DFW News App

Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD voters Raul and Merelinda Salinas take a selfie after voting outside River Trails Elementary School in Fort Worth on Nov. 7, 2023. (Matthew Sgroi | Fort Worth Report).
” data-medium-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/RaulandMerelinda.jpg?fit=300%2C200&quality=89&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://fortworthreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/RaulandMerelinda.jpg?fit=780%2C520&quality=89&ssl=1″>
This story will be updated with election results after the polls close.

Municipal elections are in full force this May 4 as Bedford residents cast ballots for the mayor, a council member seat and several city charter amendments. 

Bedford candidates are focused on key issues facing the northeast Tarrant County suburb, such as finding a permanent city manager, supporting police and fire, investing in local infrastructure and revitalizing the city through robust economic development. 

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters can cast their ballot at any Tarrant County location. You can find a complete list of polling locations here. 

Mayor’s race

Voters will have three options on their ballot for mayor. 

Dan Cogan is the incumbent mayor, running for the seat for the first time. He became mayor in September 2023 after his predecessor resigned. He has been on the council since 2018. Cogan has cast himself as the younger candidate who can lead a growing Bedford into the future. 

Jim Griffin is a former Bedford mayor, a role he served in for seven years before stepping down to run for a state congressional seat. Griffin believes that his decades of community service in Bedford speak to his capacity as a city leader. 

Eric “BIGJUICY” Love, a local private investigator, differentiates himself from his opponents as a candidate who has never held public office. His main goal is to address what he described as a mismanaged city budget. Love made headlines in 2021 when he flew to Washington, D.C., to ask former President Donald Trump for a presidential pardon for Joe Exotic. 

Place 2 candidates

Three candidates are vying for the open at-large seat left by current Place 2 council member Ruth Culver, who is not seeking reelection.

Jeron Liverman, a self-employed real estate broker, is running to give back to his community. His platform is pro-residents and pro-businesses, he said. One of his main focuses is to fully fund the redevelopment of the senior center and upgrade the city’s infrastructure. 

Tycom ‘Ty’ Wright, the youngest candidate in the race, wants to represent the young population living in Bedford, many of whom are renters like himself. Some of his key issues include educating renters on their rights and working closely with Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD to improve the district and attract young families. 

Joy Donovan Brandon is a public relations consultant and former journalist. Brandon wants to move Bedford forward from a bedroom community into a destination. She also wants to work on finding ways to use remaining bond funds to address local needs. 

Charter amendments

Voters will also decide seven city charter amendment propositions. The charter is the primary legal document outlining the city’s powers, organization, functions and procedures. The document is revisited every three to five years. 

Key topics in the proposed amendments include where the city manager can live, processes for the removal of a council member who commits a misdemeanor and council members’ receipt of a monthly $1 stipend. The stipend would make council members employees of the city and therefore eligible for legal protections, according to the amendment language.