of all electric/gas/water infrastructure. Finally I'd designate additional warming centers, stockpile a bottled water reserve, and work with local transportation to provide safe travel to the warming centers. |
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| Millennium Woods Jr. |
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| Chris Nettles |
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| Christopher Johnson |
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| 5. HOW SHOULD FORT WORTH ADDRESS THE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING? WHAT ROLE SHOULD CITY GOVERNMENT PLAY IN RESPONDING TO PANDEMIC-RELATED EVICTIONS? | |
| Kelly Allen Gray |
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| Tyrone King Fort Worth could address the availability of affordable housing by looking at traditional housing such as small multi family complexes, a limited number of duplexes, and single family units. I'd also be open to non traditional housing options like the possibility of constructing "tiny home" communities, which would allow for more housing in smaller spaces. I feel that the city should play an integral role in responding to pandemic related evictions. Since the Federal government has halted evictions at least until June, I think Fort Worth should continue to assist residents in securing resources needed to navigate the possibility eviction after the moratorium. Although I support the moratorium on evictions, I understand that property owners are losing income because of the moratorium. So, I'd also look at options for property owners to recoup some of their lost revenue due to the moratorium on evictions. |
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| Millennium Woods Jr. |
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| Chris Nettles |
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| Christopher Johnson |
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| 6. NEW POLICE CHIEF NEIL NOAKES HAS SAID, “WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO DO SOME AMAZING THINGS TO LOOK FOR THAT POSITIVE REFORM, TO LOOK FOR COMMUNITY AND CONNECTIONS.” WHAT REFORMS TO FWPD POLICIES DO YOU SUPPORT, AND WHAT SHOULD BE THE TOP PRIORITY? | |
| Kelly Allen Gray |
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| Tyrone King I support the reforms that Chief Neil Noakes has proposed, with an emphasis on community policing being at the top of my list. I think community policing should include business outreach programs, youth outreach programs, and neighborhood association outreach programs to start with. As for business outreach, I'd like to see the police visit more of the businesses in the community, getting to know the owners, and working on a plan to make the businesses safer and more secure. Youth outreach programs could include arts related after school outreach, as well as mixed team (residents and police) softball, volleyball, and basketball games as well as other activities. Neighborhood Association outreach could comprise of regular meetings to discuss safety and other issues related to their communities, and having cookouts where the police have a chance to interact with and get to know the members of that neighborhood. I'm looking forward to working with Chief Noakes improve the relationship between the community and police by implementing some of the aforementioned ideas and some of the ideas the Chief has in mind. |
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| Millennium Woods Jr. |
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| Chris Nettles |
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| Christopher Johnson |
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| 7. DO YOU THINK IT IS EVER APPROPRIATE FOR STATE LAWS TO OVERRIDE LOCAL CONTROL OF ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE CITY? IF SO, PLEASE PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE. | |
| Kelly Allen Gray |
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| Tyrone King No I don't think it's appropriate for state law to override local control of issues that affect the city. I know it has to happen at times but I don't agree with it, and feel that each city should have the opportunity to do what it feels is best for it's residents. |
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| Millennium Woods Jr. |
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| Chris Nettles |
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| Christopher Johnson |
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| 8. HOW SHOULD THE CITY PROCEED WITH THE PANTHER ISLAND PROJECT GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTY OVER FEDERAL FUNDING? | |
| Kelly Allen Gray |
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| Connie Cottrell | |
| Tyrone King Given the uncertainty over federal funding, I feel that the Panther Island project should be temporarily halted until federal funding is secured and Fort Worth has recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. Although I support the Panther Island project and believe it would be a great addition and benefit to the overall attractiveness of the city, I don't think we should invest funding into the project when people are trying to secure basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter. After the city has financially recovered from the pandemic and our residents are no longer suffering from unemployment and evictions, etc. I'll be the first to say let's proceed with the Panther Island project, but until then it's a NO for me. |
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| Millennium Woods Jr. |
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| Chris Nettles |
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| Christopher Johnson |
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| 9. ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? | |
| Kelly Allen Gray |
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| Tyrone King I'm excited about the future of Fort Worth and the possibility of our city becoming an all inclusive city that works for everyone. With a new mayor, city council, and police chief, I feel that Fort Worth is in a unique position to accomplish great things. As we collectively come up with creative and positive ways to address economic inequality, race relations, and community policing, I feel that we can do more to improve our city than any generation before us. However, it's going to take all of us working together to accomplish our goals. My plan for "HEALING" Fort Worth requires "Having Every Available Leader Impact the Next Generation." So I'm looking forward to joining the city council and being a part of the dynamic and positive changes that are ahead of us. |
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| Millennium Woods Jr. |
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| Chris Nettles |
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| Christopher Johnson |
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