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Editor’s note: This story will be updated Monday, Feb. 17, for candidacy filings filed and processed after Feb. 14.The race for Fort Worth City Council is officially on, with 35 candidates vying for a place on the May 3 ballot. Interested candidates had until Feb. 14 to apply for a place on the ballot. Of the 11 seats, the mayor’s race has drawn the most competition, with seven people contesting Mayor Mattie Parker, who is seeking her third term. In the 2023 election, the mayor’s race drew five candidates.The council is guaranteed to welcome at least two new faces, as incumbent council members Gyna Bivens of District 5 and Jared Williams of District 6 are not seeking reelection. Of the other nine incumbents, all but District 7’s Macy Hill and District 10’s Alan Blaylock are facing at least one challenger. In Fort Worth, every City Council seat is up for reelection at the same time. That means every voter in Fort Worth — no matter what district they live in — will have an opportunity to vote for new representation on council. You can find what district you live in here. Candidates will participate in a drawing to determine their places on the ballot at 9 a.m. Feb. 20, at the new City Hall building at 100 Fort Worth Trail. This year’s election is the second election cycle with 11 seats up for grabs on Fort Worth City Council. The council expanded from nine to 11 seats after redistricting in 2022. Mark your calendar for these key voting dates: 

April 3: Last day to register to vote

April 22: Last day to apply for a mail-in ballot

April 22: Early voting begins 

April 29: Early voting ends 

May 3: Election Day

You may check your voter registration status here. The Fort Worth Report has compiled a list of all City Council candidates running for election in the May 2025 race. These are the candidates as of the filing deadline. Mayor

District 2

District 3

District 4

District 5

District 6

District 7

District 8

District 9

District 10

District 11MayorMattie Parker (incumbent)Parker has served as mayor since 2021. She was previously chief of staff for former Mayor Betsy Price and currently works as chief of staff for Cook Children’s Health Care System. She is a licensed attorney. Parker serves as chair of the Texas’ Big City Mayors coalition, co-chair of the national Mayors for Parks Coalition and vice chair of the national Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger. She holds a law degree from Texas A&M University and a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin. Donnell BallardBallard is the founder of Fort Worth-based activist group United My Justice and has organized protests against police shootings. He has 30 years of experience in TV and radio and currently hosts a podcast.Alyson KennedyKennedy is a political activist and lists her occupation as facility cleaner. She ran for Fort Worth mayor in 2023 and Dallas mayor in 2019. She has been the Socialist Workers Party’s nominee for vice president and president in several presidential elections.Jeremy F. LabelleLabelle works in landscaping. More information about the candidate was not immediately available.Josh LucasLucas is the community ministries coordinator at Broadway Baptist Church and a board member of the interfaith advocacy organization Justice Network of Tarrant County. He has been involved in the push to reform the Tarrant County Jail. Lucas previously served as campaign treasurer for judge candidate Cindy Stormer. Lawrence WalkerWalker is an entrepreneur who founded consulting company PCU. He is a member of the Polytechnic Heights Neighborhood Association and a founding member of the organization Community Leadership United. He studied computer science at Tarrant County College. Chris WoodWood is a student. She holds master’s degrees in environmental science from the University of North Texas and business administration from the University of Texas at Arlington and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ohio State University. Millennium Anton C. Woods Jr.Woods is a consultant. He unsuccessfully ran for District 8 in 2021. More information about the candidate was not immediately available. District 2 Carlos Flores (incumbent)Flores has represented District 2 since 2017. He previously worked as an engineer with Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and other engineering companies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington and is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Society of Flight Test Engineers. Joe Ponce Jr.Ponce owns Ponce’s Automatic Transmission, a mechanic shop in Fort Worth’s Northside neighborhood. He graduated from North Side High School. More information about the candidate was not immediately available.District 3 Michael Crain (incumbent)Crain has represented District 3 since 2021. He has worked for several Fort Worth politicians, including former U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, former U.S. Rep. Pete Geren and former Fort Worth Mayor Kenneth Barr. He currently works as a real estate broker. He holds a law degree and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Texas A&M University, as well as a master’s degree in business administration from Rutgers University in New Jersey. Jason BallmannBallmann is a strategist for Texas Instruments and previously worked as communications manager for the Southern California Earthquake Center. He served five months on Marfa City Council before resigning to relocate for a job at Texas Instruments. He holds a master’s degree in music composition from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in music composition from Southern Methodist University. District 4 Charlie Lauersdorf (incumbent)Lauersdorf has represented District 4 since 2023, taking over the district from council member Alan Blaylock after redistricting in 2022 increased the number of districts from nine to 11. He has served nearly two decades in the Marine Corps and is currently a first sergeant in the Marine Corps Reserve. He has been deployed overseas eight times and was wounded in combat in 2004. He owns a real estate media firm. He holds a master’s degree in business from Texas Christian University and a bachelor’s degree in intelligence studies from the American Military University. Teresa RamirezRamirez is the owner of Manteles Royal Tea Parties and Spinelli Floral Design and co-founder of the activist organization Tarrant County Latin Republicans. She is an active community volunteer, working with the Fort Worth Police Department and Neighborhood Crime Watch program. She ran against Lauersdorf for the District 4 seat in 2023 before running unsuccessfully for House District 91 later that year.District 5 Kenneth “Ken” Bowens Jr.Bowens is the owner and managing partner for Cowtown Enterprises. He ran for mayor in 2023. More information about the candidate was not immediately available.Marvin Jose DiazDiaz lists his occupation as financial controller. More information about the candidate was not immediately available.Mary KelleherKelleher has served on the Tarrant Regional Water District board of directors since 2021 after previously serving on it from 2013 to 2017. She is a cattle rancher who has also worked for the Tarrant County Juvenile Services department. She holds a master’s degree in educational psychology from American International College in Massachusetts and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of St. Joseph in Connecticut. Michael MooreMoore is a pastor at New Bethel Complete In Christ Church in Fort Worth and serves on the city’s park and recreation advisory board. He grew up in southeast Fort Worth’s Stop Six community. He is an alumnus of Tarrant County College and Foster College, formerly known as Southern Bible Institute & College.Deborah PeoplesPeoples is a business strategist and former chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party. She ran for Tarrant County judge in 2022 and Fort Worth mayor in 2021 and 2019. She holds a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in science from Texas Woman’s University. Bob WilloughbyWilloughby is a frequent speaker at Fort Worth City Council meetings and a sharp critic of current council members. He ran unsuccessfully for District 5 in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023. District 6 Daryl R. Davis IIDavis is the executive pastor of Inspiring Temple of Praise Church in Fort Worth. He has been a Crowley ISD school board member since 2022 and unsuccessfully ran for Fort Worth City Council’s District 6 seat in 2019. He holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Northcentral University. Mia HallHall is the executive director of strategic recruitment for Fort Worth ISD. She has been a Crowley ISD school board member since 2015 and unsuccessfully ran for the Tarrant County Commissioners Court’s Precinct 1 seat in 2023. She holds a doctorate degree in educational leadership and administration from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from the University of Texas at Arlington and a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from the University of Texas at Austin. Marshall HobbsHobbs is a political science professor at Arlington Baptist University. He holds master’s degrees in public administration and political science and government from the University of Texas at Arlington. Adrian SmithSmith, a military veteran, is a frequent speaker at Fort Worth City Council meetings and a sharp critic of current council members. He ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2023 and District 3 in 2021.District 7Macy Hill (incumbent)Hill has represented District 7 since 2023. She is the principal and founder of Macy Hill & Company LLC, previously known as Tailwind Philanthropic Advisors. She serves on Texas Christian University’s board of trustees. She also holds master’s degrees in liberal art and business administration and a bachelor’s degree in science from Texas Christian University. District 8 Chris Nettles (incumbent) Nettles has represented District 8 since 2021. He is a pastor with Purpose Driven Ministries and previously owned a child care center in Fort Worth. He formerly worked as an administrative court clerk and assistant court manager for the Justice of the Peace for Tarrant County’s eighth precinct. He studied Christian ministries at Dallas Baptist University. Payton JacksonJackson is an activist who previously worked for Nettles’ district office. She ran as an independent candidate for Congressional District 33 in 2024 but was ultimately disqualified. She has been a vocal critic of Nettles and Parker. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Phoenix. Arthur McCoy Jr. McCoy owns a landscaping company and is a teacher and baseball coach at Duncanville High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and criminal justice from Paul Quinn College and a bachelor’s degree in theological and ministerial studies from Foster College, formerly known as Southern Bible Institute & College. District 9 Elizabeth Beck (incumbent)Beck has represented District 9 since 2021. She served in the U.S. Army Reserve for eight and a half years and deployed as a sergeant to Taji, Iraq, in 2005. She holds a master’s degree in regional planning and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is an attorney and previously worked as a transportation planner at the North Central Texas Council of Governments.Michael RaulersonRaulerson is a construction worker. More information about the candidate was not immediately available.Jenny StewartStewart is a State Farm insurance agent and previously held leadership roles in the Saginaw Area Chamber of Commerce, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Rotary and Junior Woman’s Club of Fort Worth. She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. In 2023, she was one of several condominium owners who sued the city of Fort Worth for failing to send zoning notifications about rezoning a downtown property to allow the development of a new apartment complex. District 10Alan Blaylock (incumbent) Blaylock has represented District 10 since 2023, becoming the first council member to represent the newly created district that formed during redistricting efforts in 2022. He represented District 4 from 2022 to 2023. He previously worked as a senior product manager at Nokia and as a software developer and project manager at Owen Oil Tools. He is an alumnus of Texas Christian University and Tarrant County College. District 11 Jeanette Martinez (incumbent)Martinez has represented District 11 since 2023, becoming the first council member to represent the newly created district after redistricting efforts in 2022. She is the first Latina to be elected to Fort Worth City Council. Most recently, she worked as an executive administrator for the office of former Tarrant County Commissioner Roy Brooks. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Texas at Arlington and a bachelor’s degree in science from Texas Wesleyan University.Hilda CuzcoCuzco lists her occupation as “packer.” She is a member of the Socialist Workers Party. More information about the candidate was not immediately available. Christopher JohnsonJohnson is an entrepreneur and served as vice president of the Polytechnic Heights Neighborhood Association in 2023. He unsuccessfully ran against Martinez for the District 11 seat in 2023 and against Nettles for the District 8 seat in 2021. Cecilia Lenzen and Emily Wolf are government accountability reporters for the Fort Worth Report. Contact them at cecilia.lenzen@fortworthreport.org or emily.wolf@fortworthreport.org. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.