The FWISD Watchdog blog is raising concerns over whether two Fort Worth elected officials were engaging in campaign activities on school grounds.
The blog posted a photo showing Fort Worth City Councilmember Jeannette Martinez and FWISD Trustee Roxanne Martinez at Amon Carter-Riverside High School during what was identified as a community wellness fair. In the image, each appeared to have a table with signage that appeared to match their official campaign logos, according to FWISD Watchdog.
The Texas Ethics Commission prohibits school board members from campaigning on school property, though the rule does not explicitly apply to city councilmembers.
FWISD Watchdog, which has 10,000 followers and frequently posts about district and city issues, shared the image along with the caption, “Were these two campaigning at a Fort Worth ISD campus?”
Roxanne Martinez posted on Facebook that the August 2 event was the District 11 Community Wellness Fair, offering free health screenings, sports physicals, and haircuts. She thanked Councilwoman Jeannette Martinez for helping bring community partners together.
Some residents defended the elected officials, saying they were there to serve the community and not to campaign.
“Not campaigning at all. Jeannette Martinez has consistently shown up for our community and has provided valuable resources time and time again. Anytime we’ve needed her support, she’s been there — no agenda, just genuine commitment to helping others. Let’s not twist community engagement into something it’s not,” wrote Natalie Fuentes on Facebook.
Another commenter, Maria Lopez, wrote, “Jeannette is one of the few who actually shows up when our neighborhoods need help — this was about helping families, not politics.”
Others criticized the appearance, questioning whether campaign activity was taking place. “What’s Jeannette [sic] Martinez campaigning at school?” asked Deborah Bidner Hernandez, who claimed crime and homelessness in her neighborhood remain high.
When contacted by The Dallas Express, Jeannette Martinez denied any campaigning occurred, saying the event was a City of Fort Worth initiative in partnership with FWISD and the high school. “This was not a campaign event nor were any campaign logos used,” she said, adding that she provided a graphic for reference.