Former city council member Erik Wilson held a narrow lead late Saturday night in the election to represent Dallas’ southernmost City Council district, according to unofficial vote totals.
Although former City Plan Commissioner Lorie Blair had taken an early lead Saturday, both candidates hovered around 40% for much of the night. Wilson had a little more than 41% of the vote as of 12 a.m. Sunday morning.
If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the race will go to a runoff Saturday, June 7.
Six candidates vied to represent District 8 with the departure of Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins, marking a major transition for the area.
District 8 includes Red Bird, Highland Hills, and Kleberg-Rylie. The winner would have significant influence on the city’s future.
Atkins has represented the district for 16 of the past 18 years but has reached his term limit. Atkins is among four council members who did not or could not seek reelection this year.
Atkins endorsed Blair, who has campaigned on continuing to focus on economic development.
Blair has pointed to her experience in zoning and land use, promising to preserve neighborhood integrity, attract jobs and fight environmental injustice. She has cited her role while on the plan commission in pushing to stop incompatible industrial developments in areas like Floral Farms and updating the area’s land-use plans.
Wilson, who represented the district from 2015 to 2017, said he wants to “keep the momentum going.” His campaign platform includes expanding affordable housing, improving streets and transportation, and supporting small businesses through grants and mentorship programs.
As election day grew closer, a new political action committee called Revitalize Dallas sent out mailers in support of Wilson. The effort was funded by short-term homestay platform Airbnb, which had contributed $500,000 toward the effort, the latest campaign finance filings show.
Airbnb has much at stake in an ongoing fight between the city and short-term rental operators. The city reignited a legal fight it lost earlier this year against ordinances that all but banned short-term rentals in single-family neighborhoods. Atkins, the outgoing council member, voted for the ban.
Also in the race, longtime Highland Hills resident Subrina Lynn Brenham ran on a platform of economic diversification, racial equity and environmental justice. She has emphasized her decades of community service and experience as a business owner and previously ran for City Council in 2013, 2015, 2021 and 2023.
Related:How Dallas City Council candidates plan to address environmental issues
Rounding out the field were community activist and health store owner Davante Peters, along with Ruth Steward and first-time candidate Eugene Ralph.
Peters has previously run for City Council. He also led an effort to recall Mayor Eric Johnson.
Peters has called for more community engagement and youth initiatives in his campaign materials. Steward, who is retired, has previously run for the seat. Ralph emphasized public safety, transparency in city governance and protecting neighborhood residents from displacement.
The new City Council will craft the next city budget and deal with new charter-mandated rules that require more funding for police-related initiatives. It will also have to address issues with rising property values and increasing park space. Homelessness, affordable housing and failing city infrastructure are also issues the City Council will need to address.
District 8 spans several miles from west to east, with diverse neighborhoods and concerns. The district includes the Shops at RedBird, where Tom Thumb scrapped its plans to open a store in the area. It is also where the city planned a new Dallas police academy, which has faced scrutiny as plans to build the facility at the University of North Texas at Dallas shifted.
The district is home to Paul Quinn College, which has plans to expand its footprint, along with agricultural and undeveloped land. Once elected, the council member selected will oversee the sprawling area.
This reporting is part of the Future of North Texas, a community-funded journalism initiative supported by the Commit Partnership, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, the Dallas Mavericks, the Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, the McCune-Losinger Family Fund, The Meadows Foundation, the Perot Foundation, the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the University of Texas at Dallas. The News retains full editorial control of this coverage.
